Boston Police arrest man for discharging firearm after dispute at playground

At about 7:41 PM on Thursday, January 16, 2020, officers assigned to District D-14 (Brighton) arrested Daniel Logan, 50, of Brighton, on firearm and assault-related charges after responding to a call for shots fired towards the rear of McKinney Playground located in the area of Keenan Road in Brighton.

On arrival, officers located an adult male victim who stated that while walking his dog on the rear baseball field, he was approached by the suspect who was also walking his dog at the time of the incident. The victim stated the suspect approached him and asked if his dog was friendly. The suspect then asked the victim if he wanted to fight or wanted to have the two dogs fight, to which the victim declined.

The suspect then began to threaten the victim without cause before pulling out a firearm from his jacket pocket. The suspect then chambered a round and fired one shot into the ground near the shortstop position on the baseball diamond. The victim then quickly fled the area on foot and contacted police. Officers later recovered ballistic evidence at the described location.

Additional responding officers soon located the suspect nearby and placed him in custody after he was positively identified. While placing the suspect in custody, officers performed a pat frisk with negative results. Despite the best efforts of responding BPD K-9 Units, no firearm was located or recovered on scene or surrounding areas.

The suspect will appear in Brighton District Court on multiple charges including Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Dwelling, Carrying a Loaded Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition.




NOTICE: City of New Bedford trash/recycling pick-up delay for Martin Luther King Day




Wareham Police arrest two wanted in New Bedford in connection with armed robbery

Two individuals wanted in New Bedford for armed robbery were arrested by Wareham Police early Friday morning. Luis Santos and Kerstyn Gross were placed in custody at separate locations by officers of the midnight shift.

At 12:15 a.m. Officer Robert McLain and Sergeant Daniel Henderson arrested Kerstyn Gross (22), of East Freetown, on Depot Street, after responding to a disturbance call. At the time of the arrest she had four warrants.

Later, at about 2:00 a.m., Sergeant Henderson and Officer Ryan Gomes went to an address at Brandy Hill Apartments, where Mr. Santos was located and arrested after being ordered out of a bathroom. Luis Santos (21), of no certain address, was arrested on five active warrants from New Bedford District Court.




Wareham Police arrest Onset man after alleged assault on police and trying to use officer’s gun

On Wednesday, January 15th, at about 10:00 p.m., Wareham Police Officers Blaise Lalli and James White went to an address in Onset to pick up a male for a mental health evaluation. As the two officers were responding, further information was received that the male was combative and punching walls. Officer Michael Phinney was diverted from another police call to provide reinforcement to the two responding officers.

At the scene, they found a large male who was belligerent and uncooperative. The officers struggled with male to place him in handcuffs while he resisted aggressively. When finally subdued, the male was transported to Tobey Hospital by Officer Lalli with Officer White following. Sergeant Daniel Flaherty, Officers Nate Aronson, and Joseph Cardoza responded to the hospital to assist with the male.

While wrestling to get him into the emergency room, the male still handcuffed grabbed a hold of Officer Aronson’s firearm, attempting to pull it from the holster. Officer Aronson alerted the other officers, and the decision was made to transport the male to the police station for safety reasons. At the cruiser, the male refused to get in and attempted to kick Sergeant Flaherty. A Taser was utilized and the male was finally placed in the car.

After arriving at the station the male continued to be combative, grabbing Officer Aronson’s leg. As Officer Aronson stepped back the male then lunged at Officer Cardoza grabbing his arms before being subdued. Officer John Iacobucci, who was assigned as the desk officer for the night shift assisted in the scuffle at the police station.

As a result of the incidents the male is charged with;

1. Assault and battery with intent to disarm an officer.
2. Disorderly Conduct.
3. Disturbing the peace.
4. Resisting arrest.
5. Two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.




Faces Of New Bedford #230: Margo Saulnier

Meet Margo Saulnier, 46-year-old New Bedford’s Cultural Coordinator for the city’s arts and culture community.

