Police departments, community organizations, and school systems across the region are taking advantage of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office’s newest public safety program.

But the Autism Safety Seat Belt Covers are making noise outside of Bristol County too; far away from Bristol County in fact.

BCSO Manager of Public Programs, Tina Marie LePage, has been returning emails, answering calls and mailing seat belt covers to anyone who’s requested one. She’s sent them across Massachusetts and even filled requests from people in Rhode Island, Vermont, and as far away as Alaska.

“We had a good feeling the Autism Safety Seat Belt Covers would be a hit in the community, but we never thought we’d be sending them to Alaska and other states,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said. “We know the challenges that parents, guardians, friends and family members of autistic individuals face in every-day situations, so it’s our sincere hope that these seat belt covers make a positive difference within the autistic community.”

The plush covers velcro around any seat belt in any vehicle and alert first-responders if an individual may resist help, may not recognize danger, is a risk to wander off, or may just need a special approach. They are available for free to anyone in Bristol County and beyond who can benefit. Please contact Tina at 508-995-6400 ext. 3640 or via email at tinamarielepage@bcso-ma.org to make a request.

The seat belt covers are also available at police stations across Bristol County, including Westport, Seekonk, Fairhaven, Raynham, Norton, Swansea and New Bedford. Tina is in the process of connecting with every police department in the county and is also reaching out to school departments and community service-providers.

Recently, Sheriff Hodgson delivered 225 seat belt covers to Sandra Ford, Executive Director for Special Education and Student Services at the New Bedford School Department, which has requested a few hundred more. In total, over the last month, more than 500 seat belt covers have been distributed in Bristol County and beyond.

“Any individual, community group, school teacher, administrator, public safety officer, anyone who thinks these can benefit someone, we encourage you to reach out,” Sheriff Hodgson said. “Public safety is more than reacting to a situation; it’s doing our part to prevent potentially dangerous situations from ever happening in the first place. We feel like we’re making a difference with this new program, and that’s what public safety and law enforcement is all about.”

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of November 2, 2020 –November 6, 2020 and they are as follows:

Eversource:

Eversource will replace the gas mains and service at the following locations:

• Hathaway Rd. from Highland St. to Nauset St. – (Main Relay)
• Carroll St. from Rockdale Ave. to Brigham St. – (Services)
• Priscilla St. from Brigham St. to Gould St. – (Services)
• Crapo St. from Grinnell St. to Rockland St. – (Services)
• South St. from County St. to Crapo St.– (Services)
• Fair St. from Orchard St. to County St. – (Services)
• Hill St. / Hillman St. / Foster St. / Thomas St. / Sycamore St. – (Services)
• Commonwealth Ave. from Metropolitan St. to Claredon St. – (Services)
• Potomska St. / MacArthur Dr. from MacArthur Dr. to Potomska Dr. – (Main Relay)

Eversource will be doing final street and sidewalk restoration at various locations city-wide.

Other:
• Contractor (PA Landers) to continue underground utility work at MassDOT Project #606709, Roadway Reconstruction and Related Work (including signals) along a section of Kings Highway and Tarkiln Hill Road.  Construction to take place during regular working hours (Monday – Friday), police details and traffic controls will be in place.
• Contractor (PA Landers) working at Hazelwood Park retaining wall along West Rodney French Blvd.
• Contractor (PA Landers) repairing various street and sidewalk patches city-wide.
• Contractor (PA Landers) to continue sidewalk excavation and resetting of the curb at Cottage St. from Parker St. to Sycamore St. On-street parking will be restricted from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Friday in the posted work zone areas.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be starting full depth road reconstruction on Hatch St from Belleville Ave. to Acushnet Ave. On street parking will be restricted from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Friday in the posted work zone areas.
• Contractor (North Turf) will be on site at Hazelwood Park installing the new bowling greens.
• MassDOT will be making repairs on the bridge at I-195 eastbound over Route 18 ramp.  Work will be from August 18th to November 30th.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be filling potholes city-wide on a continuous basis.
• Department of Public Infrastructure conducting its annual street sweeping program city-wide.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be flushing hydrants in commercial areas at the following locations from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Fish Houses on Saturday November 7th and Downtown on Sunday November 8th.
• The contractor (Bay State Wind Water) is scheduled to continue large water meter replacements at various locations throughout the city. There are no anticipated traffic controls for this week.
• The contractor (Green Mountain Pipeline Services) is scheduled to complete joint testing and sealing of sewer service connections along MacArthur Dr. and Shawmut Ave. It may be necessary to temporarily close lanes with alternating one-way traffic at some locations. There are no detours anticipated during this work. Police officers will be on-site to direct motorist as necessary.
• 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 clears.

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

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the Department of Public Infrastructure will be closed to the public entry. Office staff is available to assist by email and telephone.

