At approx. 10:30 a.m., a Freetown police officer stopped a car on South Main Street after determining that the driver was operating with a suspended license. Fearing that the driver was about to flee, the officer ordered him to step out of the car.

According to the officer, the driver became uncooperative and subsequently resisted attempts to place him under arrest.

Abbott stated that after being placed in handcuffs the driver continued to resist and spat at the officer’s face.

Leo A. Dutra, 40, of 1052 ½ Leroy Street, New Bedford, was charged with operating after license suspended, assault and battery upon a police officer and resisting arrest.

Dutra was released on personal recognizance and will be arraigned in the Fall River District Court at a future date.

Due to information brought to the department’s attention concerning Dutra, the officer has been placed on quarantine.

ICE detainees at the C. Carlos Carreiro Immigration Detention Center at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office caused more than $25,000 worth of damage in a disturbance Friday evening.

According to a spokesperson with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, a group of about 10 detainees in the B Wing of the detention center reported to medical personnel having multiple symptoms of COVID-19. The detainees refused to get tested for COVID-19, then when notified they were required to be tested because of reporting symptoms, rushed violently at Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson and corrections officers, barricaded themselves inside the facility, ripped washing machines and pipes off the wall, broke windows and trashed the entire unit.

Bristol County Sheriff’s Office corrections officers, special response team members and the K9 unit entered the facility and were attacked by the ICE detainees. The Bristol County security team was able to quickly gain control of the wing and restrain the detainees.

No Bristol County personnel were injured in the incident. Three ICE detainees were transported to the hospital; one for symptoms of a panic attack, one for a pre-existing medical condition and another for a medical incident after being removed from the ICE wing. All three are expected to be fine, according to the BCSO.

“This all started because a group of 10 detainees each reported having at least two symptoms of COVID-19,” Sheriff Hodgson said. “The health care professionals told them they had to be tested in the medical unit because of the reported symptoms. The detainees refused to go to the medical unit for testing. Our medical team alerted me, and I advised the detainees that for their health and the health of their fellow detainees and our staff, they needed to be tested at the medical unit. The detainees refused to comply, became combatant and ultimately put the lives of themselves and many Bristol County officers at risk with their reckless actions.

“I want to commend our medical professionals and our security team for their amazing work for quickly resolving the disturbance.”

The damage to the Ice B Wing is extensive. Detainees have been moved to single cells in the special housing unit pending disciplinary action, COVID-19 testing and criminal charges.

Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, released the following statement in response to the reports.

“These reports are deeply disturbing. We are concerned for our clients, and everyone detained in the Bristol County House of Correction and ICE detention. Immigration detention has expanded at record levels under the Trump administration; now more than ever, we will not allow the increasingly horrific conditions of ICE detention to be normalized.”

A 35-year-old Taunton man who allegedly strangled the mother of his child until she lost consciousness was found dangerous and ordered held without bail for up to 120 days, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Nicholas Rahwan was arrested on April 19th and charged with assault and battery on a family or household member and strangulation. A virtual dangerousness hearing was conducted on April 22 before Judge Neil Hourhihan. The dangerousness hearing was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kolleen Reddington.

On April 19, Taunton Police were dispatched to a White Street apartment for a report of someone being strangled. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, who stated the defendant had been drinking heavily and began picking up their son. The victim told officers she took their child out of the defendant’s arms and told him she was leaving for the night. The victim then explained that the defendant came at her from behind, grabbed her with his right forearm, placed it around her neck and squeezed. She told police she passed out during the attack and officers noted redness and swelling around her neck.

“The defendant went into a rage and strangled the victim because the victim took their son out of his arms due to his drunken state. Under any circumstances, this conduct is not acceptable,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The defendant needs to be kept off the street to protect the victim and the child.”

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. All information related to the charges against this defendant are allegations at this time.

A Salvadoran national, who previously resided in East Boston, was sentenced yesterday for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.

