Two Springfield Police Officers – one current and one former – were arrested today and charged in federal court in Springfield, Mass., in connection with using unreasonable force against two Latino juveniles during an arrest in 2016. One of the officers is also charged with threatening two juveniles during an interrogation and falsifying subsequent reports regarding the incident.

Gregg A. Bigda, 48, of Wilbraham, was charged in an indictment unsealed today with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law – excessive force, two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law – abusive interrogation, and one count of obstructing justice by writing a false report.

Steven M. Vigneault, 48, of East Longmeadow, was charged in the same indictment with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law – excessive force. Bigda and Vigneault will appear in federal court in Springfield later today.

“Even in the face of adversity, law enforcement officers are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respectfully, and with integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “They are ambassadors for the rule of law, and when they themselves break those laws, they violate not just the rights of their victims, but compromise the public’s trust in law enforcement. My office is committed to holding our public servants accountable under the law and prosecuting those who abuse their positions of power.”

“Most law enforcement officers are dedicated, honest, and fully committed to building trust within their communities, but those who break the law stain the reputation of the law enforcement profession,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “Badges and guns do not come with the authority to ignore the Constitution or the rights of others, and those who violate it will be held accountable.”

It is alleged that on Feb. 27, 2016, Bigda used unreasonable force against a juvenile, spat on him, and said, “Welcome to the white man’s world,” and that Vigneault used unreasonable force against a second juvenile. According to the indictment, both officers’ use of unreasonable force involved a dangerous weapon, resulting in bodily injury.

After the arrests, Bigda allegedly interrogated two juveniles without their parents present, without reading them their Miranda rights, and by issuing various threats. For example, Bigda made the following threats against one juvenile: to “crush [the juvenile’s] skull and “fu—– get away with it;” “fu—– bring the dog back [and] let him go after” the juvenile; “fu—– kill [the juvenile] in the parking lot;” “charge [the juvenile] with killing Kennedy and fu—– make it stick;” “stick a fu—– kilo of coke in [the juvenile’s] pocket and put [the juvenile] away for fu—– 15 years;” and “kick [the juvenile] right in the fu—– face as soon as [they] cross the Springfield line.” Bigda made the following threats against a second juvenile: to “beat the fu– out of [the juvenile]..;” “tune [the juvenile] the fu—up;” and “bloody [the juvenile’s] body.”

The indictment further alleges that Bigda subsequently attempted to obstruct the investigation into the assaults of the juveniles by falsifying his reports to the Springfield Police Department Internal Investigations Unit, writing that he did not kick anyone or see any officer kick anyone during the course of the arrests of the juveniles. Bigda filed a second report in which he denied spitting on anyone or yelling “welcome to the white man’s world” during the arrest of the juveniles.

The charges of deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in injury or using or threatening to use a dangerous weapon provide for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of deprivation of civil rights under color of law provides for a sentence of no greater than one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000. The charge of falsifying a police report provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Acting Assistant Attorney General John M. Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deepika Bains Shukla and Katharine Wagner of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

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

A 23-year-old New Bedford man connected to the August 10th attempted robbery of a taxi driver, which eventually led to the death of the defendant’s co-robber, was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing during his arraignment this morning in Fall River Superior Court.

Kyle Dawson was indicted earlier this month on charges of involuntary manslaughter, armed assault with intent to rob, and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He pleaded not guilty to the charges today and will be subjected to a dangerousness hearing on November 8th to determine if he will be held without bail for 180 days while the case proceeds against him.

On Friday, August 10, 2018, members of the New Bedford Police Department responded at 1:12 a.m. to the area of 20 Bentley Street for shots fired. When they arrived at the scene they located a male identified as Christopher Dunton, 24 of New Bedford, on the roadway outside of a Yellow Cab, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Mr. Dunton, who was one of the passengers in the cab, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Police investigation revealed that the cab driver picked up Mr. Dunton and Mr. Dawson from an address on Cottage Street.

While in the cab, the two males attempted to violently rob the cab driver by placing him in a choke hold and utilizing a knife. The cab driver was able to escape the cab and fired three shots that struck Mr. Dunton. The cab driver had a valid License to Carry.

During today’s arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Morrissette detailed the facts of the case and also revealed that after a thorough investigation, it has been determined the cab driver acted in self-defense and criminal charges against him are not warranted. The cab driver was the victim of an attempted robbery in 2005 and his friend, a fellow cab driver, was shot and killed during a robbery attempt in 2015. After the 2015 murder of his friend and colleague, the cab driver went and lawfully obtained a License to Carry a firearm for protection. Mr. The cab driver discharged his firearm within seconds of being violently assaulted in his own cab by two passengers – one who placed a knife to his side and another who put him in a chokehold while yelling “shank him, shank him.” Under all the circumstances presented in this case, the District Attorney’s Office finds the cab driver’s use of deadly force to protect himself was warranted and lawful.

