The Massachusetts State Police are investigating an early morning crash between a Somerset Police Department cruiser and a Honda Civic that resulted in the death of the operator of the Civic.

Preliminary investigation by multiple MSP units indicates the cruiser, a marked 2016 Ford Explorer, was traveling south on Route 138 (Riverside Avenue) responding to a call. At the same time, a 1999 Honda Civic operated by a 20-year-old Somerset woman was being operated northbound on Riverside Avenue and was approaching a left hand turn at the intersection with Westhill Avenue. At approximately 12:35 a.m., for reasons still under investigation, the Explorer and the Civic collided. Both vehicles sustained major damage.

The force of the impact caused the Civic to spin and come to final rest facing south in the northbound lane. The young woman who was the sole occupant was extricated from the vehicle by Somerset firefighters and transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

The crash impact caused the Explorer to careen into a telephone pole, severing the pole in half. The officer operating the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation by Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police with assistance from the following additional State Police units: Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section, and Bristol County State Police Detective Unit.

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, on the roadway outside of a Yellow Cab, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Mr. Dunton was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

This is the second homicide in New Bedford this week and the third of the year. Yesterday, a man was stabbed to death on Cottage Street and a New Bedford man has been arrested.

The investigation of this matter is active and ongoing by both the New Bedford Police Department and the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The New Bedford Police Department will increase impaired driving patrols on local roads over the next three weeks with grant funds from the Highway Safety Division of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).

New Bedford Police will join local departments across the state as well as the Massachusetts State Police in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization and public information campaign Friday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug. 31.

This year’s campaign will urge drivers drinking alcohol or using marijuana and other drugs to plan ahead and designate a sober driver, use a ride-share service or take public transportation.
“Impaired drivers create a dangerous situation for everyone around them, threatening the destruction of lives and entire families. It’s everyone’s responsibility to be a friend and to prevent an impaired driver from causing a tragedy,” said Chief Joseph Cordeiro. “This grant will help increase our efforts during the busy summer travel season to keep our roads free of impaired drivers and avoid the tragedy they wreak.”

“Getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, using marijuana or both is one of the most dangerous things drivers can do,” said Jeff Larason, Director of the Highway Safety Division. “A little planning can save your life or someone else’s. Regret or remorse won’t bring someone back.”

Here are some sobering statistics:

Massachusetts Data:

• Marijuana or marijuana-type drugs were the most prevalent types of drugs found in people killed in crashes from 2011 to 2016.
• From 2015 to 2016, alcohol impaired driving fatalities increased 9 percent (109 to 119).
• From 2011-2015, 82 percent of impaired drivers in fatal crashes were men.
• From 2011-2015, 45 percent of all alcohol-related driver fatalities were ages 21 to 34.

National Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. On average, more than 10,000 people have died each year (2012- 2016) in drunk-driving crashes. To put it in perspective, that’s equal to about 20 jumbo jets crashing, with no survivors.
• In 2016, almost one in five children (14 and younger) killed in traffic crashes were killed in drunk-driving crashes. Fifty-four percent of the time, it was the child’s own driver who was drunk.
• Drugs were present in 43 percent of the fatally-injured drivers with a known test result in 2015, more frequently than alcohol was present.
• NHTSA’s 2013–2014 roadside survey found drugs in 22 percent of all drivers both on weekend nights and on weekdays.
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects—slows reaction times, impairs cognitive performance, and makes it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
• Mixing alcohol and marijuana may dramatically produce effects greater than either drug on its own.

Meet Danielle Andrews, 47-year-old performing artist, and vocal coach.

Danielle got involved in music very early on in life, winning multiple talent shows and involving herself in all music school activities growing up. In her late teenage years, she auditioned for and was selected as a member of the girl group Shades by a Boston-based entertainment company.

Danielle already had a successful solo career prior to joining the group, so was able to quickly work on their first album, which was finished 2 months after they got signed to Motown Records. They released their first single in 1997, which hit 19 on the R&B charts. They soon went on a 25 state tour with Keith Sweat.

During her time with the group, she toured with several other artists, such as SWV, Drew Hill, 702, and Mark Morrison. After the president of Motown Records was released from the company, all of the groups he signed were released with him, leaving Danielle and the group without a label to call home. Through her connections, she soon after went on tour with Enrique Iglesias, Whitney Houston, Lenny Kravitz, Bon Jovi, Destiny’s Child, and NSYNC.

After these years on the road, she decided to move back home to New Bedford to settle down and start a family. She moved away from the music business for a while, raising a family with her husband and teaching singing lessons. Recently, she has begun touring again and performing across New England, even releasing a single, which will be featured on her upcoming solo album.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com.

Read more of the Faces of New Bedford series here.

A 51-year-old New Bedford man was arrested this afternoon and charged in connection with the early morning homicide of 47-year-old Allan A. Monteiro, Sr., Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro announced.

