Man Hacked Victim With Axe During Central Mass Robbery: Police Man Hacked Victim With Axe During Central Mass Robbery: Police
Man Hacked Victim With Axe During Central Mass Robbery: Police Police in Worcester County said they have arrested a man after he slashed someone in the neck with an axe.  Jorge Torres-Maldonado, 36, of Worcester, is charged with armed robbery, armed assault to murder, aggravated assault and battery with serious bodily injury, according to Worcester police.  Police were called to Ward Street in Worcester just before midnight on Saturday, July 20, to find a victim suffering from a wound to his neck from an axe. Police gave medical aid until paramedics could rush him to an area hospital for treatment.  Investigators did not release any inf…
No Bail For Men Charged With Hate Crime Beating At Western Mass Liquor Store: DA No Bail For Men Charged With Hate Crime Beating At Western Mass Liquor Store: DA
No Bail For Men Charged With Hate Crime Beating At Western Mass Liquor Store: DA Two men were ordered held without bail after they were arrested for the vicious beating of a Franklin County liquor store employee earlier this month, authorities said.  Warren Martinez, 30, of Northampton, and Thomas Patnode, 24, of Greenfield, face several felonies including mayhem and a hate crime following the July 16 attack, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  A judge ruled the men were too dangerous to be released before their trial.  The men are accused of attacking a Sunderland liquor store employee after they refused to sell the duo any alcohol, the prose…
Weekend Wreck In Western Mass County Third Fatal In 3 Days Weekend Wreck In Western Mass County Third Fatal In 3 Days
Weekend Wreck In Western Mass County Third Fatal In 3 Days A 51-year-old man was killed in the third fatal wreck in the Western Massachusetts county in as many days, authorities said.  In Hampshire County, the Belchertown man was the only person in the vehicle when it crashed on Sunday, July 21, around 7:45 p.m. on Washington Street in Belchertown, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Police are investigating what led to the wreck.  The man's name has not been released as authorities notify his family.  The crash was the third in Hampshire County over 72 hours.  Jose M. Soto, a 62-year-old Springf…
Driver Crashes Into Bear On Busy CT Highway Driver Crashes Into Bear On Busy CT Highway
Driver Crashes Into Bear On Busy CT Highway Although a driver emerged without injuries after colliding with a bear on a busy Connecticut highway, the animal did not fare the same. The crash happened in Litchfield County on Sunday, July 21 just before 9 p.m., when a 2015 MINI Cooper struck a bear on Route 8 South near Exit 45 in Torrington, according to Connecticut State Police. Arriving troopers began an investigation and determined that the bear ran into the road in front of the car, which was unable to avoid hitting it.  The driver of the MINI Cooper was not injured in the crash. However, the bear was killed and was found blo…
Man Stabbed During Western Mass Fight; Police Ask For Info Man Stabbed During Western Mass Fight; Police Ask For Info
Man Stabbed During Western Mass Fight; Police Ask For Info Police in Berkshire County say that a 29-year-old man was stabbed over the weekend during a fight in Pittsfield.  Police were called to Boylston Street around 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, to reports of a fight, Pittsfield police said.  They found a 29-year-old suffering from a stab wound and took him to Berkshire Medical Center. He was last listed in stable condition, police said.  The man's name was not released.  Investigators ask anyone with information about the stabbing to contact Detective Goodrich at 413-448-9705 x554. Anonymous calls can be made by…
Teen, 62-Year-Old Killed In Separate Crashes An Hour Apart In Western Mass Teen, 62-Year-Old Killed In Separate Crashes An Hour Apart In Western Mass
Teen, 62-Year-Old Killed In Separate Crashes An Hour Apart In Western Mass A 17-year-old boy and a 62-year-old man were killed in separate crashes Thursday night, July 18, in Hampshire County, authorities said.  The teenager was killed around 10 p.m. in a single-vehicle crash on Southampton Road in Westhampton, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  The teen was pronounced dead at the scene, and police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash.  Officials did not release the teen's name. They were the only person in the vehicle.  An hour earlier, a 62-year-old Springfield man was involved in a two-car crash at the interse…
