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Men Attempt To Carjack Western Mass Police Detective, Get Free Ride To Jail Instead: Police Men Attempt To Carjack Western Mass Police Detective, Get Free Ride To Jail Instead: Police
Dannie, Devin Abrew Busted Trying To Carjack Springfield Cop Two men who attempted to steal a car from a plainclothes Springfield police detective left empty-handed, but did end up getting a free lift to jail. Dannie Abrew, 20, and Devin Abrew, 19, both of Springfield, face multiple felonies following the incident on Friday, March 29, Springfield police say.  A plainclothes detective was sitting in his car in the area on Reed Street around 8:15 p.m. when he heard a metallic tap on his driver's side window. He turned to see Danne Abrew pointing a gun at his head while Devin circled the unmarked police car, authorities said.  The detective s…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Worcester Spa Shooter Charged In Second Shooting; Victim ID'd Worcester Spa Shooter Charged In Second Shooting; Victim ID'd
Worcester Spa Shooter Charged In Second Shooting; Victim ID'd A 31-year-old Leicester man who was charged with killing a woman inside a Worcester spa in November has been indicted with trying to kill someone last summer Marcel Santos-Padgett was indicted with murdering Yueping Zhang, 34, at Angie’s Body Work Spa at 383 Pleasant St. on Nov. 23, 2023, the Worcester District Attorney's Office said. Investigators had withheld Zhang's name until now.  A grand jury also indicted him with possession of a loaded firearm not at home or work, and possession of a firearm not at home or work along with the murder indictment.  He's now charged…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Who Killed Mom Of 1 At July 4th Party In Boston Gets Up To 20 Years In Prison: DA Man Who Killed Mom Of 1 At July 4th Party In Boston Gets Up To 20 Years In Prison: DA
Man Who Killed Mom Of 1 At July 4th Party In Boston Gets Up To 20 Years In Prison: DA A 26-year-old Boston man found guilty of shooting a woman at an Independence Day celebration in 2020 was sentenced to up to 20 years behind bars on Monday, March 25, authorities said.  Kristian Maraj was convicted by a jury on Feb. 9 in the death of Felicity Coleman, 34, of Dorchester, the Suffolk County District Attorney said. A judge sentenced him to 17 to 20 years for manslaughter. He was also sentenced to four years for an illegal firearm possession charge, which will be served concurrently.  Maraj and several others were watching the fireworks at Stonehurst Str…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Man Accused Of Vermont Shooting Found Hiding In Western Mass Man Accused Of Vermont Shooting Found Hiding In Western Mass
Man Accused Of Vermont Shooting Found Hiding In Western Mass A 28-year-old wanted fugitive accused of a Vermont shooting was found Tuesday morning, March 19, in a Springfield home, authorities announced.  Walter Jones was arrested around 10:15 a.m. at a home in the 0-100 block on Longhill Street, Springfield police said. He was still wearing his court-ordered GPS monitoring device on his ankle.  Jones didn't show up to his last court date and was busted on a fugitive from justice warrant, police said.  He was ordered to wear the GPS device by a Springfield judge after an arrest on firearms charges in August 2022, authorities said.&nbs…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Ring Stolen From Dead Veteran Returned To Family; Springfield Nursing Assistant Charged Ring Stolen From Dead Veteran Returned To Family; Springfield Nursing Assistant Charged
Ring Stolen From Dead Veteran Returned To Family; Springfield Nursing Assistant Charged A wedding ring stolen from a recently deceased veteran in Hampden County has been returned to the man's family after a Massachusetts State Trooper tracked it to a pawn shop. A nursing assistant who'd helped care for the man admitted to taking the ring and selling it, authorities said.  Antonio Bell, 53, of Springfield, is charged with theft from a person over 65, theft from a building, and receiving stolen property, State Police said. Bell had cared for the veteran for three years.  Trooper Jonah Vaclavicek, stationed at the Northampton barracks, spent two weeks investigating…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Wanted Florida Man Swipes Safe From Western Mass Car Dealership: Police Wanted Florida Man Swipes Safe From Western Mass Car Dealership: Police
Wanted Florida Man Swipes Safe From Western Mass Car Dealership: Police A Florida man was far from home when he decided to steal the safe from a car dealership in Berkshire County, authorities said.  Joseph Demary, 48, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was busted on Monday, Feb. 5, after police said he re-enacted the plot of a heist film by taking the safe out of the Nissan of Pittsfield dealership a day before.  Pittsfield police said the break-in happened just after 7 p.m. Sunday at the West Housatonic Street dealership.  Detectives linked Demary to the break-in following an "intense" day-long investigation, police said. They also fou…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Springfield Mayor's Car Tires Slashed; City Releases Images Of Suspect Springfield Mayor's Car Tires Slashed; City Releases Images Of Suspect
