Police took nearly 60 grams of Fentanyl off the streets and arrested a New Bedford man Monday as part of an investigation into a Fentanyl distribution service at 280 Acushnet Ave., Apt. 2L.

Police executed a warrant for 280 Acushnet Ave., Apt. 2L. The target of the investigation, Jeremy Costa, 26, of 280 Acushnet Ave., Apt. 2L, New Bedford, was observed leaving the rear parking lot of the address at about 5:13 p.m. He headed north on South Second Street.

Police attempted to stop his vehicle at Sawyer Street and Ashley Boulevard. Upon seeing the police vehicle, he accelerated west on Sawyer Street at a high rate of speed amid heavy traffic.

When he reached Sawyer and Purchase streets, he lost control of the vehicle, struck a fence and exited the vehicle, running west on Purchase Street before being apprehended.

Police found 51.3 grams of Fentanyl in his possession.

During a search of his residence, police found an additional eight grams of Fentanyl and $4,129 in cash.

Costa was charged with trafficking in Fentanyl, possession of Fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of Fentanyl with intent to distribute, subsequent offense; operating after revocation of license, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and resisting arrest.

Costa is no stranger to New Bedford police. In 2008 he was arrested after being involved in a drive-by shooting. He was subsequently convicted and served jail time for possession of a firearm and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He has also been convicted of dealing cocaine in 2008.

He is currently on probation in New Bedford District Court for striking a police cruiser while fleeing from police in 2014.

He was arrested at about 6:08 p.m.

A 39-year-old Raynham man was given the maximum jail sentence allowable earlier this month after being convicted at trial in Taunton District Court of molesting his girlfriend’s six-year-old daughter, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today.

Damion Paxton was convicted by a jury of his peers of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14, enticing a child under 16, and assault and battery. After his conviction, Judge Michael Brennan sentenced the defendant to the maximum two-and-a-half year in the house of corrections and placed him on supervised GPS-monitored probation for an additional five years after his release from jail.

The case dates back to 2013, when the victim was just six-years-old and living in Raynham. The defendant, who lived with them for about two month months, would coax the victim into his bedroom by letting her play a videogame. He would make her sit on his lap while playing. She testified at trial that the defendant did not play with her, but rather was looking at her and watching her while she playing. While on his lap, he would rub her lower back under her shirt, going down to her waistband area. He also reached over and touched her vaginal area over top of her clothes. She testified that he would also reach over and touch her chest area, near the neck line of her shirt, but would not go inside her shirt. She said these incidences would happen mostly with the door closed and that they would stop when her mother or sister would come into the area.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan Burns.

“This defendant took advantage of his temporary living arrangement to abuse an innocent six year old girl. His conduct is despicable and I am pleased judge Brennan imposed the maximum sentence for this career criminal,” District Attorney Quinn said. “I commend the victim for testifying under very difficult circumstances.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday, March 17, 2017, awarded a $100 million grant to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to fund drinking water infrastructure upgrades in Flint, Mich. The funding, provided by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016, or WIIN, enables Flint to accelerate and expand its work to replace lead service lines and make other critical infrastructure improvements.

“The people of Flint and all Americans deserve a more responsive federal government,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “EPA will especially focus on helping Michigan improve Flint’s water infrastructure as part of our larger goal of improving America’s water infrastructure.”

“I appreciate the EPA approving this funding to assist with Flint’s recovery,” Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said. “Combined with the nearly $250 million in state funding already allocated, this will help keep Flint on a solid path forward. It’s great to see federal, state and local partners continuing to work together to help with infrastructure upgrades and pipe replacements for the people of Flint.”

“We are excited and very grateful to receive these much needed funds,” said Flint Mayor Karen Weaver. “The City of Flint being awarded a grant of this magnitude in such a critical time of need will be a huge benefit. As we prepare to start the next phase of the FAST Start pipe replacement program, these funds will give us what we need to reach our goal of replacing 6,000 pipes this year and make other needed infrastructure improvements. We look forward to the continued support of the EPA and federal government.”

The WIIN funding supplements EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), a federal-state partnership. In addition to the federal funds announced today, the State of Michigan is providing the required 20% match of $20 million. Over the years, EPA has provided more than $32.5 billion to states for infrastructure upgrades through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

Under President Trump’s budget blueprint SRF remains fully funded, and the proposal provides robust funding for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program to finance critical drinking and wastewater infrastructure.

At 7:25 a.m. today, just after sunrise, a MassDOT worker who was checking highway ramps for ice observed what he believed was a body in the woods off the ramp from Route 128 northbound to Exit 16 in Manchester. Trooper Richard Barnard, who is assigned to the State Police barracks in Danvers, responded to the scene and located a 51-year-old man from Salem who was non-responsive and had suffered serious injuries.