Margo, originally from Acushnet graduated from New Bedford High School and went on to obtain a degree in music from Boston University and a master of fine arts degree from Brooklyn College. She went on to spend over a decade with the Boston Symphony Orchestra where she was involved in the artistic planning for the Boston Pops. With her experience, she went to become a part-time lecturer in the music department at Northeastern University alongside being a project consultant for the Celebrity Series of Boston.

In 2017 New Bedford began searching for a new position, a Cultural Coordinator for the city and Margo saw it as an opportunity to return to the area she grew up in. After being selected for the position she moved back to New Bedford with her husband Scott and her two adopted daughters.

In her first year on the job, she worked hard and put together New Bedford’s first-ever strategic arts and culture plan where the vision for the city is to be vibrant with the wide variety of arts and culture that can be found here. Following the plan, the New Bedford Creative website launched featuring a directory of the artistic members of the New Bedford community, easy access to tools, events and grant information.

Moving forward her plans are to continue implementing the arts and culture plan that was created. Spreading art into the communities that may not think art is for them or for those who don’t have access to it through new programs and public art displays.

“I’m pretty picky with my taste with everything, but moving back here was like falling in love all over again. The amount of talent from the people who live here is incredible, it’s like Boston and New York City.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a New Bedford Guide project being undertaken by Josh Souza. If you’d like to nominate someone or ask a question you can inquire with him through email at josh@newbedfordguide.com.

Faces of New Bedford began as a project by Colton Simmons. You can find Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton




Buy or Improve Your Home With a VA Loan

If you’re a member of the military, a veteran, or the qualifying spouse of a service member, a VA loan could help you finance your dream home off base. It’s a benefit you’ve earned, and one that we’d love to explore with you in greater detail.

One of the biggest roadblocks to owning a home is saving enough money for a down payment. A survey conducted by the Home Buying Institute showed almost two-thirds of borrowers said the FHA loan’s low down payment requirement was its most attractive feature. 

– Buy a single-family home (up to four units).
– Buy a home and make improvements or renovations to it.
– Consolidate debt.
– Buy a condo in a VA-approved project.
– Increase your home’s energy efficiency by making updates or adding new features like solar panels.

VA Loan Benefits Turn Dreams Into Reality

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a wide array of benefits during service and after separation or retirement, but one of its most popular is the VA loan. Although every lending situation is different, VA loans often offer:

– $0 down payment options
– Refinance up to 100% of the appraised value of the property, with options for cash-out or rate-and-term refinances
– No need for PMI (private mortgage insurance) or mortgage insurance premiums
– Better terms and interest rates
– Fewer closing costs
– No prepayment penalty fees

How Can I Qualify for a VA Loan?

Although the VA doesn’t make VA loans, the U.S. government guarantees them, which means it might be easier for you to qualify. You may be able to get a VA loan if you meet these three qualifications:

– Get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) based on your service history and duty status.
– Meet your lender’s credit, income, and other requirements.
– Plan to live in the home you’re buying with a VA loan.

We’re Here to Help

At BayCoast Mortgage, we thank you for your service and your sacrifice. That’s why no matter where you are on the home-buying journey, we’re here to help you find financing that’s just right for you. Contact us or call 877-466-2678 today and let one of our experienced BayCoast 
Mortgage lending professionals walk beside you on your path to homeownership.




Massachusetts Governor Baker, State Police Colonel Mason unveil State Police legislative proposals, outline progress on reforms

Governor Charlie Baker and Colonel Christopher Mason today held a press conference at the Massachusetts State Police Academy to announce a bill to improve and modernize State Police hiring, promotions, accountability, and discipline and update the public on the progress of significant reforms within the Department.

Governor Baker and Colonel Mason also addressed the 85thRecruit Training Troop – believed to be the largest and most diverse pool of trooper candidates in State Police history – before speaking with the news media.