Narcotics Detectives seized three firearms (one loaded), six magazines (three high capacity), and a total of 62 rounds of ammunition and fentanyl after executing a search warrant at 79 Robeson St.

As a result of an investigation, Tyrone Barros, 47, of 79 Robeson St., was charged with multiple firearms-related offences and drug possession.

Barros was previously convicted of firearms possession in 1999, drug distribution in 2018, and has several other convictions for violent crimes including assault and battery on a police officer and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Detective Kevin Barbosa, who is assigned to the department’s “Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau,” investigated the case.

In a letter today to New Bedford Public Schools families, staff and students, Superintendent Thomas Anderson announced the launching of a dashboard-style tracker of COVID-19 test positivity rates for the district. Linked directly to the district homepage, www.newbedfordschools.org, the data will be updated weekly.

Emphasizing transparency and noting the district has “been working to ensure families are informed of the most up-to-date information,” Superintendent Anderson stated the work includes strict adherence to health and safety guidelines “in collaboration with the New Bedford Department of Public Health, the Mass. Department of Health and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This includes steps we must take to address individuals who test positive.”

If a NBPS student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the contact tracing protocol starts immediately. Any adult or student who is considered a CDC Close Contact of a person who tests positive is notified by the Public Health Department and/or New Bedford Public Schools. NBPS follows this 5-step protocol:

1). Families and staff considered “close contacts” are advised to call their healthcare provider for evaluation and to get a COVID-19 PCR test.
2). Children and/or staff in certain classes or in certain schools must stay home during contact tracing.
3). If individuals are not notified, they are not close contacts and do not need to be quarantined.
4). Specific school cases are communicated directly with the school community.
5). If there is a suspected in-school or in-district transmission, the Superintendent will communicate next steps with staff and families as well as with the public. Steps could include: a) closing part of a school, the entire school, or the district for a short time for thorough cleaning; b) closing for the duration of a 14-day quarantine; and c) school will communicate with families about how learning will continue during this time.

Communication is supported by launching the NBPS COVID-19 Tracker on the NBPS homepage to provide timely and updated information about positive cases within the NBPS (updated by 4:00 p.m. every Friday). Please refer to the dashboard for updated information.

The NBPS COVID-19 Tracker is for informational purposes only. Located on the district website homepage, it shares the number of known COVID-19 cases. Tracker data does not include any personally identifiable information and is reported, as required, to DESE. Currently, the Tracker notes: “To date there has been NO evidence of transmission in our schools or offices.”

Superintendent Anderson emphasized, “Families can help by keeping sick students and those students who have been tested but are awaiting test results at home. If your student is ill, please call your school nurse first so that we can ensure you receive the appropriate information to confirm contact tracing begins immediately. Our communication process is dedicated to supporting the health and safety of our students, staff and families.”

On Wednesday, October 28, at about 2:00 p.m. Wareham Police Detectives, along with a trooper assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section went to a home on Fearing Street to arrest a wanted individual. Entering the home, the subject was located hiding in a dirt crawl space, and was placed in custody without incident.

Detectives had developed information that Ricardo Vaughn (29), of 45 Fearing Street had an active warrant from the state of Georgia for robbery. In addition, he also had a warrant from Brockton District Court. During his arrest, detectives located suspected Fentanyl in his front pocket.

Mr. Vaughn is charged with being a fugitive from justice, and possession of a Class “A” substance. He was held at Wareham Police Headquarters pending arraignment on Thursday at Wareham District Court.

On Oct. 28, New Bedford police narcotics detectives seized three firearms (one loaded), six magazines (three high capacity), and a total of 62 rounds of ammunition and fentanyl after executing a search warrant at 79 Robeson Street in New Bedford.

As a result of an investigation, 47-year old Tyrone Barros of 79 Robeson St., was charged with multiple firearms-related offenses and drug possession.

Barros was previously convicted of firearms possession in 1999, drug distribution in 2018, and has several other convictions for violent crimes including assault and battery on a police officer and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Detective Kevin Barbosa, who is assigned to the department’s “Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau,” investigated the case.

If you have any information on criminal activity in your community, the New Bedford Police Dept. wants to hear from you. You can leave an anonymous tip on our voicemail at (508) 991-6300 Ext. 1.

This morning, a Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer, who is also a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, departed for a one-year deployment overseas.

To show their appreciation for his service and his family’s sacrifice, his fellow Officers surprised him and his family with a limo ride to and from the airport.

We wish the Officer a safe deployment and want to reassure him that his family will be taken care of by the MEP family.

Governor Charlie Baker today nominated Associate Justice Kimberly Budd to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. The nominee and her family joined Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito for a formal announcement today at the State House. If confirmed, Justice Budd will be the second Black Chief; second female Chief and first Black female Chief. She will replace Chief Justice Ralph Gants who tragically passed away earlier this fall.

