“During archery season, an individual in the Town of Otis was found to have illegally killed a deer with a shotgun, after which the deceased deer was shot with a bow to give the appearance of having been harvested lawfully.

Additionally, the individual made false statements to obtain a confirmation number when reporting the deer. The individual then brought the deer to a processor where an Officer conducting an inspection observed the shotgun wound, subsequently initiating the investigation.

The following charges have been filed with Southern Berkshire District Court:

– Use of Shotgun during Archery Season;
– Possession of Slugs/Buckshot outside the shotgun deer season;
– Illegal Killing of a Deer;
– Illegal Possession of a Deer;
– False Statements to procure confirmation number/deer seal.”

Two New Bedford teenagers were arrested for breaking into and vandalizing up to five properties to include the Buttonwood Park Zoo and the Buttonwood Senior Center. Both were released without bail by the judge.

18-year old Christopher Desousa and 19-year old Isaiah Malik Poindexter, both of New Bedford, were arrested on Dec. 17 in relation to a series of five break-ins in the Buttonwood Park area between Nov. 11 and Dec. 17.

Desousa and Poindexter were both charged with numerous counts of larceny, several counts of break and entry, multiple counts of property-related offenses, destruction of property, and vandalism as a result of the overnight breaks. Both were released without bail by Judge J. Harrington after arraignment at Third District Court on Dec. 17.

“I am disappointed in the quick release of these suspects, considering the spree of crime by the individuals, the victims they impacted, and the time and effort invested by our officers. I would imagine this is not comforting to the community and the officers that work so diligently to apprehend criminals and protect the community from victimization,” said Chief Joseph Cordeiro.

Cumulatively, the incidents resulted in the theft of more than $1,500, numerous electronics, and wrapped presents along with damaged property at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, Down to Earth, and the Buttonwood Senior Center.

After responding to an alarm at the New Bedford Senior Center at 1 Oneida St. on Dec. 17, Officers located two sets of fresh tracks in the snow heading south towards the woods at Buttonwood Park Zoo. Officers located three bags of presents upon following the tracks.

The tracks then continued up against the fence line heading west. At the same time, two males were located walking west on Hawthorn St. and based on Officers’ findings, Desousa and Poindexter were taken into custody. Officer Kyle King was the arresting officer.

If you have any information on criminal activity in your neighborhood, the New Bedford Police Dept. wants to hear from you. You can leave an anonymous tip on our voicemail at (508) 991-6300 Ext. 1.

This is a composite sketch of a suspect involved in a stabbing incident that took place in Fairhaven on 11/26/20.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned black or Hispanic male in his mid-twenties with curly hair and patchy facial hair. The male may have also had a large mole or blemish to the right of his mouth.

If you have any information concerning the possible identity of the male depicted, please contact Dt. Janis Gurreiro of the Fairhaven Police Department at 508-997-7421.

On Friday morning, December 18, at about 9:20 a.m. Wareham Police responded to an address in Swifts Beach, for a report of a vehicle that had just been stolen from a person’s driveway.

Officer Malik Wilkes spoke to the reporting party who said that they had their car on, unlocked and warming up in the driveway. The person said that they went back into the house and within a few minutes noticed that it had been stolen. A report was filed, and all officers were advised to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

At about 1:30 p.m. Officer Wilkes observed the stolen vehicle west bound on Marion Road, and proceeded to stop it near the corner of Cromesset Road. Three males were detained, and after brief investigation, one of the males was placed under arrest.

Cory A. Reid (36), of New Bedford, was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen property in excess of $1,200. Mr. Reid was processed at Wareham Police headquarters before being transported to Wareham District Court.

Assisting Officer Wilkes during the arrest were Sergeant Paul Somers, Officer Jon Verhaegen, and Chief John Walcek.

On the night of Friday, December 4, 2020, Massachusetts Environmental Police received a complaint that divers were in the water at Lane’s Cove in Gloucester without a dive flag, as required by law. Upon arrival, Officers encountered two divers leaving the area. After a brief interview, Officers conducted an inspection of their gear. The inspection resulted in the discovery of 18 lobsters, 16 of which were undersized and 2 were egg-bearing females.

The divers were subsequently issued criminal summonses for failure to display, taking lobsters at night, possession of undersized and egg bearing lobsters, no dive flag, and other permit violations. The lobsters were seized and returned to the waters of the Commonwealth.

It is illegal for lobsters to be harvested at night by any means. Furthermore, recreational permit holders are only allowed 15 lobsters per day per permit, and divers are required to measure all lobsters in possession prior to surfacing. The taking or possessing of undersized or egg-bearing female lobsters is strictly prohibited.

New Bedford Police Department gang and narcotics detectives seized 53 grams of meth, 25 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of fentanyl, and $2863 at 228 Phillips Ave. #1 after a second search warrant was issued in a span of 30 days.

45-year old Steven Darosa, 21-year old Emmanuel Jose Colon-Vasquez, 28-year old Cristian Figueroa, and 19-year old and Reyzier Ortiz all of 228 Phillips Ave. #1, were arrested and charged with drug trafficking. The address is considered a problem property in New Bedford.

