“On Saturday, one of our members assigned to SP Tunnels in Boston conducted a traffic stop for numerous vehicle violations.

During the course of the stop, the operator of the vehicle admitted to being impaired and having open firearms charges.

Following our Trooper’s investigation, a rifle, 3 magazines, a ski mask, spent shell casings and live ammunition were all recovered. The operator was taken into custody without incident and was charged accordingly.

The Association would like to commend our member in H Troop on this great arrest!”-State Police Association of Massachusetts.

“New Bedford, MA – Three firearms have been taken off the streets and three people are behind bars following several arrests early this week by New Bedford police detectives.

On Monday, Det. Emily Pacheco concluded her investigation into a cocaine distribution service which resulted in the execution of a search warrant for 40 Roosevelt Street Apt. #3, connected to the target of the investigation, Mr. JUSTIN RAMOS, 23.

As a result of the search, detectives seized cocaine, oxycodone, and packing materials. Detectives also seized a loaded .380 firearm.

RAMOS and CARMEN CIURO were arrested and charged with firearm-related offenses, two counts of possession to distribute a class B drug, and conspiracy to violate the drug law.

Later that same evening, detectives received a tip that a male was in possession of an illegal firearm in the Montes Park area.

Detectives Nathaniel Almeida and Eric Boulay made their way to the area of Montes Park where they found the male. After pat-frisking him, detectives found a loaded 9MM handgun with a defaced serial number. The male was identified as Mr. TAVARUS VEAL, 19, of 64 Hazard Street Apt. #R.

At the same time, Det. Matt Couture witnessed a male, later identified as Mr. JORGE SANTANA-SANCHEZ, 19, of 129 Griffin Court, wearing a ski mask running south on Griffin Court. After a brief pursuit, Det. Couture secured SANTANA-SANCHEZ and found two plastic bags of marijuana weighing 49.5 grams, $175, and a loaded .380 caliber firearm that he had discarded.

VEAL and SANTANA-SANCHEZ were arrested and charged with firearm violations. SANTANA-SANCHEZ was additionally charged with possession to distribute marijuana.

“Through their vigilant efforts, our detectives not only seized three guns but also took three dangerous individuals off the streets,” said Chief Paul Oliveira. “Their dedication to keeping our community safe is truly commendable.”

If you have any information concerning crime, you can remain anonymous. Call 508-99-CRIME, or visit our website and leave a tip.”-City of New Bedford Police Department.

“In the early morning of May 1, 2024, Trooper Stelvio Neto, a recent graduate of the 89th Recruit Training Troop, was on patrol with his field training officer Trooper Quinn Indio. The two Troopers were conducting traffic enforcement in Fall River as part of the Dartmouth Barracks midnight shift. While observing traffic on Pleasant Street, Trooper Neto observed a Nissan SUV being driven by a man holding his phone in front of him illuminating his face in the darkness of the morning hours.

Trooper Neto conducted a traffic stop of the Nissan and approached the operator, MICHAEL COUTO, 55, of Fall River. It was immediately determined that COUTO’s license was suspended. COUTO was removed from the vehicle and placed into handcuffs. Trooper Neto escorted COUTO to his cruiser and conducted a search of his person. Couto was found to be in possession of a golf ball sized baggie of fentanyl, and a smaller baggie of crack cocaine.

Once COUTO was secured in the rear of Trooper Neto’s cruiser, Trooper Neto and Trooper Indio conducted a search of the Nissan COUTO was driving. The search found, in a backpack in the interior, numerous individually bundled packages of fentanyl and a stun gun. COUTO does not possess a license to carry, as required by Massachusetts law to possess a stun gun.

COUTO was transported to the Dartmouth Barracks and booked, photographed, and fingerprinted. COUTO was determined to have roughly 79 grams of fentanyl and 8 grams of crack cocaine in his possession.

MICHAEL COUTO was arraigned in Fall River District Court on charges of:

• Trafficking in Fentanyl;
• Possession With Intent To Distribute Cocaine (Subsequent Offense);
• Possession Of Cocaine (Subsequent Offense);
• Possession Of Electric Stun Gun;
• Operation Of A Motor Vehicle With Suspended License; and
• Holding An Electronic Device While Driving.”-Massachusetts State Police.

