Wednesday at about 2:40 a.m., a motor vehicle stop led to the arrest of three people for trafficking in heroin on Route 91 in Bernardston.

Trooper Scott Boutell was on patrol on Route 91 when he observed a black Subaru Legacy traveling northbound cross over the white fog line after drifting several times in the right travel lane. He stopped the vehicle and obtained a Pennsylvania drivers license from the driver. The operator and passengers could not produce the registration to the vehicle. Trooper Boutell then obtained identification from the two passengers. A computer check revealed the driver had a suspended license in Pennsylvania and both passengers had suspended licenses.

Trooper Boutell conducted an inventory of the vehicle prior to it being towed with assistance of Deerfield Police Officer Marissa Smith. During the inventory Trooper Boutell located 198 bundles each with 10 wax bags of heroin weighing approximately 49.6 grams.

The operator, a 19-year-old male, of Bronx, NY, front passenger, 33-year-old male, of Newport, VT, and rear passenger, 30-year-old female, of Newport, VT, were placed under arrest for Trafficking in heroin and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws

The driver was additionally cited for marked lanes violation, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and registration not in possession.

Bail was set at $20,000 for all three. They were arraigned in Greenfield District Court .

New Bedford Police have charged two people in connection with a fire Thursday at 314 North Front Street/32 Tallman Street. The structure has two addresses.

New Bedford Police and Fire responded to reports of a structure fire at that address at 7:19 p.m. Everyone evacuated the building safely, including a resident who climbed out of a skylight and was rescued from the roof by firefighters.

No one was injured. Five cats were rescued as well.

After an investigation, police arrested Brad Westgate, 39, of 75 Chipaway Road, Freetown, on charges of arson. Charges of arson were also filed against Rose Bowman, 33, of 596 County St., New Bedford. The arrests were made at 10:55 p.m.

A 34-year-old Attleboro woman, who while intoxicated struck a pedestrian with her vehicle in Seekonk and then drove off, was sentenced to jail time last week in Taunton District Court, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Mary Elliott pleaded guilty in Taunton District Court to charges of Operating motor vehicle while under the influence-causing serious injury and leaving the scene of personal injury.

On the OUI count, she was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in the House of Corrections, with 15 months to serve. The balance of the jail term was suspended for four years.

On the leaving the scene count, she was sentenced to two years in the House of Corrections, suspended for four years. She was also ordered to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete all recommended treatments, and write a letter of apology within 3 months. The defendant is also not to drive a vehicle during the probationary period of her suspended sentence.

On September 4, 2016, at around 5 a.m., the defendant was seen driving erratically on Route 44 in Raynham near the Seekonk town line. Her vehicle veered across the center line and began traveling in the wrong lane of travel for a time before then jumping the curb into a parking lot. The defendant was then seen to reach down for something before backing out of the parking lot and continuing on into Seekonk. The defendant was then seen abruptly speeding up and slowing down as she approached a red light. She eventually did stop at the red light, but her vehicle was straddling both lanes of travel.

A bit further up the road on Taunton Avenue in Seekonk the defendant struck the adult male victim with her vehicle. The victim had been jogging along the shoulder of the road. The defendant struck the victim from behind, causing him to leave his feet and strike the windshield of the vehicle. The victim rotated through the air multiple times, striking the vehicle and eventually striking a telephone pole. Video surveillance from across the street captured the defendant hitting the victim.

Several witnesses observed the incident and immediately called 911. Some of the witnesses stopped to help the victim, while two others followed the defendant into East Providence. The two witnesses honked their horns several times to try to get the defendant to stop. The witnesses eventually boxed her vehicle in, forcing her to stop. One of the witnesses exited his vehicle, approached the defendant’s vehicle, removed the keys from the ignition and placed her vehicle in park.

When police arrived, they found the defendant’s vehicle had heavy damage to the windshield on the passenger’s side, and hair and blood were trapped in shattered glass. Police observed the defendant inside her vehicle staring straight ahead and appeared confused. There was a strong odor of alcohol coming from her breath, her speech was slow, deliberate and slurred, and when she exited her vehicle she was unsteady on her feet. She failed all sobriety tests and was placed under arrest.

The victim, meanwhile, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital for life threatening injuries, where he remained in the intensive care unit for about a month. He suffered a cervical spine fracture, subarachnoid hemorrhage, rib fracture, nasal bone fractures, maxillary sinus facture, orbital wall fracture, fracture of frontal bone, temporal bone fracture, subdural hematoma, epidural hemorrhage, bilateral pulmonary contusion, lumbar transverse process fracture, fracture of spinous process of cervical vertebra and a femur fracture. The victim was eventually transferred to a nursing home for physical therapy. It took him until January of 2017 to regain his strength through physical therapy, but still suffers the after-effects of the incident to this day in many ways.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Keith Paquette and the sentence was handed down by District Court Judge Robert Ziemian. The defendant had no prior history of convictions.

