“Investigation Update: Arrest Made in Connection to Attempted Kidnapping in Roxbury:

Detectives assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) arrested Charles Marriro, 58, of Dorchester in the area of 131 Harold Street and charged him with Assault & Battery and Attempted Kidnapping.

Circumstances surrounding the Incident: At about 2:40 PM on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) responded to a call for an attempted kidnapping at the David A. Ellis Elementary School located at 302 Walnut Avenue in Roxbury.

On arrival, officers spoke with school staff members who stated that while three students were out at recess, they were approached by an unidentified male who attempted to pull one of the children away by grabbing their arm. While grabbing the child, the suspect stated that he wanted them to come play basketball with him.

Charles Marriro is expected to be arraigned in Roxbury District Court.”

“Yesterday at 1219 hrs, Engine 8 was dispatched to Market Basket for a male approximately sixty years old experiencing a medical emergency in the parking lot. The male was accompanied by his sister.

Engine 8 arrived in four minutes and found the male victim to be in cardiac arrest and began CPR. The crew applied an automated external defibrillator (AED) and delivered one shock.

Firefighters continued CPR and after several minutes the patient had a return of a strong pulse.

New Bedford EMS Paramedic 1 and Medic 4 arrived and began advanced life support care. Prior to the male patient being transported from the scene, he was awake, alert, and answering questions. He was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital.

Excellent work by the members of Engine 8, Medic 4, & Paramedic 1!” -New Bedford Fire Department.

“Santa’s sleigh won’t be the only thing delivering toys this holiday season.

On Thursday, December 16, the Troop B Community Action Team (CAT) assisted the Young Mens’ Club of Hadley with a sizable donation to the Hampshire County Toys for Tots organization. Troop B CAT members Sergeant M. McNally, Troopers T. Tudryn, D. Cahill, and D. Brown were contacted by Richard Downie, the Vice-President of the Young Mens’ Club.

Members of Mr. Downie’s Club had purchased over $1,000 worth of toys and wished to donate them to Toys For Tots. Troop B CAT arranged to pick up the toys and deliver them the Toys for Tots drop off location in Chicopee. In total, it took eight large bags and four State Police cruisers to transport the toys.

In addition to toy donations, the Young Mens’ Club does other wonderful things for their community such as hosting a free kids’ fishing derby, as well as awarding various scholarships to local high school students annually.

#MSPTogetherWeCan” -Massachusetts State Police.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

“Santa, along with some helpers from the New Bedford Police Department, went to random locations around the city to pass out toys to all the kids last night.

Happy holidays from us to you???”-City of New Bedford Police Department.

All photos by the New Bedford Police Department:

At 12:20 a.m. on Monday, December 20, Trooper Scott Boutell was on Route 2 in Westminster when his cruiser was passed by a Ford SUV with a defective exhaust that made excessive and unnecessary noise for any hour of the day. Trooper Boutell caught up to the vehicle and turned on his blue lights to conduct a stop. The vehicle sporadically swerved before coming to a stop in Gardner after several minutes.

Trooper Boutell approached the SUV, which had two male occupants. Trooper Boutell gave verbal commands for the driver to exit, and the passenger to keep his hands visible. Both occupants refused to follow instructions and became argumentative. Gardner Police officers responded to back up the Trooper and the driver and passenger were removed from the vehicle.

Troopers Christian Wolferseder and Joseph Leano arrived on scene as additional backup and were able to secure the operator DARYN TACY, 32, and the passenger CHRISTIAN WOLHOK, 31, both of Keene, N.H., in marked State Police cruisers. Troopers then completed a probable cause search of the vehicle after observing mace, a hatchet, and a container holding crack cocaine in the open interior of the vehicle.

The search discovered over 18 grams of heroin, over 340 grams of cocaine, various types of pills and prescription medication, a large amount of cash, and a black Hi-Point 9mm handgun along with 8 round of hollow point ammunition. Neither TACY or WOLHOK possess a license to carry a firearm.

