Police Chase Ends With Crash in Western Mass, Drug Charges For Wanted Holyoke Man Police Chase Ends With Crash in Western Mass, Drug Charges For Wanted Holyoke Man
Police Chase Ends With Crash in Western Mass, Drug Charges For Wanted Holyoke Man A routine traffic stop in Hampden County became a lot more for a wanted Holyoke man on Tuesday, Aug. 1, after he tried to run from police.  Christopher Caballero, 30, of Holyoke, faces a slew of charges following the chase in Chicopee, authorities said.   Officers first tried to pull over Cabellero's car just before 2:30 p.m. on Front St. when they noticed he didn't have a front license plate, Chicopee police said. But instead of stopping, Caballero floored it.  Caballero led police into Springfield, where he crashed in the parking lot of Liberty Street Plaza. He w…
CT Man Nabbed For Murder Of Estranged Wife, Police Say CT Man Nabbed For Murder Of Estranged Wife, Police Say
CT Man Nabbed For Murder Of Estranged Wife, Police Say A 57-year-old Connecticut man has been charged in connection with the murder of his estranged wife. Hartford County resident Wilkid Valcinord, of East Hartford, was arrested on Tuesday, June 27 by East Harford Police. On Sunday, June 18, East Hartford officers responded to a welfare check at 10 Martin Circle and found Andra Valcinord dead inside the home, said Officer Marc Caruso, of the East Hartford Police.  Over the last several days, East Hartford detectives worked in conjunction with the state crime lab, Hartford States Attorney’s Office, and other law enforcement …
Judge Clears Burlington Officer In 2022 Shooting Of Man Armed With Knife Judge Clears Burlington Officer In 2022 Shooting Of Man Armed With Knife
Judge Clears Burlington Officer In 2022 Shooting Of Man Armed With Knife A Middlesex County judge ruled on Friday, June 23, that a Burlington police officer used appropriate force when she shot and killed a 42-year-old man last year,  Burlington Police Officer Robert Reyes and his partner Aurise Miedico were dispatched to the home of Paul Courtemanche, 42, on Jan. 23, 2022, after he called 911 to say he "didn't know how he was feeling." He also gave an ominous warning during the call that he had a knife and didn't know how he would react when police arrived at his home.  When the officers arrived at his Baron Park Lane apartment, Courtem…
'Humble' Worcester Deputy, Father Finding Support Following Cancer Diagnosis 'Humble' Worcester Deputy, Father Finding Support Following Cancer Diagnosis
'Humble' Worcester Deputy, Father Finding Support Following Cancer Diagnosis Ben Campbell is the type of friend everyone hopes to have, according to his loved ones. At a moment's notice, at any time of day or night, he will be there for you, they said. But now, he's the one in need, and his friends are lining up to repay the favors.  Campbell, a 39-year-old Worcester County Sheriff's Deputy and firearms instructor, was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer that has metastasized to his liver. His sister, Mikayla Campbell, set up a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of his treatments at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and to provide…
Western Mass Officer Suspended After Assault Charges Announced: POST Western Mass Officer Suspended After Assault Charges Announced: POST
Western Mass Officer Suspended After Assault Charges Announced: Post The agency responsible for state police standards announced it had suspended a Springfield officer after he was charged with assault, authorities said.  Jeffrey Alicea was among four officers suspended on Thursday, May 4, by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. That brings the total of Massachusetts officers removed from duty to 28.  Alicea was accused last month of assaulting a family member while off duty but wearing his police uniform, according to court records and police officials.  Alicea is the second Springfield police officer to be suspended by …
Shooting: Central Mass Police Investigating Early Morning Attack Shooting: Central Mass Police Investigating Early Morning Attack
Shooting: Central Mass Police Investigating Early Morning Attack Worcester police are investigating an early morning shooting that sent a man to the hospital with serious injuries.  Police responded to Shotspotter activation in the Southbridge Street area just after 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13. Officers found the 36-year-old man bleeding from a bullet wound in a parking lot at the intersection of Southbridge Street and Lafayette Street, Worcester police said.  Police provided medical aid until paramedics arrived and rushed him to an area hospital. His wounds appeared to be non-life-threatening, authorities said, but police said they …