Detective Bruce Szyndlar investigated the case. 

If you have any information on criminal activity in your neighborhood, the New Bedford Police Dept. wants to hear from you. You can leave an anonymous tip on our voicemail at (508) 991-6300 Ext. 1.

A former leader of the New Bedford Chapter of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) was sentenced today for drug conspiracy charges.

Xavier Valentin-Soto, a/k/a “King X,” 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 65 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in September 2020 to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Valentin-Soto was charged in December 2019, while serving a related sentence in state prison. Prior to his incarceration on the state charges, Valentin-Soto was the Cacique (or second-in-command) of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings.

Valentin-Soto admitted that he conspired with other Latin Kings members and leaders to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in and around New Bedford. As Cacique, Valentin-Soto held a leadership role in the drug distribution conspiracy that the Latin Kings maintained in and around multiple trap houses throughout the north side of New Bedford.

Valentin-Soto was arrested in July 2017, when local police executed a search warrant at a Latin Kings trap house in north New Bedford and located cocaine and materials for the packaging and distribution of controlled substances. Valentin-Soto was charged in state court, but released after posting bail. While on pretrial release for the state charges, Valentin-Soto sold a total of 160 grams of cocaine powder to a cooperating witness over the course of three recorded purchases in early 2019.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Xavier Valentin-Soto is the ninth defendant to be sentenced in the case.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Last Friday, 51-year old Benjamin Keith Duarte of Fall River was arrested for trafficking drugs and a number of motor vehicle violations after a vehicle crash near the corner of Coggeshall/Purchase streets and a brief car chase. Detectives discovered bags of cocaine and crack cocaine inside a manhole cover.

A 23-year-old South Easton woman, who in March 2019 caused a fatal car crash in New Bedford and then fled the scene, was sentenced on Friday to serve 14 to 16 years ini state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Jennaya Elsa Bennett-Werra, who at the time of the incident was named James Bennett-Werra, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging her with Manslaughter, Reckless Motor Vehicle Homicide, Leaving the Scene-Death Resulting, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon-Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Leaving the Scene of Personal Injury and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

On March 27, 2019, at approximately 9:49 AM, New Bedford Police received a 911 call for a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Ashley Boulevard and Tallman Street. New Bedford Police and Fire arrived on scene and discovered two occupants of a Toyota Corolla seriously injured. The occupants, Janet Murphy-Hebert and her son, Kyle Murphy, were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. Murphy-Hebert succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased in the emergency room. Murphy suffered 14 broken ribs, lacerations on his lung and liver, a broken right shoulder and nerve damage in his right leg from his knee to his ankle.

The 2010 Toyota Corolla was traveling North on Ashley Boulevard prior to the collision.

The second vehicle involved in the crash was a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, operated westbound on Tallman Street by the defendant. The Malibu, which was traveling at 64 MPH in a 30 MPH zone, failed to stop at the stop sign on Tallman Street and Ashley Boulevard, where it struck the passenger side of the Toyota. The Toyota rotated 80 degrees where it struck a light pole 38 feet away, then rotated 33 degrees, making secondary contact with the Malibu, and then rotated 37 degrees striking a metal fence.

At the crash scene, a police detective helped the defendant out of the Malibu and asked the defendant to sit on the curb so he could provide aid to the occupants of the Toyota. The defendant fled on foot while the detective was tending to the occupants of the Toyota.

After fleeing the scene, the defendant used someone’s phone and arranged for an Uber to take the defendant to Raynham. The defendant was eventually arrested in Pawtucket, RI on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

On Friday in Superior Court, the defendant also admitted to a violation of probation and parole based on the new offenses. At the time of the crash, the defendant was on parole and probation for a 2016 conviction to an attempted robbery of a Rockland Trust Bank in Attleboro.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Cahillane.

“The defendant, who was already on probation and parole for an attempted robbery, engaged in reckless and wanton conduct by fleeing from the police and killing and seriously injuring two innocent people. Despite causing grievous injuries, the defendant fled the scene and had to be arrested in Rhode Island several days later. This was outrageous conduct and the sentence imposed by the court was appropriate. I hope the victim’s surviving children can move forward with their lives,” District Attorney Quinn said.

A 26-year-old Taunton man was arrested early this morning on a charge of murder connected to the November 3 slaying of Jean Carlos Quinones-Lopez, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Kali Hollingsworth was arrested around 5:15 am today outside his mother’s School Street home. The arrest was made without incident by investigators from the Taunton Police Department Detective Division and members of District Attorney Quinn’s Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit.

The defendant will be arraigned today in Taunton District Court on a charge of murder.

Taunton Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office and Homicide Unit prosecutors continue to actively investigate the November 3 homicide.

At 3:57 pm on that date, Taunton Police responded to 23 Myrtle Street for a report of a shooting. When first responders arrived on scene, they located the victim outside the home, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was rushed to Morton Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The victim had been living at the Myrtle Street home.