David Sanchez Murcia, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to time-served (approximately 18 months in prison) and one year of supervised release. Sanchez Murcia will be placed into removal proceedings. In January 2020, Sanchez Murcia pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

In 2018, immigration authorities learned that Sanchez Murcia, who was illegally present in the United States, was arrested and charged in Suffolk County with rape of a child in November 2017. Sanchez Murcia posted bail on the rape charge and was released; ICE was not contacted. In 2018, ICE encountered Sanchez Murcia, placed him into removal proceedings, and on June 6, 2018, he was deported to El Salvador.

Sometime after his 2018 removal, Sanchez Murcia illegally returned to the United States and was rearrested on the open child rape charges and held on bail. ICE learned of his return and in July 2019, Sanchez Murcia was charged federally with illegal reentry. Sanchez Murcia went to trial on the rape charge in February 2020, which resulted in a mistrial. On April 17, 2020, Sanchez Murcia was released on the rape charges on personal recognizance, and was immediately taken into federal custody. On April 29, 2020, the state dismissed its case.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Todd Lyons, Acting Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), New England Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

A Brockton man was sentenced Thursday for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Clive McFarlane, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs during a videoconference to time served (approximately six months in prison) and two years of supervised release. McFarlane pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm on April 14, 2020.

On Aug. 27, 2019, McFarlane was found in possession of a Rohm Gesellschaft .25 caliber revolver, one round of Remington .25 caliber ammunition and seven rounds of Cascade Cartridges .25 caliber ammunition. McFarlane had previously been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and other crimes punishable by more than a year in jail and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; and Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

A 57-year-old North Attleboro man arrested earlier this month for assaulting his fiancee in the presence of other witnesses was found dangerous by an Attleboro District Court Judge and ordered held without bail for up to 120 days, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Joseph K. Hayes was found dangerous by Judge Michele Armour on April 24 after a dangerousness hearing was held the day prior. The defendant was arraigned on April 16 on charges of Assault and Battery on a Family or Household Member, Assault and Battery on a Disabled Person Over 60 Years of Age, and Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.

On April 15 North Attleboro Police responded to a report of a male assaulting a female in the area of High Street. When police arrived, they found the 62-year-old female victim visibly crying and with blood around her mouth. She reported to police that she was in a disagreement with the defendant over not wanting to give him cigarettes and nip bottles of alcohol. She indicated that the defendant punched her in the mouth and made a fist and a motion going towards her face. The defendant is also alleged to have kicked the victim while she was on the ground.

The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment, where she also complained of pain near the back of her head. The victim also showed police bruises – on her chest and stomach – where she said two days prior, the defendant had hit her with a tv remote.

The defendant had recently been released from incarceration in February and has a significant history of domestic violence, mostly in Worcester and Plymouth counties.

The dangerousness hearing was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Henry Sousa.

“The defendant punched the victim in the mouth simply because she wouldn’t give him cigarettes and alcohol. He just recently got out of jail and has a significant history of domestic violence. This is clearly someone who does not belong out on the street at this time. The victim must be protected from this defendant.,” District Attorney Quinn said.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. All charges against the defendant are allegations at this time.

33-year-old Brazilian national Cristiano Ribeiro De Moura pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting and Social Security card fraud and producing false identification documents after allegedly selling four counterfeit Lawful Permanent Resident cards, or green cards, and four counterfeit Social Security cards last July and August.

The man who had been living in Framingham was arrested on Sept. 6 and brought to federal court in Boston the same day. He had been in prison for the last 8 months was sentenced to “time served” and a year of supervised release.

He was netted as part of a Homeland Security Investigation in June of 2019 where he utilized the “WhatsApp” phone app to offer counterfeit documents for $350 to confidential informants for the agency’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force.

The confidential informants who were in the country illegally made a deal with Homeland Security and made arrangements with Ribeiro De Moura to buy the false documents as well as provide them with software to make more documents during a meeting that was secretly videotaped.