James Andrews was charged this afternoon with murder and failure to register as a sex offender. He will be arraigned on the charges Friday morning in New Bedford District Court.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office and Homicide Unit prosecutors continue to actively investigating a homicide, which occurred in The City of New Bedford early this morning.

Police received a 911 call today around 5:25 a.m. regarding a stabbing inside an apartment at 345 Cottage Street. When first responders arrived, they found the victim already deceased. The victim was identified this morning as 47-year-old Allan A. Monteiro, Sr., of New Bedford.

No further information on the facts of the case can be released prior to the defendant’s arraignment in open court.

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Police and prosecutors are seeking the public’s assistance in locating an individual connected to this morning’s homicide in New Bedford.

Investigators are attempting to locate 51-year-old New Bedford resident, James Andrews. A photo of Mr. Andrews is attached to this email.

If anyone has any information regarding Mr. Andrews, his whereabouts, or if he is seen in public, we urge you to contact New Bedford Police at 508-991-6300 or via the department’s anonymous tip line at 508-961-4584.

Mr. Andrews has a history of violence and is considered dangerous. The public should not approach him or attempt to subdue him if he is seen. He is believed to be somewhere in or around the Greater New Bedford Region.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office and Homicide Unit prosecutors are actively investigating a homicide, which occurred in The City of New Bedford early this morning.

Police received a 911 call today around 5:25 a.m. regarding a stabbing inside an apartment at 345 Cottage Street. When first responders arrived, they found the victim already deceased. The victim has been identified this morning as 47-year-old Allan A. Monteiro, Sr., of New Bedford.

As the investigation remains in its early stages and is extremely active at this time, no further information can be released at this time. If more information can be released or an arrest is made, this office will send out a follow up media advisory.

The New Bedford Police Department is warning residents to be aware of scammers who are calling people at random and claiming to be from the IRS or other federal government agencies.

Remember:  The IRS does not call customers. They do not have the authority to issue warrants or make arrests.

Police urge the public to keep in mind a few basic points about the IRS.

 The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information.

 The IRS does not threaten taxpayers with lawsuits, imprisonment or other enforcement actions. If you receive calls, call 1-800-366-4484. Visit irs.gov for more information on scams and schemes.

 For more information, call the New Bedford Police Department at 508-991-6300, ext. 79519.

Two Lowell-based physicians have agreed to settle with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to resolve allegations of improper dispensing of controlled substances and improper billing.

Dr. Hung K. Do and his addiction treatment clinic, H.K.D. Treatment Options, have agreed to pay $23,000 to settle claims of improper billing of medical services under the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act. Dr. Vasumathi Brown, a physician employed by H.K.D., has agreed to pay a $12,500 civil penalty for issuing invalid prescriptions for controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act.

It is alleged that, at Dr. Do’s direction, Dr. Brown signed hundreds of blank prescriptions for use by unsupervised non-physician staff while Dr. Brown was on vacation abroad in December 2016. Ultimately, unsupervised non-physician staff issued over 600 prescriptions for controlled substances using the pre-signed blank prescriptions. It is further alleged that Dr. Do subsequently billed Medicare improperly for services related to the prescriptions that non-physician staff provided in Dr. Brown’s absence, and that Dr. Do falsely reported to Medicare that Dr. Brown supervised those services.

“Ensuring the proper handling of prescriptions is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to maintain patient safety and prevent drug diversion,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Our success in fighting the opioid crisis depends on the diligence of prescribers in ensuring that those seeking addiction treatment receive proper medical supervision.”

“In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic DEA’s obligation is to improve public safety and public health,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that rules and regulations that protect against drug diversion and promote responsible dispensing of controlled substances are followed.”

“We entrust physicians and their medical practices to medically care for their patients, honestly bill for services, and ensure that taxpayers’ healthcare dollars are properly spent, ” said Phillip Coyne Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “HHS-OIG will continue to pursue penalties against medical providers who inappropriately bill Medicare and potentially jeopardize patient safety by failing to properly manage their prescribing of controlled substances.”

“This settlement highlights the FBI’s commitment to combating the illegal distribution of opioids by medical professionals,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “We’re committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make sure dishonest health care professionals who exploit Medicare through fraudulent billing and other schemes will be held accountable.”

U.S. Attorney Lelling, DEA SAC Boyle, HHS-OIG SAC Coyne, and FBI SAC Shaw, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil and Doreen Rachal of Lelling’s Office handled the matter.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office and Homicide Unit prosecutors are actively investigating a homicide, which occurred in The City of New Bedford early this morning.

Police received a 911 call today around 5:25 a.m. regarding a stabbing inside an apartment on Cottage Street. When first responders arrived, they found the victim already deceased. The victim has been identified this morning as 47-year-old Allan A. Monteiro, Sr., of New Bedford.

The investigation is being coordinated by Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Morrissette.

As the investigation remains in its early stages and is extremely active at this time, no further information can be released at this time. If more information can be released or an arrest is made, this office will send out a follow up media advisory.