“But for the grace of God the victim could easily have died because the defendant was behind the wheel of the car in a drunken state. I would like to commend the witnesses for their actions in identifying the defendant,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This is an extreme example of someone who had way too much to drink and caused traumatic and life changing injuries to the victim. My thoughts and prayers are with the victim for a complete recovery.”

Members of the New Bedford Police narcotics unit made three arrests and took 50 grams of Fentanyl, a rifle and a small amount of cocaine off the street Wednesday.

As part of their street surveillance, Eddy Guerrero, 39, of 9 Exeter St., Lawrence, was charged with trafficking in Fentanyl and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute . He was found to be in possession of 50 grams of Fentanyl, a small amount of cocaine and $2,312 in cash.
He was arrested at 5:58 p.m.

Detectives also arrested Jonathan Goncalves, 28, of 61 Washington St. New Bedford on charges of carrying an unloaded rifle on a public way.

A search of Goncalves’ person found a .22 caliber Ruger Arch Angel rifle, which he had concealed on his person while walking in the 60-block of Washington Street. The arrest was made at 10:11 p.m.

New Bedford Police narcotics unit also conducted a raid following an investigation into cocaine distribution out of 45 Pierce St., first floor.

Ricardo Viana, 41, of 45 Pierce St., New Bedford, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. As a result of the search, detectives located 9.3 grams of cocaine, packaging materials and $612 in cash. He was arrested at 7:03 p.m.

A 49-year-old New Bedford man, who has served committed sentences at least 10 times in the past, was sentenced to serve seven to nine years in state prison after being convicted Tuesday of breaking into a New Bedford home earlier this year, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Robert Simmons pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court to a two-count indictment charging him with breaking and entering during the daytime to commit a felony and larceny from a building.

On March 31, 2017 at approximately 9:55 am, off duty New Bedford Police Detective Bryan Oliveira was traveling north on Church Street when he saw the defendant exit the front door of a home Church Street and heard the alarm sound. The defendant was wearing a white and black jacket, a dark hat, and gloves. The defendant left the front door open and walked off the porch, holding something in front of his jacket. An item in a plastic bag fell from the jacket and the defendant picked it up and put it inside his jacket before continuing to walk south on Church Street.

Detective Oliveira followed the defendant as he walked to Brook Street and saw him enter his residence at 161 Brook Street. A short time later, the defendant exited his residence wearing a different jacket and a grey colored sweatshirt.

Detective Oliveria followed the defendant to Colette Street and blocked him with his vehicle. As Detective Oliveria was exiting his vehicle, the defendant ran east and discarded several items from his pockets onto the sidewalk. Police tackled defendant and took him into custody.

Police then went to the area where the defendant was discarding items and found three watches on the ground. Police also found a large glass heart shaped dish with numerous pairs of earrings inside the defendant’s front right pocket. In his front left pocket, the defendant had a plastic sandwich bag with gold colored Chuck E. Cheese coins, a gray jewelry case, change, and a folding knife.

Police later returned to the home on Church Street and observed a basement window had been completely pushed in and the front door to the home was open. Inside, a bedroom was ransacked and jewelry was scattered on the floor in front of a bureau. Police notified the homeowner and met with her at the residence. The victim identified the property found in defendant’s possession and the discarded watches as hers.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Morissette an the state prison sentence was handed down by Judge Thomas McGuire.

“This defendant has a history of breaking into homes and stealing from people. It is a sad commentary that at the age of 49 he continues to engage in this behavior,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The only alternative is to once again put him in state prison for a long time.”

This week, the FBI released the 2016 edition of its Crime in the United States (CIUS) report. The violent crime rate increased by 3.4% nationwide in 2016, the largest single-year increase in 25 years. The nationwide homicide rate increased by 7.9%, for a total increase of more than 20 percent in the nationwide homicide rate since 2014. This is not the same story for New Bedford.

New Bedford has seen a steady decline in violent crime over the past few years. For this article, I’m using FBI statistics from 2010 to 2016. For some reason, there is no available data for 2015.