“The 60-year-old New Bedford man who was shot during an incident on Austin Street on April 29 has died from his injuries and the alleged shooter will now be charged with Murder, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Officers responded to the area of Austin Street near County Street at about 2:30 p.m. on April 29 for a report of a male gunshot victim.

The victim, Ronald Sinclair, was rushed to the hospital for treatment. On Friday, May 3rd the victim succumbed to his injuries and died.

The alleged shooter, Christopher Smith, 38, of New Bedford, was initially arrested shortly after the shooting in the backyard of a home on Chestnut Street.

The defendant will be arraigned tomorrow morning in New Bedford District Court on the new Murder charge.

Assistant District Attorney Charlie Schofield is prosecuting the case.”-Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn.

“DARTMOUTH, MA – On Saturday, May 4, 2024, at approximately 10:08 pm, officers assigned to carnival patrol detail, outside of the Dartmouth Mall located at 356 State Road, were alerted to a disturbance at the carnival.

Jeffrey Lehman, 54, of Fall River allegedly followed a victim and her friend for a period of time before Lehman reportedly approached her and began touching her inappropriately.

It is alleged that Lehman continued with inappropriate comments, then placed money down the victim’s shirt.

When other attendees of the carnival learned of the conflict, they created a barrier between the victim and Lehman.

Officers then arrived and placed Lehman under arrest. He is charged with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over and accosting/annoying another person.”-Dartmouth Police Department.

Dartmouth Police Department photo.

“DARTMOUTH, MA – On Saturday, May 4, 2024, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Dartmouth Police responded to Walmart regarding a reported shoplifting. Officers arrived to find a male in the store and a female who then fled the area in a vehicle. The female, later identified as Ashley VERTENTES, 32, of New Bedford was found to have an active warrant and was later located at the Dartmouth Motor Inn.

During the arrest of VERTENTES, a detective assigned to the Community Impact Unit observed packaging materials, digital scales, and suspected narcotics in plain view in the room. They then requested a search warrant for the room which was later granted. During the search, detectives located approximately ten (10) grams of suspected fentanyl, approximately twelve (12) grams of suspected crack cocaine, approximately four (4) grams of suspected powder cocaine, numerous other illicit pills, digital scales, cutting agents typically used to package and distribute narcotics, and various other suspected narcotic packaging materials.

In addition to the warrant arrest, VERTENTES was charged with shoplifting. She will also receive a summons for charges including possession with intent to distribute Class A, two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class B, two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class E, and conspiracy to violate drug law.

As a result of the findings associated with the search, Dartmouth Police detectives also arrested Lance ALFORD, 54, of Randolph. ALFORD is being charged with possession with intent to distribute Class A, two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class B, possession with intent to distribute Class A (subsequent offense), two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class B (subsequent offense), two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class E, and conspiracy to violate drug law.”-Dartmouth Police Department.

Dartmouth Police Department photo.

“The Association would like to highlight the hard work of our members, a recent graduate of the 89th RTT and their FTO assigned to SP Dartmouth, on the recent traffic stop that led to the recovery of 79 grams of fentanyl, 8 grams of crack cocaine, and a stun gun.

Great work Troopers!”-State Police Association of Massachusetts.

“MARLBOROUGH – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has confirmed that Derek Thistle, 32 of Marlborough, was arraigned today in Middlesex Superior Court on charges of forcible rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and open and gross lewdness in connection with allegedly sexually assaulting a male child who was known to him.

In July of 2023, the defendant was allegedly communicating with the victim on FaceTime when he exposed himself. The victim’s aunt, who was also in the home, allegedly also observed the FaceTime. Following the incident the victim disclosed that the defendant had sexually assaulted him when he was visiting the defendant’s home a few months earlier.