“Colonel Mason has been working hard to make progress on several reforms, and we are pleased this class of recruits will be the first to go through his new trainings that focus on stringent ethics and community policing,” said Governor Baker. “We are also filing legislation to allow the Colonel to take swift action against Troopers who do not live up to the oath they swore, promote a more diverse workforce and bring Department policies in line with modern management practices.”

Among the changes proposed by Governor Baker are specific steps to increase diversity within the Department; allow swifter and more severe penalties for violating the public trust; and maximize merit and capability in the promotional process.Specifically, An Act Advancing Reform within the Massachusetts State Police would:

• Streamline the process for taking administrative action to suspend officers without pay when they are charged with for serious offenses and simplify the disciplinary process for imposing lower forms of discipline for minor offenses;

• Create a new fraudulent pay statute that will allow state and municipal agencies to recover treble damages from police officers who knowingly submit false claims for hours worked for payment;

• Authorize the creation of a cadet program as an alternative route to the State Police Academy, similar to those used successfully by municipal police departments, an innovation that will diversify the pool of prospective recruits;

• Eliminate the requirement that the colonel of State Police be selected exclusively from within the Department, allowing external candidates with 10 or more years in law enforcement and five or more years in a police or military leadership position;

• Eliminate the oral interview component from the formula that determines scoring for promotion to lieutenant or captain in order to reduce the potential for subjectivity or bias in promotional decisions; and

• Accelerate the rate at which longevity points are accrued in the context of promotion to the positions of sergeant andlieutenant in order to expand the pool of qualified candidates for these positions.

“The future of Massachusetts State Police will be determined by the personnel we recruit, hire, and train today,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “These legislative proposals will help shape the organizational environment in which they work to serve, protect, and inspire our communities.”

Also today, Colonel Mason provided an update on his internal efforts to ramp up the Department’s accountability to the public, revise the curriculum at its Academy, and increase diversity within its ranks. Within the past two months, State Police have:

• Activated Automatic Vehicle Location systems in nearly 3,000 cruisers;

• Posted a Request for Responses for a contract to provide the Department with 1,500 body cameras and 1,000 in-car video systems;

• Put new supervisory oversight policies in place for programmed overtime assignments, such as those used in the former Troop E;

• Implemented ethics training specific to time and attendanceat the State Police Academy along with instruction on modern policing skills such as empathy, de-escalation, and communication;

• Developed continuing ethics training modules on time and attendance and supervisors’ duties for current Department personnel;

• Created and posted the position of Diversity Recruitment Officer to assist in recruiting, hiring, and developing employees from historically underrepresented communities; and

• Promoted two women and five people of color to the supervisory ranks of detective lieutenant, captain, detective captain, and major, with one assigned as a troop commander and five assigned as unit commanders.

“The Massachusetts State Police remain fully invested in our commitment to excellence in modern policing,” said Colonel Mason. “Even as we fulfill our core public safety mission in every corner of the Commonwealth and adopt new responsibilities in a changing world, we are making important and measurable progress increasing the Department’s diversity, our accountability to the public, and the training practices we employ. With the support and assistance of dedicated personnel at every level of the Department, State Police are moving forward on the right track.”




New Bedford cold weather overflow shelter open tonight, January 16

Due to the expected weather conditions over the next 7 days. The overflow will be opened until at least Thursday, January 23rd. All inquiries can be forwarded to Sister Rose House and 1-800-homeless.

All guests should plan to arrive for 6:00pm and the cutoff time will be 8:30pm. Dinner will be served between 6:00pm and 7:30pm and we wrap up between 9:45pm and 10pm.

As a reminder, the overflow will be activated on nights that the temperature is expected to be at 28 degrees or less. If the temperature were to drop below 28 at 4 or 5:00am rather than 7 or 8:00pm as an example, it doesn’t ensure that the overflow would open. All guests are expected to get up at 5:00 am and exit the premises by 6 or 7:00am.

Also, precipitation or snow alone doesn’t ensure that the overflow will open but are taken into consideration coupled with the temperatures. We also view the feel like temps, so as an example if the temperature was expected to be at 30 degrees but the wind-chill coupled with rain or snow presents or “feels like” 25 degrees then the overflow would be activated.