Big picture, New Bedford has dropped from the third most dangerous city in Massachusetts in 2013 to the 8th most dangerous city in 2016 (per capita percentage of violent crime). Being ranked 8th is not something to be terribly proud of, but we are moving in the right direction unlike Fall River which has jumped to the second spot:

1. North Adams – 1.38%
2. Fall River – 1.09%
3. Brockton – 1.08%
4. Holyoke – 1.07%
5. Springfield – 1.03%
6. Chelsea – 0.92%
7. Worcester – 0.89%
8. New Bedford – 0.87%
9. Pittsfield – 0.79%
10. Fitchburg – 0.77%

Full list of cities can be found here.

Looking deeper into the numbers, there are things to be happy about if you live in New Bedford.

First, violent crime is down 31% from 2014 to 2016, from 1,199 to 819. It’s important to note this is violent crime, not overall crime. So drug use, prostitution and other non-violent crime is not included in these statistics, but as I wrote last week overdoses in New Bedford are down 9% so far in 2017.

Second, rapes are down significantly from 100 in 2013, to 86 in 2014 to 31 in 2016. That’s a decrease of 69% since 2013. These numbers are lower even though in 2013 the definition of rape was broadened from only counting forcible rapes to now counting “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. This includes the offenses of rape, sodomy, and sexual assault.” Clearly, efforts to prevent sexual assaults in New Bedford is working.

Finally, since 2014, aggravated assaults are down by 36%, property crimes down 13% and burglaries are down by 29%. The crime numbers that increased from 2014 to 2016 were motor vehicle thefts (up 12%) and arson (up 15%). The arson numbers are likely increasing in 2017 as New Bedford appears to have a serial arsonist starting fires this summer.

New Bedford has a lot to be happy about and the New Bedford police department should be proud. While violent crime has been increasing nationwide over the past few years, New Bedford has bucked the trend especially in the most important areas like homicide, rape and aggravated assaults. Naysayers will push an emotional argument void of facts that crime in New Bedford is not down and point to some cover up – either the FBI or police are participating in some cover up. This diminishes the hard work of the police and policy makers who have found success in reducing crime in New Bedford.

FBI Statistics

2016 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2015 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2014 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2013 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2012 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2011 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2010 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts

Members of the New Bedford Police narcotics unit took more than $15,000 worth of Fentanyl off the street Tuesday as part of a continuing crackdown on the distribution of Fentanyl, a major cause of the significant numbers of drug overdoses in the city.

The arrests followed an investigation into a Fentanyl distribution service out of 70 Ruth St. Apt. 4S. Police executed a search warrant at that address and seized 166 grams of Fentanyl, 42 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, 4.9 grams of cocaine, 12 Suboxone film strips, a digital scale, packaging materials, cutting agents and $1,007 in cash.

Jonathan Perez-Rolon, 24, of 70 Ruth St. Apt. 4S, was arrested on charges of trafficking in Fentanyl over 100 grams, conspiracy to violate drug laws, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of Suboxone and possession of Suboxone with intent to distribute.

Luis Rodriguez, 36, of 70 Ruth St. Apt. 4S, was arrested on charges of of trafficking in Fentanyl over 100 grams, conspiracy to violate drug laws, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of Suboxone, possession of Suboxone with intent to distribute and three outstanding warrants.
The arrests were made at 11:18 p.m.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Massachusetts State Police homicide detectives and Revere Police detectives arrested ANDREW MacCORMACK, 29, for the murder of his wife, Vanessa (Masucci) MacCormack, in their North Revere home this past weekend.

ANDREW MacCORMACK’s arrest followed an intensive, around-the-clock investigation that included meticulous processing of the crime scene, recovery of footage from private surveillance systems and public safety cameras, the execution of a search warrant by State and Revere Police, interviews with multiple people, examination of phone records and other records, and many more investigative steps.

Revere Police and emergency medical personnel responded to 93 Grand View Ave. just after 3:30 Saturday afternoon following a 911 call placed by ANDREW MacCORMACK. First-responders found 30-year-old Vanessa inside the residence with obvious evidence of severe physical trauma. She was determined to be deceased at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner made preliminary findings that she had suffered a blunt force injury to the head, sharp force injuries to the neck, and asphyxiation. Evidence observed by police suggests that her killer made concerted efforts to clean the crime scene and dispose of related items.

“The State Police homicide detectives and Crime Scene Services technicians who investigated this homicide did very strong work, following the facts and evidence wherever they led,” Colonel McKeon said. “After a thorough, open-ended investigation, it was clear that those facts and evidence led to one person and one person only — and he is now under arrest. We are grateful to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office and the Revere Police for this combined effort to find justice for Ms. MacCormack.”