At his arraignment today, bail was set at $10,000 with conditions that he stay away from and have no contact with the victim or witnesses and that he have no unsupervised contact with minors. The defendant has reportedly been working as a school bus driver. Conditions were also set that he remain in Massachusetts and report weekly to the Probation Department. His next court date is May 17, 2024.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Marissa Milero, the victim witness advocate is Cassie Aviles.”

“New Bedford, MA — Narcotics detectives have placed a local man under arrest following an investigation into his narcotics activity.

On April 24th, Detective Nathaniel Almeida concluded his investigation into a cocaine delivery service, which culminated in a search warrant execution at 341 North St., Apt—#1. The target of the investigation was BRANDON DELGADO, 40.

As a result of the search, detectives located 345 grams of cocaine along with packaging materials. DELGADO was also found to be in possession of a 38 special revolver along with corresponding ammunition.

City of New Bedford Police Department photo.

DELGADO was taken into custody and charged with trafficking cocaine in excess of 200 grams and possessing a firearm and ammunition without a license. DELGADO has 36 adult arraignments on his record and was previously convicted in Boston Federal Court for cocaine distribution in 2006. At the time of this arrest, DELGADO had 3 open felony cases out of Fall River District Court. He is currently being held without bail at the Dartmouth House of Correction.

If you have any information you would like to share with the police, you can do so anonymously by visiting our website and submitting a tip or by calling 508-99-CRIME.”-City of New Bedford Police Department.

Children’s clothing, mutilated dolls and diapers found at defendant’s home.

“BOSTON – A lifetime Level 2 sex offender previously convicted of child rape was sentenced today for possessing more than 5,000 files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Eric Robert Johnson, 51, of Billerica, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Johnson was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $38,000. On Jan. 29, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest in February 2022.

“Mr. Johnson is an extremely dangerous individual who has repeatedly demonstrated his predatory interest in children. He belongs in prison for a long time,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The victims of child pornography are not abstractions or objects – they are real kids who experienced sexual exploitation in order for these pictures or images to be distributed and possessed. Although today’s sentence cannot erase the ongoing pain endured by the victims from their traumatic abuse, the message about the severe consequences of possessing child pornography should be crystal clear.”

“This lifetime sex offender admitted to amassing thousands of images of babies, toddlers, and children suffering horrific sexual abuse, and today’s sentence reflects the severity and depravity of his crime,” said Jodi Cohen Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Those photos and videos represent unimaginable pain forced upon utterly vulnerable victims, some too young to walk or talk. It’s cases like this that drive the FBI and our partners, as we work to protect the children in our communities from predators like Eric Johnson.”

In early 2022, Johnson was identified as a user of an internet-based peer-to-peer network downloading CSAM. Searches of Johnson’s person and residence in February and March of 2022 resulted in the recovery of 25 electronic devices including a laptop, hard drives and other electronic devices. Multiple hard drives were found hidden next to Johnson’s bed as well as hidden inside Johnson’s basement ceiling, shelves, cabinets and in an ammunition can located in a crawl space at the residence. At the time of the search, the laptop was running a program to wipe, delete or remove files from an attached hard drive and was approximately 56% complete before being disabled by an on-scene forensic examiner.

Also found at Johnson’s residence were two children’s backpacks from under his bed that contained various children’s clothing including bathing suits and a nightgown; a bag of children’s costumes; children’s diapers throughout; and at least three child-sized dolls each with the vaginal region sliced to make a hole. What appeared to be bodily fluids were found in at least two of the dolls.

A subsequent forensic examination revealed over 5,000 files depicting CSAM on seven of the seized devices, including images and video files depicting the sexual abuse and rape of minor victims as young as infants and toddlers. Many other disturbing items were also located on the devices, including images and videos of bestiality, photos of women’s deceased bodies, as well as videos of Johnson engaging in sexual acts with dolls. Further forensic examination determined that 15 of the seized devices were encrypted or had hardware and could not be searched.

Johnson was previously convicted in 1992 on state charges in New Hampshire of two counts of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault of a Child Under 13 Years of Age for his sexual abuse and rape of two minor victims who, at the time, were seven and eight-years-old.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, Luke A. Goldworm and J. Mackenzie Duane of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.