'Hate Has No Home' Here: Bomb Threat Didn't Stop Drag Queen Story Hour In Newton 'Hate Has No Home' Here: Bomb Threat Didn't Stop Drag Queen Story Hour In Newton
'Hate Has No Home' Here: Bomb Threat Didn't Stop Drag Queen Story Hour In Newton The New Art Center said it would not be bullied into changing its mission after receiving a bomb threat shortly before its planned Drag Queen Story Hour over the weekend.  The call came in just after 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, claiming that bombs placed on the roof of the 61 Washington Park building would "go boom" at 11 a.m., said New Art Executive Director Emily O’Neil in a news release.  The caller did not mention the event by name, but the Drag Queen Story Hour was set to begin at 11 a.m. And events like it have also been the target of protests and threats in the past.  …
Medford IT Director Stole From Law School To Fund His Band Sloth Machine: DA Medford IT Director Stole From Law School To Fund His Band Sloth Machine: DA
Medford IT Director Stole From Law School To Fund His Band Sloth Machine: DA A 52-year-old Medford man was arraigned on Wednesday, June 12, after police said he stole more than $65,000 worth of Amazon purchased, many of which were used for his band Sloth Machine.  Gareth Flanagan, of Medford, is charged with three counts of larceny over $1,200, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said.  Flanagan worked as the IT Director for the New England School of Law, where he had access to purchase things on the school's Amazon account below $5,000 without prior approval. The NESL hired an outside auditing firm to investigate some of the purchases made on t…
Animal Hoarding: 60 Boxer Dogs Seized From Mass Home Taxing Help Networks Animal Hoarding: 60 Boxer Dogs Seized From Mass Home Taxing Help Networks
Animal Hoarding: 60 Boxer Dogs Seized From Mass Home Taxing Help Networks The MSPCA is asking for help after the group took in 60 boxers from a home in Essex County earlier this week, making it one of the largest seizures in the group's history.  Police said officers removed the dogs from a home on Locust Grove Road in Merrimac on Tuesday, June 11, after receiving reports of animal hoarding and overcrowding. The owner voluntarily forfeited the dogs to authorities.  Police did not release the owner's name as no charges have been filed, but a multi-agency investigation involving Haverhill, Windham (New Hampshire), and Merrimac police is ongoing. …
Drunk Wakefield Man Threatens To Blow Up Store During Fight With Security: DA Drunk Wakefield Man Threatens To Blow Up Store During Fight With Security: DA
Drunk Wakefield Man Threatens To Blow Up Store During Fight With Security: DA A drunk Wakefield man is facing multiple charges after he got into a physical fight with Primark security, tried to steal something from the store, and then threatened to blow up the building when he lost, authorities said.  Williams Rodriguez-Juarez, 24, is charged with unarmed robbery, making a bomb or hijack threat, assault and battery on a police officer, strangulation or suffocation, trespassing, resisting arrest,  and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (shod foot), the Suffolk County District Attorney said. A judge set his bail at $500, and he must stay away from…
Postal Employee Who Embezzled $90K Gets 18 Months In Prison, Must Pay Restitution: Feds Postal Employee Who Embezzled $90K Gets 18 Months In Prison, Must Pay Restitution: Feds
Postal Employee Who Embezzled $90K Gets 18 Months In Prison, Must Pay Restitution: Feds A former US Postal Service employee who was convicted of stealing $90,000 will spend the next 18 months behind bars, authorities announced on Tuesday, June 11.  Jamesa Rankins, 27, of Brockton, was found guilty in November of one count of theft of government money and three counts of wire fraud, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. She was ordered to spend 18 months in federal prison and repay the $104,698 she embezzled from the Postal Service.  Rankins worked as a Sales & Service Distribution Associate at the Montello Post office in Brockton for approximately four and a ha…
$5,000 Bounty To Find Arsonist Who Torched ATV In Newton $5,000 Bounty To Find Arsonist Who Torched ATV In Newton
$5,000 Bounty To Find Arsonist Who Torched ATV In Newton Police and fire investigators are asking for the public's help to determine who set an ATV on fire earlier this month, and they're offering a reward for any information leading to an arrest.  Newton firefighters received multiple 911 calls for a fire at 85 Dudley Road around 5:30 p.m. on June 1. When they arrived, flames had consumed a Polaris 900 ATV, which retail for about $3,000.   Arson investigators spoke with witnesses and examined the evidence and have determined the fire was more likely intentionally set. They're asking anyone in the area at the time of the blaze to c…