The arrest was made at the Revere Police station. ANDREW MacCORMACK is formerly of East Boston. The victim, the former Vanessa Masucci, is pictured in this post.

“The evidence suggests that her murder was a crime of domestic violence, committed in the very place where she should have been safest – her own home,” Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said. “It was critical during the past several days to withhold certain information as we gathered the facts and evidence, and we’re extremely grateful for the cooperation of witnesses and partner agencies who helped us build this case.”

Added Revere Police Acting Chief James Guido: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Vanessa’s family. I want to commend the Revere Police, State Police detectives, and Suffolk prosecutors for all of their hard work and many hours to resolve this case and bring justice for Vanessa and her family. To the community, we offer special thanks for their cooperation and patience during this trying time.”

Police and prosecutors said the investigation remains active, and they continue to ask anyone with information to share it no matter how minor or peripheral it may seem. The Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit may be reached at 617-727-8817 and the Revere Police Criminal Investigation Division may be reached at 781-286-8340.

The victims of any crime, including domestic violence, should call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide domestic violence hotline, can also be reached at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24 hours a day in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601. SafeLink also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages. Survivors and those who care about them can search for nearby DV programs at http://janedoe.org/find_help/search.

He is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Chelsea District Court.

A 30-year-old New Bedford man with a lengthy criminal record whose violent assault on another city man resulted in the victim’s hospitalization was sentenced last week to serve five to seven years in state prison, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Manuel Mattias pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last week to a two-count indictment charging him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault and battery.

On October 15, 2014, the victim was helping out at a now-closed liquor store on County Street when the defendant tried to enter around closing time. According to the store owner, the defendant became angry that the victim did not want to let him in at closing time and the two had a minor scuffle inside the store.

Hours later, while the victim was outside his home talking to friends on Washington Street, he was attacked by the defendant. The victim was punched and knocked to the ground, where he was kicked in the head. The victim also told police he was struck with a board. The victim was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, but due to the severity of his injuries he had to be transferred to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment of a subdural hematoma.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephen “Chuck” Nadeau and the sentence was handed down by Judge Raffi Yessayan.

“This is another senseless act of violence committed by a defendant who has a history of committing violent acts. The victim was seriously injured as a result of this aggravated assault,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The defendant is a danger to the community and we need to be protected from him.”

A 22-year-old New Bedford man who perjured himself on two separate occasion during the prosecution of a New Bedford murder cases has been sentenced to serve three to five years in state prison, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Brett Lourenco pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last week to a two-count indictment charging him two counts of perjury.

The perjury charges relate to his testimony during a pretrial hearing and at trial while the Commonwealth was prosecuting Marco Shane Ramos for the July 2014 fatal stabbing of 22-year-old Alex Silva.

The murder, which occurred at Ro-Art Liquors, was largely caught on surveillance video and one of the major issues at trial was the identification of the stabber and the witnesses. Mr. Lourenco was identified on video by police as a witness. During Mr. Lourenco’s grand jury testimony in August, 2014, he identified the other individuals on video, including the stabber, Mr. Ramos. Lourenco’s testimony here was corroborated by other information learned during the investigation of the case.

However, in October, 2015, Mr. Lourenco was subject to sworn testimony in a preliminary preceding where he initially denied his identity then said he never even testified at the grand jury, never was at Ro-Art liquors that day, and didn’t know anyone on the video. Lourenco was given multiple opportunities to correct his testimony and opportunities to consult with an attorney. He was also reminded by the judge that the maximum penalty for perjury is life in a capital offense case. Despite these efforts, Mr. Lourenco refused to testify truthfully during this hearing.

Then at trial in October, 2015, Mr. Lourenco’s sworn testimony was that he was at the location of the murder but only recognized himself and the victim. He falsely testified he did not know the stabber or anyone else at the scene. Mr. Lourenco went on to attempt to paint the victim as a drug dealer and tried to besmirch his character.

Despite Lourenco’s efforts, Mr. Ramos was convicted of murder under the theory of felony murder, and is currently serving a lifetime prison term.

During a sentencing hearing held before Judge Thomas McGuire last week, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll argued for a four to six year state prison term, while Mr. Lourenco’s defense recommended a more lenient two to three year state prison sentence. Judge McGuire, after hearing from both sides, handed down a three to five year state prison term.

“This defendant tried to undermine the prosecution in the murder case of Alex Silva by lying under oath during the trial,” District Attorney Quinn said. “These cases are difficult enough to prosecute without witnesses lying under oath and attempting to obstruct justice. The defendant and others who do this must be held accountable.”