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno's Tires Slashed At City Hall Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno ran for re-election as a tough-on-crime candidate, and now crime is being tough on him.  Sarno's city-owned car was targeted by a man who slashed all four tires while it was parked at city hall on Wednesday, Jan. 17, officials said. Video of the vandal showed him walking to each tire and cutting them with a knife around 2 p.m., the city said. Surveillance video captured him walking to each tire and slashing them with a knife around 2 p.m. while the car was parked at Springfield City Hall.  City of Springfield The Ford sedan was take…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Ex-Mass Detective Who Scammed Multiple Landlords For Years Avoids Jailtime: Feds Ex-Mass Detective Who Scammed Multiple Landlords For Years Avoids Jailtime: Feds
Ex-Mass Detective Who Scammed Multiple Landlords For Years Avoids Jailtime: Feds A former Stoneham police officer who admitted to scamming his former landlords for more than a decade will not go to prison for his crimes, federal authorities announced on Thursday, Jan. 4.  Robert Kennedy, 54, of Stoneham, was sentenced to two years of probation and 90 days of home confinement after he pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in September, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He must also repay $14,275 to his victims.  Investigators said Kennedy defrauded three landlords from February 2020 through June 2023. The scheme played out similarly each time. H…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Threatened To Kill Neighbor Over Dog Dispute In Western Mass: Cops Man Threatened To Kill Neighbor Over Dog Dispute In Western Mass: Cops
East Longmeadow Man Threatens Neighbor Over Dog Dispute A Hampden County man was arrested and charged with pulling a pistol on his neighbor over a dispute about their dogs, authorities said.  Philip Pelchat, age 48, of East Longmeadow, faces several felony charges after he allegedly threatened to kill his neighbor on Saturday, Dec. 9, East Longmeadow police said.  Police were called to Lee Street just after 10:30 p.m. when Pelchat's neighbor said he had gone into Pelchat's yard to retrieve his dog that had gotten out and was playing with Pelchat's pooch. The man said Pelchat came out with a pistol in his hand and threatened t…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Wanted Venezuelan Murderer Caught Hiding On Cape Cod Wanted Venezuelan Murderer Caught Hiding On Cape Cod
Wanted Venezuelan Murderer Caught Hiding On Cape Cod A Venezuelan national living on Cape Cod has been arrested for a second time after failing to tell federal law enforcement officials about his previous murder conviction. The 38-year-old man had been staying in state-provided housing in Bourne at Joint Base Cape Cod when he was arrested by Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston on Friday, Oct. 27, according to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Police did not release his name.  When confronted by immigration officials, the Venezuelan citizen admitted to his murder conviction and being wanted in his home country for v…

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by Khier Casino
News
Springfield Murder-Suicide: Community Rallies To Support Family Rocked By Tragedy Springfield Murder-Suicide: Community Rallies To Support Family Rocked By Tragedy
Springfield Murder-Suicide: Community Rallies To Support Family Rocked By Tragedy A GoFundMe has been created to help pay for the funeral of a woman killed in a murder-suicide earlier this week and the medical bills of her two young granddaughters who were also shot. One was in critical condition Tuesday, Aug. 15, after being airlifted to Boston Children's Hospital.  Kim Fairbanks, age 52, of Springfield, was murdered just after 2:30 p.m. on Monday by her upstairs neighbor, Victor Nieves, Springfield police said.  The 34-year-old gunman forced his way into her apartment at 174 Berkshire Ave. and shot her and her two granddaughters, ages 12 and 10. Her 5-year-old grandson…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Headless Body: CT Man Sentenced For Brutal Murder Of Girlfriend Headless Body: CT Man Sentenced For Brutal Murder Of Girlfriend
Headless Body: CT Man Sentenced For Brutal Murder Of Girlfriend A Connecticut man has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty by a jury of killing a 33-year-old woman and cutting off her head and dumping her body in a park. New Haven County resident Miles Johnson, age 24, of Waterbury, was sentenced to 55 years in prison on Wednesday, Aug. 2, for the July 2020 murder of Rachel Lerato Sebetlela, said Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt. Johnson was convicted in April by a Superior Court jury for the murder and other crimes. According to evidence introduced at trial, the victim was stabbed multiple times in the torso by the Johnson at Sebe…

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by Kathy Reakes