Every year we always have grey area days but we do the best in our judgment to make the right call. On days that we are expected to open an email blast will be sent by 12pm.

Also, 1-800-homeless will notify any callers if the overflow will be open on expected days. This will be our 4th season and with all the challenges at any given time, we are hopeful to continue safe operations and save lives, especially on the coldest nights. We also are looking for extra help, especially if the number of guests expected on any given night reaches 30. We also have 25 guests on the main floor so manpower is very important.




After Charlotte Moccia’s kidnapping, it’s time to toughen kidnapping laws in Massachusetts

As a fan of Cold Case television shows, blogs and podcasts, I’ve learned that men who kidnap little girls almost always sexually abuse them before killing them. Since they are cold cases, many get away with the crime or it takes decades to get justice for the families. When 11-year-old Charlotte Moccia was allegedly forcibly abducted by a man shortly after getting off her school bus, I immediately thought the worst but hoped for the best. Thanks to our AMAZING police officers with help from tips from the Massachusetts public Charlotte was saved, but the entire ordeal begs the questions; what do we do with the kidnapper?

24-year-old Miguel Rodriguez of Springfield, Massachusetts was arrested with Charlotte Moccia in the back seat of his vehicle. While everyone deserves a fair trial, this one should be easy to prosecute – although I’m sure his defense attorney will claim insanity, he grew up in a bad home or some other pathetic excuse. Let’s be clear – there is only one reason a 24-year old man kidnaps an 11-year old girl and monsters that kidnap children need to forfeit their life – through execution or life in prison. I don’t care about their background.

Unfortunately, the last time a person was executed in Massachusetts was on May 9, 1947, when the state executed gangsters Philip Bellino and Edward Gertson for the murder of Robert Williams, a former U.S. Marine. Massachusetts politicians have ensured the death penalty is not an option even when police officers are murdered. The only exception is when the federal government gets involved and the kidnapping of Charlotte Moccia will be prosecuted at the state level because he didn’t cross state lines.

Based on Massachusetts kidnapping law, Miguel Rodriguez is facing 15-years in prison:

“Whoever, without lawful authority, forcibly or secretly confines or imprisons a child under the age of 16 within the commonwealth against his will or forcibly carries or sends such person out of the commonwealth or forcibly seizes and confines or inveigles or kidnaps a child under the age of 16 with the intent either to cause him to be secretly confined or imprisoned in the commonwealth against his will or to cause him to be sent out of the commonwealth against his will or in any way held to service against his will, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 15 years. The provisions of the preceding sentence shall not apply to the parent of a child under 16 years of age who takes custody of such child.”

Miguel Rodriguez is facing “no more than 15 years” for kidnapping Charlotte (though he’ll likely face other charges). Even if Miguel Rodriguez gets the maximum sentence and doesn’t get paroled, he will be out of prison at 39 years old. Prisons don’t rehabilitate child predators. 15 years from now, parents of young children don’t need a 39-year old Miguel Rodriguez driving around their neighborhoods. It’s time for our legislators to at least consider life in prison without the possibility of parole for people who kidnap children.




New Bedford Citizens Police Academy starts on Jan. 28

There are still seats available to participate in the Citizens Police Academy at the New Bedford Police Department beginning January 28.

The 10-week experience is designed to acquaint community residents with an overview of the training and practices law enforcement offers face daily when working at the New Bedford Police Dept.  Topics covered include First Aid, CPR, firearms, active shooter, Constitutional Law, Taser, defensive tactics, street gangs, and drugs.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for anyone interested in a career in Law Enforcement or those who simply want to learn more about the department,” says Capt. Rick Rezendes, who oversees the program.

The Academy meets every Tuesday from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Police H.Q. on Rockdale Ave. Participants must be 18 year of age and pass a background check.

For more information or to register for the program, contact Capt. Rezendes at 508-991-6300 x79561 or Ricard.Rezendes@newbedfordpd.com.