“After a thorough investigation, it is clear that the cab driver acted in lawful self-defense and the use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances. The victim was violently robbed by two men who threatened his life while choking him and putting a knife to his side. Fortunately he was able to extricate himself and get out of the cab,” District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said. “He still faced a potentially life threatening situation and fired three shots from a hand gun he was lawfully entitled to possess and carry. The victim had previously been robbed and his close friend, Donald DePina, had been brutally murdered while driving his own cab in 2015. The loss of any life is tragic but I hope the cab driver and Mr. Dunton’s family can move forward with their lives.”

The involuntary manslaughter charge lodged against Mr. Dawson in this case related to his alleged wanton and reckless conduct in attempting to rob the cab driver with a knife while Mr. Dunton had the cab driver in a choke hold. This wanton and reckless conduct created a high degree of likelihood that substantial harm would result to another person. The defendant’s intentional participation in this conduct caused the death of Christopher Dunton.

A 23-year-old New Bedford man connected to the August 10th attempted robbery of a taxi driver, which eventually led to the death of the defendant’s co-robber, will be arraigned tomorrow in Fall River Superior Court.

Kyle Dawson was indicted earlier this month on charges of involuntary manslaughter, armed assault with intent to rob, and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

On Friday, August 10, 2018, members of the New Bedford Police Department responded at 1:12 a.m. to the area of 20 Bentley Street for shots fired. When they arrived at the scene they located a male identified as Christopher Dunton, 24 of New Bedford, on the roadway outside of a Yellow Cab, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Mr. Dunton, who was one of the passengers in the cab, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Police investigation revealed that the cab driver picked up Mr. Dunton and Mr. Dawson from an address on Cottage Street.

While in the cab, the two males attempted to violently rob the cab driver by placing him in a choke hold and utilizing a knife. The cab driver was able to escape the cab and fired several shots that struck Mr. Dunton. The cab driver had a valid License to Carry.

Since the defendant has yet to be arraigned on the new indictments in open court, no further information about the case or the investigation can be released at this time. More information on the case will be discussed by prosecutors in open court at his arraignment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Morrissette.

On Sunday, October 28, 2018 at approximately 6:32 p.m., Dartmouth Police responded to Rite-Aid on Dartmouth Street, after receiving a report of a man holding a knife to his own throat.

Upon arrival, Sergeant Scott STANTON and Officers Victor MORENCY and Darren EMOND located the male party behind the business.

While Officer EMOND engaged the male in conversation, Officer MORENCY was able to discreetly position himself in such a way that it allowed him to safely disarm and restrain the male.

The fifty-six (56) year old male was subsequently transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, where an Application for Temporary Involuntary Hospitalization (Section 12) form was filed on him.

No one was injured as a result of the incident.

New Bedford police report that a male pedestrian was killed after being hit by a car just before 7:30am Monday morning at the corner of Pleasant and Weld streets. The driver fled the scene and police are treating the incident as a criminal hit-and-run.

No further information at this time. If you have details on the incident contact the NBPD at (508) 991-6300.

New Bedford Police arrested a male who already has an open case for heroin trafficking on 18 charges Sunday in connection with two shooting incidents in the city earlier in the day.

New Bedford Police responded to the area of School Street about 2 a.m. for a report that a vehicle had been shot at. No one was injured in that incident but the vehicle was damaged.

Shortly after, police received a report that two males were shot in the area of 1087 County St. They were transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

After an investigation, detectives arrested Joshua Perry, 25, of 16 Roosevelt St. Apt. 3, New Bedford on three counts of carrying a firearm without a license; three counts of carrying a loaded firearm; three counts of discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building; two counts of assault and battery by discharge of a firearm; carrying a weapon; possession of class B substance, subsequent offense; malicious damage to a motor vehicle; two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of attempt to commit assault and battery by discharge of a weapon.

He has three open cases, for trafficking in heroin, possession of ammunition without a license and possession of class A substance, subsequent offense. He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing Nov. 7.

In the course of the investigation, detectives also arrested Brandin Mayo, 24, of 369 Mill St. Apt. 2, New Bedford, on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm, discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a building and on a warrant.