Springfield Police Raising Funds For Officer Seriously Wounded In Shooting Springfield Police Raising Funds For Officer Seriously Wounded In Shooting
Springfield Police Raising Funds For Officer Seriously Wounded In Shooting Springfield police are asking the public to donate to help one of their own after he was shot in the head last week, which could leave him blind in one eye.  Officer Nestor Santos was seriously injured after he was attacked on Thursday, June 6, while sitting in his unmarked police car in the 600 block of State Street while on his way to work around 10:30 p.m., Springfield police authorities said.  His squad supervisor and another police officer rushed him to Baystate Medical Center, and he was later airlifted to a Boston hospital for emergency surgery. Police said a bullet st…
Mass Man Guilty Of Trying To Pay 14-Year-Old Girl For Sex: Feds Mass Man Guilty Of Trying To Pay 14-Year-Old Girl For Sex: Feds
Mass Man Guilty Of Trying To Pay 14-Year-Old Girl For Sex: Feds A 29-year-old man was found guilty on Monday, June 10, of soliciting sex from a 14-year-old in a sting operation, authorities said.  Dimitri Shawn McKenzie, of Boston, was found guilty of attempted sex trafficking of a child following a three-day trial, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life behind bars.  McKenzie responded to an online ad that advertised that two girls — ages 12 and 14 — would perform sex acts for cash in the Boston area, the prosecutor said. The post was made by law enforcement.&nbs…
Weston Man Faces Charges After 'Reckless' UTV Crash In New Hampshire Requiring Rescue Weston Man Faces Charges After 'Reckless' UTV Crash In New Hampshire Requiring Rescue
Weston Man Faces Charges After 'Reckless' UTV Crash In New Hampshire Requiring Rescue A 27-year-old Weston man will face charges after New Hampshire authorities say he was "reckless" in a UTV crash that caused serious injuries to his arm, requiring rescue.  Eduardo Castillo-Lares crashed the rented vehicle around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, on the Windmill Trail in Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin, New Hampshire, wildlife officials said.  An investigation found that Castillo-Lares was riding with several other vehicles when he sped up and "swerved on purpose," causing the UTV to flip onto its roof. People riding with him called for help.  Re…
'Incredibly Dangerous' Registered Chelsea Sex Offender Gets 10 Years For Child Porn 'Incredibly Dangerous' Registered Chelsea Sex Offender Gets 10 Years For Child Porn
'Incredibly Dangerous' Registered Chelsea Sex Offender Gets 10 Years For Child Porn A registered sex offender with a history of sexual abuse will spend a decade in prison after he admitted to having hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material, federal authorities said. Lasall Johnson, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in March and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Thursday, June 6, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He will serve five years of probation after he is released.  Investigators arrested Johnson after agents traced his IP address from a peer-to-peer file-sharing site where large amounts of …
Springfield Officer Shot In Head May Lose Vision In 1 Eye: Police Springfield Officer Shot In Head May Lose Vision In 1 Eye: Police
Springfield Officer Shot In Head May Lose Vision In 1 Eye: Police An off-duty Springfield officer who was shot in the head and leg as he drove to work Wednesday night, June 6, may lose vision in an eye as a result of the attack.  Officer Nestor Santos was identified as the person who was seriously injured as he was attacked while sitting in his unmarked police car in the 600 block of State Street, Springfield police authorities said.  Related: 7 Arrested After Police Say They Fired At Officers, Sending 1 To ER His squad supervisor and another police officer rushed him to Baystate Medical Center, and he was later airlifted to a Boston hospital f…
$1M Fraud: North Attleboro Man Stole Jewels From Employer, Sold Them For Cash $1M Fraud: North Attleboro Man Stole Jewels From Employer, Sold Them For Cash
$1M Fraud: North Attleboro Man Stole Jewels From Employer, Sold Them For Cash The supervisor for a luxury jewelry company has admitted to stealing gold, platinum, and silver from his employer to resell illegally for more than three years, earning him more than $1 million, federal authorities said.  Benjamin Preacher, 54, of North Attleboro, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions on Thursday, June 6, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He will be sentenced on Sept. 18.  Preacher started working as a manufacturing supervisor for a Rhode Island jeweler that sells …