TACY and WOLHOK were transported to the Athol barracks to be booked, fingerprinted, and photographed. TACY and WOLHOK were arraigned at Gardner District Court on the following charges:

1. Trafficking In Heroin;
2. Trafficking In Cocaine;
3. Unlawful Possession Prescription Medications;
4. Possession of Class B Drugs (Suboxone);
5. Conspiracy To Violate Drug Laws;
6. Possession Of A Firearm;
7. Possession Of Ammunition Without FID Card; and
8. Commission Of A Felony While Possessing A Firearm.

Additionally, TACY was charged with:

1. Equipment violation (loud defective exhaust);
2. Fail To Stop For Police; and
3. Possession of Class B Drug.

WOLHOK was charged with:

1. Default from a court appearance.

WOLHOK also had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.

A Dominican national previously residing in Springfield was sentenced today in connection with using another individual’s identity to fraudulently obtain government benefits.

Andrea Perez Placencia, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Perez Placencia also was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $32,029. On Sept. 20, 2021, Perez Placencia pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and two counts of theft of government money.

Perez Placencia used the identity of a Puerto Rican citizen to apply for and obtain Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8, housing assistance benefits as well as to receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. As a result, between August 2017 and August 2018, Perez Placencia fraudulently received approximately $12,570 in Social Security benefits and, from April 2019 through February 2021, she fraudulently received $17,380 in Section 8 housing assistance benefits.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; John Cremonini, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; and Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

“On December 21, 2021, New Bedford Police officers observed Lawrence Green Jr., 29, of 46 Highland Street, slumped over the wheel in his car.

While waking him up and talking to him, officers saw white residue all over his dashboard, confirming it to be Fentanyl.

Green Jr. was arrested and charged with trafficking in more than 10 grams of Fentanyl.” -New Bedford Police Department.

New Bedford Police were dispatched to 79 Hunter Street for a report of a car that had hit a house and fled the scene.

There were no injuries from the incident but there was damage to the front brick steps and porch, as well as to a parked vehicle in the driveway.

There was a license plate embedded into the brick steps, which officers later found the vehicle was connected to Isaiah Hernandez, 22, of 735 Belleville Avenue #2.

Police later found Hernandez causing a scene outside of St. Luke’s Hospital. While placing him under arrest, he became aggressive and assaulted two officers. He was charged with two counts of A&B on a police officer, leaving the scene of property damage, and negligent operation to a motor vehicle.
“

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of December 27, 2021 – December 31, 2021 and they are as follows:

Eversource will be working on the gas main relays and services at:

• Relaying gas main on Church St at Tarkiln Hill Rd

Other:

• MassDOT Project #608536, intersection improvements at Rockdale Ave X Allen St is wrapped up for the winter season. Contractor (JH Lynch) will be returning in March 2022, weather pending, to resume utility work and intersection upgrades.
• MassDOT Project #606718, roadway reconstruction and related work (including traffic signal installation) along a section of Hathaway Rd, Nauset St and Mt Pleasant St is wrapped up for the winter season. Contractor (KR Rezendes, Inc) will be returning in March 2022, weather pending, to resume final site work.
• Contractor (PA Landers) to continue work at MassDOT Project #606709 with drainage work along a section of Kings Highway and Tarkiln Hill Rd.
• Contractor (SCR Constructors) will continue site work at the future South Coast Rail station platform locations in the City. (Church St at Carlisle St and Wamsutta St at Acushnet Ave.) If you have questions, please email the project team at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us
• Due to ongoing construction at the High Hill Reservoir residents may experience discolored water. The water is safe, and the discoloration will be temporary. We recommend allowing the water to settle for a few hours and then flushing your service line by letting the bathtub run for a few minutes until the water runs clear.

** Please note: Contractors will continue to follow guidelines and protocol regarding COVID-19 social distancing while conducting work in construction zone.

Donations support nine local organizations serving individuals and families in need.

Southcoast Health is proud to once again expand our Community Benefits program into the holiday season through Southcoast Health Cares by supporting nine organizations that care for so many in our region. Throughout the year, the Southcoast Health Community Benefits team collaborates with more than a hundred community partners to understand, prioritize and develop programming to address the most pressing needs of our community.

In early December, Southcoast Cares partnered with My Brother’s Keeper to lead a collection drive supporting local families in need. Once again, demonstrating their generosity and commitment to the community, Southcoast Health employees chose to give back by adopting specific families or gifting much-needed items ranging from toys, art and crafts, clothing and household items for children, teens and adults during this holiday season.