He was arrested for discharging a firearm used in the shootings into the air outside his residence.

Mayo is being held without bail pending his next court date Nov. 7.

New Bedford police are reporting that two people were shot near 1087 County Street around 3:15am Sunday morning and transported to Rhodes Island Hosptial for treatment. There is no update on the severity of the injuries at this time.

Police have not made any arrests at this time, but the investigation is in the early stages and very active.

On Sunday, October 28, 2018 at approximately 4:59 a.m., Dartmouth Police Officer Manuel DEMELO observed a 2007 Ford F150 fail to stop at the stop sign situated at the corner of Elm Street and Bridge Street.

Upon attempting to stop the vehicle, the operator accelerated in an attempt to elude Officer DEMELO.

As Officer DEMELO continued to monitor the vehicle and radio information in, he observed the vehicle leave the roadway as it failed to make the turn onto Smith Neck Road.

After crashing, Officer DEMELO observed a thin white male with dirty blonde hair wearing pajamas exit the vehicle and run into the woods.

A search of the area with a K-9 proved unproductive.

Upon making contact with the vehicle owner/s at Degaris Avenue, Dartmouth, it was learned that the suspect had broken into the back door of their residence and stolen the keys to the truck.

The suspect still remains at large and the investigation is ongoing.

The following is a press release from the Middleborough Police Department:

Chief Joseph Perkins reports that the Middleborough Police Department has arrested a motorcyclist Friday who was charged with allegedly riding recklessly on Route 28.

COREY FISHER, AGE 21, OF MIDDLEBOROUGH was charged with:

Operating to Endanger
Failure to Stop for a Police Officer
Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License
Since August, a motorcycle rider has been riding recklessly and dangerously down Route 28 in Middleborough, passing vehicles on both sides of the road, going more than 100 miles per hour, taunting police officers and stopping to kick town-owned vehicles.

The Middleborough Police Department has taken each one of these incidents seriously, however, due to safety reasons and per department policy, Middleborough Police officers did not engage in pursuits with the rider for the safety of himself and others.

Instead, detectives worked diligently to identify the rider and sent a photo of the suspect they obtained to other law enforcement agencies in the region.

On Wednesday, a motorcycle rider, later identified as FISHER, allegedly sped by two marked State Police cruisers while going in excess of 100 miles per hour down Route 28. They attempted to flag him down to stop and he continued down the road. They were able to positively identify FISHER as the rider using the photo provided by Middleborough Police.

At approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, Middleborough Police obtained and executed an arrest warrant at FISHER’S home on France Street and placed him in custody without incident as he parked his Suzuki 1000 motorcycle in the driveway. He is expected to be arraigned Monday in Wareham District Court.

A short time prior to being arrested, FISHER had driven by a Middleborough Police officer who was conducting a separate motor vehicle stop on South Main Street (Route 105), near the intersection of Route 28. FISHER allegedly sped by the officer twice while he was conducting his traffic stop and made obscene gestures toward the officer. At one point FISHER stopped in the road and did a burnout before speeding off again.

The initial investigation indicates that FISHER was the motorcycle rider in several other similar incidents recently in town. However, as of Friday afternoon, he has only been charged with the incidents from Wednesday and Friday. Additional charges may be added. The incidents remain under investigation.

“We confidently believe that this is the individual that has been riding dangerously down Route 28 for the past two months,” Chief Perkins said. “We have been actively investigating these incidents and do not take them lightly. For safety reasons our officers did not engage in pursuits with Mr. Fisher. Instead we worked diligently to positively identify him and placed him under arrest today. I would like to thank our residents for their patience while this case was ongoing and for their numerous tips and calls throughout this process.”

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

An MS-13 member pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Elmer Alfaro Hercules, 20, a Salvadoran national, pleaded guilty to one count of being an illegal alien in possession of firearms and ammunition. Hercules was indicted in June 2018. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Jan. 17, 2019.

On May 22, 2018, Hercules was arrested in possession of a loaded firearm in an East Boston park, a location where numerous MS-13 gang members have been observed and where gang-on-gang violence frequently occurs. Hercules unlawfully entered the United States in 2014 as an unaccompanied minor. In April 2015, an immigration judge ordered him deported in absentia.

The charge of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Hercules will also face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner Thomas Turco of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Thompkins; Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; Chelsea Police Chief Brian A. Kyes; Everett Police Chief Steven A. Mazzie; Lynn Police Chief Michael Mageary; Revere Police Chief James Guido; and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon made the announcement today. The U.S. Marshals Service has provided crucial assistance with the case.