CRIME & SAFETY
Lowell man identified as victim of fatal fire caused by smoking materials
State fire officials on Thursday identified the person killed in a fatal fire in Lowell earlier this month as a 56-year-old man and pointed to smoking materials as the cause of the flames. Charles Bearden, of Lowell, was killed on March 16, when a fire broke out in the single-family...
Mass. man sentenced for killing his girlfriend on Maine beach with rock
A Bedford man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Wednesday for the beating death of his girlfriend on a beach in Maine in 2021, the Associated Press reported. Jeffrey Buchannan, 36, pleaded guilty to murder under a plea agreement. He told police he blacked out before attacking Rhonda Pattelena, 35, who was beaten with a rock on Short Sands Beach in York on March 26, 2021. Pattelena and Buchannan had a child together, and she had wanted him to see her favorite beach, according to the AP.
Men charged in Route 495 road rage hammer attack say they were victims
CLINTON - Two men charged in connection with a case of alleged road rage in Bolton said they have video to prove they were actually the victims. The men are accused of attacking a tractor-trailer driver with a hammer. "I never hit him with the hammer. Never," said 28-year-old Juan Marin. Javier Gutierrez Vargas, 23, and Marin, both of Dracut, were arraigned Tuesday in Clinton District Court. Police say the two men attacked a tractor-trailer driver with a hammer in the breakdown lane of 495 south in Bolton around 2 p.m. on Monday. But Marin says that's not...
Accused drunk driver crashes into utility poles in Lawrence, knocking out power
LAWRENCE - A Lawrence man was charged with drunk driving after police said he crashed into several utility poles, leaving dozens of customers without power for hours.The car crashed into three utility poles late Wednesday night at the intersection of Lawrence and Marion streets, smashing them to pieces and leaving wires all over the road.Police said the driver, 36-year-old Efren Alvarez, tried to run away but was arrested. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.Alvarez faces several charges, including drunk driving, destruction of property, speeding and unregistered motor vehicle.Nearly 90 homes and businesses lost electricity after the crash. Police diverted traffic away from the busy intersection overnight and Thursday morning while National Grid worked to put up new poles and reconnect the wires.National Grid hopes to have power restored by Thursday afternoon.
Nashua man faces multiple felony charges, including kidnapping
NASHUA, N.H. — A Nashua man is being held on preventative detention after police said he shot his way into an apartment building and allegedly held a man against his will. Investigators said James Thompson, 38, shot a gun in the parking lot of One Clocktower Place on Sunday morning, hitting four cars.
Truck driver indicted on murder charges in crash that killed Waltham officer, utility worker
A pickup truck driver accused of crashing into and killing a police officer and a utility employee, then pulling a knife on another officer before stealing his cruiser, has been indicted on two counts of second-degree murder and other charges, prosecutors and police said Wednesday.
Family of woman killed in Waltham shooting says 12-year-old suspect in juvenile court
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (WCAX) - A fatal shooting of a woman in Waltham last September involving a juvenile suspect will be heard in Juvenile Court. Cases in that venue are confidential, but the family of the victim tells WCAX that the 12-year-old boy who shot Michelle Kilbreth will be tried as a juvenile.
Billerica police arrest two on DUI charges in separate incidents
BILLERICA — Billerica Police Department has reported the arrest of two individuals on separate charges of operating vehicles under the influence of liquor and other related offenses. In the first incident, on March 23 at 11:14 p.m., a 31-year-old Billerica man was arrested for operating a vehicle under the...
Police Blotter: Resident loses $54,824 in check fraud
The following are incidents selected from the Lexington Police Department logs in the week leading up to March 25, 2024. LexObserver does not independently verify this information. Community Engagement. Thursday, March 21 at 3:00 p.m., Detective Chaisson gave a presentation about scams to 30 residents at Waterstone Living Center. Saturday,...
DoorDash driver delivers stray puppy in Andover
ANDOVER - A DoorDash driver in Andover showed up to a home with a stray puppy instead of food. Now Andover police are looking for the owner. Police say the driver was delivering on Acorn Drive when he spotted the little girl walking the streets alone. He knocked on a home believing it was their dog. "He said, 'Oh she's your dog', and they said, 'No she's not our dog. We will post her on social media to see if we will find their owner," said Officer Katie Kozikowski with Andover Animal Control. The little pooch has been in Officer...
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