“Southcoast Cares allows us to deliver on our mission of providing More than medicine, directly addressing emerging needs in the community,” says Alison LeBert, Manager of Community Benefits at Southcoast Health. “It was wonderful to see the number of gifts collected in the employee holiday gift drive and the overwhelming support of our effort to give back to our community.”

“For the second year in a row, Southcoast Health will help make Christmas a very special day for hundreds of struggling local families,” says Erich Miller, President of My Brother’s Keeper. “The gifts the employees donated to benefit the My Brother’s Keeper Christmas Program will be cherished by the children who will receive them. Equally important, these generous donations will alleviate the stress and anxiety of parents who would otherwise watch their children go without gifts this Christmas. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for joining us in delivering help and hope to families throughout the South Coast.”

My Brother’s Keeper delivers furniture and food to families in need living in the Southeastern service area. Founded in 1988 by a husband and wife from the basement of their home, today 4,000 volunteers and 14 employees work together from two modern facilities, located in Easton and Dartmouth, to make 9,000 deliveries each year.

Southcoast Health is committed to our mission of providing healthcare that extends beyond direct patient care. We understand that the environment in which we live, work, play, and age is the greatest indicator of health and overall wellness. In addition to the collection drive, Southcoast Health also provided monetary support to eight local organizations spanning across our region:

• United Way of Greater New Bedford
• Salvation Army Fall River Corps Community Center
• Salvation Army New Bedford Corps Community Center
• Salvation Army Newport Corps
• Mercy Meals and More
• Turning Point
• PACE
• Citizens for Citizens

“Southcoast Health’s very generous donation allows Turning Point to continue helping our neighbors who are experiencing temporary financial difficulty by assisting with rent arrears, utility bills, transportation challenges, etc. With so many people living paycheck to paycheck, especially in these trying times, we are honored to be here, ready to assist, thanks in part to Southcoast Health,” says Deb Ito, Director of Turning Point, the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless. “On behalf of the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless, Turning Point and its clients, a truly heartfelt thank you to Southcoast for your continued support.”

Southcoast Heath is delighted to assist these wonderful organizations in their mission to serve and support the people of our region.

“I’d like to thank the administration and staff of the Southcoast Health Group for the kindness and generosity they have shown our organization,” says Liz Berube, Executive Director of Citizens for Citizens, Inc. “By caring for the wellbeing of our community members and supporting the efforts of local organizations like CFC during such a critical time in recent history, Southcoast Health has proven to be a true champion of Community Action and we are proud to partner with them to aid and support our most vulnerable community members.”

The Community Benefits team collaborates with community partners to reduce health disparities and provide improved access to care, through upstream strategies that are proactive and focused on improving long-term health outcomes that will influence generational change. To learn more about Southcoast Cares and Southcoast Health’s community benefits programs, please visit Southcoast Cares – Southcoast Health.
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About Southcoast Health

Celebrating the system’s 25th anniversary in 2021, Southcoast Health is a not-for-profit, charitable organization and the largest provider of primary and specialty care in the region, serving communities in Rhode Island and across Southeastern Massachusetts. Southcoast Health is a Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospital in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Out of the 2,743 considered hospitals in the United States, only 250 earned this recognition. In 2020 and 2021, St. Luke’s is a Newsweek and Leapfrog’s Best Maternity Hospitals. US News ranks Southcoast 9th among hospitals in Massachusetts, and 2nd among those in the Providence Metro area. In 2019 and 2020, the Southcoast Health system also received seven awards, including Best Hospitals and Best Place to Work, in SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best Awards voted on by residents and readers.

With 7,500 employees, Southcoast Health is the largest employer in Southeastern Mass., and one of the largest employers in the Commonwealth, according to the Boston Business Journal. Southcoast Health is proud of our mission of providing high-quality, affordable healthcare to our patients and proud of our tradition of eliminating the barriers that prevent access to care. More information is available online at www.southcoast.org. Connect to Southcoast Health through social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Southcoast® is a registered trademark of Southcoast Health System.