Child Rape: Middle School Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Minor, Central Mass DA Says Child Rape: Middle School Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Minor, Central Mass DA Says
Child Rape: Middle School Teacher Accused Of Assaulting Minor, Central Mass DA Says A Worcester County middle school English teacher is on administrative leave after he was accused of raping a child, authorities said.  Todd Peloquin, 52, of Leicester, was arrested earlier this month and charged with aggravated rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, among other crimes, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.  Peloquin taught at Charlton Middle School, school officials said, but he is not accused of assaulting a …
ICE Arrests Convicted Brazilian Drug Trafficker Hiding Out In Massachusetts ICE Arrests Convicted Brazilian Drug Trafficker Hiding Out In Massachusetts
ICE Arrests Convicted Brazilian Drug Trafficker Hiding Out In Massachusetts A Brazilian citizen was caught hiding out in Massachusetts when he should have been serving a prison sentence in his native country for drug trafficking, authorities said. Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested Diogo De-Sales Gomes in Somerville on Friday, Feb. 3, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports.  The 34-year-old, who entered the United States illegally, was convicted and sentenced to prison in Brazil for drug trafficking in February 2022. He was also previously arrested by US Border Patrol near San Luis, AZ after he unlawfully entered t…
Holyoke Officer Beaten Bloody During Fight After Suspect Grabbed For His Gun Holyoke Officer Beaten Bloody During Fight After Suspect Grabbed For His Gun
Holyoke Officer Beaten Bloody During Fight After Suspect Grabbed For His Gun A Holyoke officer was seriously injured after he was attacked during what started out as a routine interaction and ended in a violent fight for his life.  The officer and his partner were called to an apartment building at 72 Essex St. Thursday night around 9 p.m. because someone reported three men were smoking "illegal narcotics" in the hallway, authorities said. Officials didn't specify what drugs the men were alleged to have been enjoying.  The officers asked for the men's information, but one of the suspects gave them a fake name, authorities said.  He was later identifi…
Natick Police Sgt Pleads Guilty To Inappropriately Touching Female Dispatcher Natick Police Sgt Pleads Guilty To Inappropriately Touching Female Dispatcher
Natick Police Sgt Pleads Guilty To Inappropriately Touching Female Dispatcher A Natick Police Sergeant has pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault and battery in connection with inappropriately touching a 28-year-old female dispatcher, authorities said. Sgt. James Quilty is facing charges stemming from the incident that happened when the woman and Quilty went to a post-work gathering with other members of the department on April 12, 2020. At one point in the evening, Quilty inappropriately touched the woman against her will, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office reports.  Quilty kept touching the woman despite being asked to stop and her mo…
Spencer Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charge: Feds Spencer Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charge: Feds
Spencer Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charge: Feds A 60-year-old Spencer man who admitted to having child porn of children as young as 2 years old potentially faces decades in prison, federal authorities said.  Joseph Michael Smith pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography this week, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. A judge will sentence him in March, where he faces up to 20 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release, authorities said.  Police arrested Smith last year after they received several tips that he'd shared child porn online through a messenger account, federal authori…
Admitted Springfield Phone Scammer Must Repay $1.5M He Helped Steal: Feds Admitted Springfield Phone Scammer Must Repay $1.5M He Helped Steal: Feds
Admitted Springfield Phone Scammer Must Repay $1.5M He Helped Steal: Feds A Springfield man who pleaded guilty to his role in a phone scam operation that bilked more than $1.5 million from victims will spend two years in prison and repay what he stole, federal authorities said.  Utkarsh Thakur, 29, admitted to one count of money laundering in April, and a judge sentenced him this week, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Investigators said Thakur was a member of a group of scammers who would cold-call victims and claim to be law enforcement or people of authority and threaten them with arrest or loss of public assistance if they didn't pay up.…