“Justice Kimberly Budd is a distinguished and well respected jurist who will bring years of calm, steady and collaborative leadership experience to the Commonwealth’s highest court serving as Chief Justice,” said Governor Baker. “I have the utmost confidence that her unique perspective and understanding of the law will aid her as she transitions into the role of Chief and that under her leadership, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court will continue its tradition of excellence in promoting the rule of law and fostering public trust.”

“Throughout her career, Justice Budd has served as a role model for women and people of color and she has given a voice and a seat at the table to those who have not always been heard,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “Her qualifications and character make her well suited to continue to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth with justice and integrity and I look forward to the consideration of the Governor’s Council in her appointment.”

“This was a wonderful appointment by the Governor,” said former Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland. “Justice Budd will do a fantastic job because she has all the tools necessary for the role. She is brilliant, hardworking, analytical, collegial and astute. She is a great writer and a tremendous human being. I have watched her career over the years and am certain that Justice Budd will do an outstanding job as Chief Justice.”

The Supreme Judicial Court is the Commonwealth’s highest appellate court, consisting of the Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven Justices hear appeals on a broad range of criminal and civil cases from September through May and issue written opinions that are posted online.

About Justice Kimberly Budd:

Kimberly S. Budd, Associate Justice, was appointed to the Supreme Judicial Court by Governor Charlie Baker in 2016. Since her appointment, she has authored over 85 decisions. She also serves on the Hearing List Committee. Justice Budd is President and Dean of the Flaschner Judicial Institute, designing continuing education programs for judges. She also serves as the Court’s liaison to the Committee on Judicial Performance Evaluation, the Trial Court Leadership Group, the SJC Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services and the Judicial Youth Corps.

Justice Budd earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Georgetown University, and a law degree from Harvard Law School. She began her legal career as a law clerk to Chief Justice Joseph P. Warner of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Justice Budd was a litigation associate at Mintz Levin, before serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts in the Major Crimes and Drug Units. After that, she was a University Attorney for Harvard University in the General Counsel’s Office. Justice Budd later served as Director of the Community Values program at Harvard Business School. Justice Budd was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court by Governor Deval Patrick in 2009. In 2016 she served as the Regional Administrative Justice for Middlesex Criminal Business. Justice Budd teaches in MCLE and Bar Association programs, is a former adjunct instructor at New England Law Boston, and has taught trial advocacy at Harvard Law School. She is married with two sons.

For more information about the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, visit: http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/sjc/.

At approximately 10:25 PM Tuesday Troopers from the State Police-Foxboro Barracks responded to a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle on Route 95 northbound, prior to the Route 93 exit, in Canton. Troopers arriving on scene found a female victim with serious injuries.

Investigation indicates that the incident was a domestic assault that involved a man and the female victim standing outside their Ford Focus in the breakdown lane. At one point in the incident, the male re-entered the vehicle and began to drive. As he did so he struck the female.

The victim, a 35-year-old New Hampshire woman, was transported by Canton EMS to Boston Medical Center. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.

The operator, who remained on scene, was arrested by Troopers and transported to State Police-Foxboro, where he was booked on the following charges:

1. Assault and battery on a family or household member;
2. Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon;
3. Violation of abuse prevention order;Intimidation of a witness;
4. OUI-Liquor 2nd offense;
5. Negligent operation of a motor vehicle;
6. Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

He is expected to be arraigned today in Stoughton District Court.

His name is not being released in adherence to a state law that prohibits police from identifying defendants in domestic arrests in order to protect the privacy of their victims. He is identified here only as a 28-year-old New Hampshire man.

The New Bedford Health Department has issued fines to three New Bedford businesses for failure to comply with the City’s COVID-19 regulations and protections for residents.

El Caribe Restaurant at 884 Brock Avenue, Expo’s Convenience Store at 309 Dartmouth Street, and Crown Fried Chicken at 1570 Acushnet Avenue, were each fined for their failure to comply with the regulations. Each business was cited for failure of employees to wear masks.

El Caribe: Fined $100
Expo’s: Fined $200
Crown Fried Chicken: Fined $200

Violation orders were issued the week of October 19 after inspections by the New Bedford Health Department. Businesses and employees are reminded to comply with mask-wearing to keep themselves and others safe.

Earlier this year, Mayor Jon Mitchell and the Board of Health announced emergency orders to keep employees safe at their place of work, and to outline reporting requirements of COVID-19 in the workplace. The orders include strong measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.

Businesses will be subject to fines for failure to comply with the City’s orders, including failure to protect employees and failure to notify the Health Department of an outbreaks. The orders can be found on New Bedford’s COVID-19 webpage: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/coronavirus/.