Teen Accused Of Killing Man In Western Mass While Out On Bail: DA Teen Accused Of Killing Man In Western Mass While Out On Bail: DA
Teen Accused Of Killing Man In Western Mass While Out On Bail: DA The 19-year-old accused of killing a 38-year-old Hampden County man last month was out on bail at the time of the fatal shooting, authorities said.  Luis Rodriguez, of Chicopee, is charged with murder in the July 9 slaying of Dexter Ortiz, the Hampden District Attorney's Office said. Rodriguez was arrested on July 10 on motor vehicle charges and had his bail revoked in two other narcotics cases he is facing.  Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 50 block of West Street in Holyoke just after 11:20 p.m. They found Ortiz with a bullet wound and two others sufferin…
Man Killed In 2-Car Crash In Western Mass Man Killed In 2-Car Crash In Western Mass
Man Killed In 2-Car Crash In Western Mass A man was killed in a two-car crash Wednesday night in Wilbraham, authorities said.  The crash happened just after 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Boston Road. One of the drivers was airlifted to Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, where they were pronounced dead, Wilbraham police said.  The man's name was not released.  Other people in the crash received serious injuries, but police did not release an update on their conditions Thursday.  Police closed the intersection for several hours as they cleaned, cleared, and investigated the scene. It was reopen…
Body Of 14-Year-Old Found At Western Mass Pond; Presumed Drowned Body Of 14-Year-Old Found At Western Mass Pond; Presumed Drowned
Body Of 14-Year-Old Found At Western Mass Pond; Presumed Drowned Police are investigating after a 14-year-old was found unresponsive at Benedict Pond in Berkshire County, authorities said.  Great Barrington police were called to the Beartown State Forest recreation area just before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, after the child was found unresponsive in the water, officials said. Police and witnesses pulled the child from the water and began CPR immediately.  Responders rushed the teen to Fairview Hospital, but doctors were unable to save their life.  The child's name was not released.  Police are investigating the circumst…
Central Mass Teacher Charged With Raping Children: Police Central Mass Teacher Charged With Raping Children: Police
Central Mass Teacher Charged With Raping Children: Police A 54-year-old Worcester County man who has been accused of multiple counts of child rape involving more than one victim served as a high school teacher for nearly a decade, police said.  Shawn Baillargeon, of Rutland, is charged with aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child, and indecent assault and battery on a child younger than 14, Rutland police said.  Detectives received a report of previous sexual assaults on May 30 that took place several years ago and involved more than one complainant, police said.  After more than a month-long investigation, officers arrested&nb…
Western Mass Man Admits To Sending Nudes To Agent Posing As 14-Year-Old Online: Feds Western Mass Man Admits To Sending Nudes To Agent Posing As 14-Year-Old Online: Feds
Western Mass Man Admits To Sending Nudes To Agent Posing As 14-Year-Old Online: Feds A 37-year-old Berkshire County didn't realize the 14-year-old girl he was sending nude photos to and begging her to reciprocate was a federal agent until he was arrested, authorities said.  Paul J. Bruzzi, of Lenox, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 16, to one count of attempt to transfer obscene material to a minor, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Bruzzi began a conversation online with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in September 2022. During their talks, he sent nine photos and videos of his genitals to the girl in an attempt to have her send him simila…
No Jail Time For Ex-Mass. Officer Who Punched Handcuffed Man 13 Times: Feds No Jail Time For Ex-Mass. Officer Who Punched Handcuffed Man 13 Times: Feds
No Jail Time For Ex-Mass. Officer Who Punched Handcuffed Man 13 Times: Feds A former Weymouth police officer who was caught on video camera beating a handcuffed suspect will not serve any jail time, federal authorities said.  Justin Chappell, 43, was sentenced to two years of supervised release, with the first six months to be spent under house arrest, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said on Tuesday, July 16. He must also complete 40 hours of community service each year of his supervised release.  Chappell pleaded guilty in May to a single count of deprivation of rights under color of law, the prosecutor said.  The assault happened on July 2,…