The victim had been ejected from his 2005 Ford pickup truck, which had rolled over and was further into the woods. The Manchester Police and Fire Departments responded and assisted at the scene. The man was transported by a Manchester EMS ambulance to Beverly Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Troopers from the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Service Section responded to assist in the investigation. Initial investigations indicate that, for reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control of the vehicle on the ramp and crashed through the guardrail. The pickup truck rolled over, ejecting the driver, and then continued further into the woods.

On Saturday, March 18, 2017, the New Bedford Police Department celebrated the promotions of five department members and honored two department members for outstanding service at a ceremony at the auditorium of Keith Middle School, 225 Hathaway Blvd.

Lt. Adelino Sousa, a 23-year veteran, was be promoted to captain and Sgt. Evan Bielski, a 13-year veteran, was promoted to lieutenant. Officers Stanley Chaberek, an 18-year veteran; Norman Duchesneau, a 31-year veteran, and Kurt Dreher, a 23-year veteran, will be promoted to sergeant.

Two officers received the Chief’s Achievement Award.

Sgt. Mark Stone, a 29-year veteran of the force, was honored for his many community activities, including his support of Team Owen, which raises money in honor of Owen Simmons, who died from spinal muscular atrophy, and his involvement in organizing Shop with a Cop, a holiday event in which members of the police department accompany children in need on a shopping excursion at Target to ensure they and their families have holiday presents.

Officer Leonard Mota, a 30-year veteran of the force, was honored for his 20 years as a senior staff instructor for the Municipal Police Training Committee Plymouth Police Academy, where he mentored 26 recruit officer classes, with 1,223 recruits. He also leads New Bedford police department offices in parades and at funerals, including those for Officer Joseph Camara in 2003 and Chief David Provencher in 2015.

Here a look at your 2017 New Bedford Half Marathon women’s 1st place winner Katie Moraczewsk from Cambridge. Louis Serafini won 1st place for the men with Ruben Sanca finishing 2nd.

Police are investigating a reported armed robbery which occurred at the Family Dollar store on 160 W. Rodney French Blvd. Saturday evening at approximately 9:00PM.

A 23 year old female victim stated a male approached the counter asking for money. She stated he was holding what appeared to be a black firearm. Male fled with an undetermined amount of cash. There were no injuries reported in the incident.

The male suspect is described as a tall thin light skinned male about 6′ tall. He was wearing black pants, black coat and a gray hoodie. Anyone with information is asked to please contact us at 508-991-6350 or the tip line at 508-992-7463 or at tip@newbedfordpd.com.

A 43-year-old New Bedford man convicted this week of brutally attacking and stabbing another man in late 2015 was sentenced to serve six to 10 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today.

Kevin Hudson was convicted after a jury trial on Thursday of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery. The five-day trial took place in Fall River Superior Court, and the jury deliberated for about two hours before returning its verdicts.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert DiGiantomaso.

On December 9, 2015, New Bedford Police were dispatched to the area of Acushnet Avenue and Hathaway Street for a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, they found the victim being treated by fire personnel for a sever stab wound to his abdomen and a bite mark to his forehead. Witnesses at the scene told police that the suspect had approached the victim on the street and began attacking him with a hammer. When the victim got the hammer away from the defendant, he then pulled a knife and stabbed the victim several times.

The defendant then fled the scene, and was arrested in Boston in January, 2016.

During the course of the investigation it was determined that the defendant had been staying in the victim’s father’s home for about two weeks prior to the stabbing and had refused to pay the agreed upon rent. This argument resulted in the attack.

“I am very pleased with the jury’s verdict in this case. This defendant is a career criminal who has already been convicted of stabbing someone else. He had been staying at the victim’s father’s apartment for two weeks prior to the stabbing. The defendant expressed his thanks by stabbing the victim’s son for no reason,” District Attorney Quinn said. “I am happy with the maximum ten year sentence imposed by Judge McGuire. It was well-deserved. I would like to recognize Assistant District Attorney DiGiantomaso for his hard work on this case.”

Police are reminding the public to keep a close watch on their belongings while at supermarkets and other public places.

On Friday at about 3:20 p.m, a purse was grabbed from the carriage of a 90-year-old woman as she was placing her groceries into her vehicle at Market Basket, 122 Sawyer St. The suspect was described as a white male in his early 20s wearing jeans and a dark colored hoodie. The purse contained cash, gift cards and a cell phone.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

New Bedford police are investigating a report of an armed robbery Friday at Expo’s Mini-Mart, 382 Brock Ave.

A clerk reported that a suspect armed with a handgun stole an undetermined amount of money and fled north on Brock Avenue.

The suspect was described as a white male in his in his late teens or early 20s, tall and thin, wearing a black hooded coat and a black ski mask.

The incident was reported at 3:09 p.m.

New Bedford police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 508-991-6350 or the anonymous tip line at 508-992-7463 or e-mail tip@newbedfordpd.com.