“At about 8:31 PM on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, officers assigned to District B-3 (Mattapan) responded to a radio call for a larceny in progress in the area of 1007 Blue Hill Ave in Dorchester. On arrival, officers met with the victim who stated her motor vehicle had been stolen.

The victim stated she had left the car occupied by her son and nephew. Officers spoke to one of the male victims who stated an unknown black female wearing a blue medical face mask approached the vehicle and demanded the victim roll down the window. The victim stated when he complied, the female ordered the two male victims out of the vehicle, entered the driver’s seat and drove off.

Additional officers in the area were able to locate the stolen vehicle on front of 1575 Blue Hill Ave. Officers observed the vehicle to be occupied by a young female. The female suspect was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody. The vehicle was successfully recovered by officers.

Further investigation revealed the female suspect to be 11-years-old and due to her age, officers were unable to charge the suspect with a crime. The suspect was released to the care of the Department of Children and Families.

As a reminder, drivers should never under any circumstances leave their motor vehicle running while unattended. Not only is this a citable offense in the City of Boston, the driver is left vulnerable to a possible vehicle theft.”-Boston Police Department.

“On April 22, Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to State Police-Charlton stopped a white Toyota SUV on the Massachusetts Turnpike, I-90 Eastbound in Charlton.

A Trooper had contact with the female operator. As a result of the stop and subsequent investigation, three kilograms of suspected Fentanyl were found concealed in a spare tire.

No further information is being released at this time.”

Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and from the MSP Gang Unit, after conducting an investigation throughout the night, located and arrested the driver who dragged a State Trooper in Taunton last night.

As a result of their investigation, Troopers identified the driver as CLAUDE REMY, 32, with a last known address in Dorchester. Fugitive Section (MSP VFAS) and Gang Unit Troopers learned of an address in Framingham where REMY was potentially hiding and this morning set up surveillance of that address, on Marian Road.

Around 11 a.m. today Troopers approached that residence and made contact with occupants. At that time, suspect REMY presented himself to troopers and was taken into custody without further incident. Troopers transported him to State Police-Middleborough where he was charged with the following offenses:

1. Attempted Murder;
2. Assault and Battery with Dangerous Weapon:
3. Assault and Battery on Police Officer;
4. Disorderly Conduct;
5. Resisting Arrest;
6. Larceny Under $1,200;
7. Assault With Intent to Murder;
8. Failure to Stop For Police;
9. Reckless Operation of Motor Vehicle;
10. Speeding;
11. Left Lane Restriction Violation; and
12. Marked Lanes Violation.

The search for and arrest of REMY followed last night’s incident in which he dragged a Trooper a short distance with his pickup truck. The Trooper, a member of the MSP Troop D Community Action Team, around 8 p.m. yesterday stopped the Dodge Ram pickup being driven by REMY on County Street (Route 140) in Taunton for a motor vehicle violation.

REMY pulled to a stop in a Mobil Gas parking lot and the Trooper approached the pickup. After a brief struggle REMY drove off erratically at a high rate of speed while the Trooper held on to him.

The Trooper was separated from the vehicle and thrown to the ground as REMY sped onto County Street. The Trooper struck his head and body on the pavement as the pickup fled northbound and out of site.

A short time later a resident of the town of Berkley called police to report that a suspicious pickup truck parked in a neighbor’s driveway and a man had run away from the area and entered a small sedan. Troopers confirmed the pickup was the suspect vehicle.

Troopers from State Police-Middleborough, MSP K-9 units, and the MSP Air Wing began searching the area for REMY but did not locate him.

MSP VFAS joined the investigation as a team and worked through the night, ultimately developing information about the Framingham address.

REMY was ordered held on $75,000 bail today in Bristol County and was transported to Ash Street Jail in New Bedford to be held unless and until he posts bail.