Just after midnight, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Patrick Dolan was on patrol on Pleasant Street in the city of Holyoke when he observed a 2005 Black Honda Accord without a front registration plate and inoperable front headlight. He stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Pleasant and Dwight streets.

As Trooper Dolan approached the vehicle he observed two occupants. The driver was identified as CARLOS ROSARIO-INFANTE, 35 and the front passenger as RADAMES ESCALERA, 34, both of Holyoke. ROSARIO-INFANTE was observed leaning over into the rear passenger floor area where a duffel bag was located. He informed Trooper Dolan that he did not have his license or vehicle registration on his person and verbally identified himself.

As a result of an investigation and search of the vehicle, 150 grams of suspected heroin and approximately $12,490 in US currency was located. Both subjects were placed under arrest and transported to State Police-Northampton for booking and later transferred to the Hampshire County House of Corrections pending their arraignment today.

MSP K-9 unit Trooper Norman Stanikmas and his partner Emma, Trooper Christopher Wolferseder and officers from Holyoke PD assisted at the scene.

The Massachusetts State Police are releasing images of the suspect who robbed a Starbucks drive-thru at gunpoint yesterday and an image of his suspected get-away vehicle. The robbery occurred at approximately 6 a.m. at the Starbucks located in the Framingham Rest Area on Route 90 westbound.

We ask the public to contact us if they recognize anything in these images or have any information about this suspect or incident.

The male suspect was dressed entirely in black and wore a mask, with only his eyes visible. He is described as having an average build, approximately 5′ 5″ to 5′ 8″ tall, approximately 160 lbs, with the visible skin around his eyes being tan in appearance. The suspect was dressed in all black clothing, to include his coat, pants, boots, ski mask, and latex gloves.

The suspect entered the building through a door used by employees. Upon entry, the suspect displayed a small black automatic handgun, pointed it at two Starbucks employees, and forced one of them to open the safe in the office. The suspect removed money and then fled on foot, carrying an amount of both loose and bundled dollar bills in a variety of denominations in his arms.

The suspect was later observed entering a small black SUV parked on Audrea Road behind the plaza and fleeing north toward Brook Street.

State Police believe a person matching the suspect’s description was also observed outside the Starbucks at approximately 6 a.m. hours on Tuesday, Dec. 24, two days prior to the armed robbery.

Anyone with information about this suspect or incident, or who recognizes anything in the images, is urged to please contact State Police-Weston at (781) 431-5050.

A 35-year-old New Bedford heroin and fentanyl trafficker will serve up to 11 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Ryan Cabral pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last week to separate indictments charging him with trafficking fentanyl, trafficking heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, unlawful possession of a high capacity firearm, unlawful possession of an illegal firearm with one prior conviction and unlawful possession of ammunition with one prior conviction.

The defendant was the target of two separate warrants for the addresses of 36 Rodney Street and 31 Rodney Street on October 4, 2016 for heroin/fentanyl distribution. While executing the warrant at 36 Rodney Street, police found a .22 caliber pistol loaded with six rounds, and three large bags of heroin weighing 177 grams. Police also found scales, packaging materials, jacks with press stands to press the heroin into compact forms, letters of standing for the defendant, over $25,000 in cash, and several rounds of ammunition along with a high capacity magazine.

While his case was pending in Superior Court, the defendant was again arrested on April 19 of this year when New Bedford Police executed search warrants against the defendant for his two cars and his home at 76 Windsor Street. Police located one of the cars running outside of a barbershop with the defendant’s three young children inside it. The defendant, at the time, was inside the barbershop getting a haircut. In the running vehicle with the three children inside it, police found approximately 92 grams of fentanyl in the pocket of the front passenger side’s door within reach of the children. Another 21 grams of fentanyl was located during the search of the Windsor Street home, along with packaging materials, scales, cutting agents, and $6,916 in cash.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia and the seven to 11 year state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Thomas McGuire.

“This defendant has a history of drug dealing, and continued to sell fentanyl while he was out on release on his first case. His previous convictions clearly had no impact on him as he continued to sell fentanyl in the City of New Bedford,” District Attorney Quinn said. “Fentanyl has contributed to the significant increase in fatal overdoses over the last five-plus years. As of November 30th, there have been 194 fatal overdoses in Bristol County. A substantial prison sentence was warranted to protect the public.”

“On Tuesday, December 24, 2019, a Massachusetts Environmental Police K9 Officer was conducting a hunter check in the woods along 195 in Fairhaven when his cruiser was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The cruiser was parked in the grass beyond the breakdown lane with K9 Hank inside.

Aside from being a bit shaken up, K9 Hank, fortunately, suffered only minor injuries and was able to make it home on Christmas afternoon to spend the holidays with his family. K9 Hank will be taking a few days of much-needed rest but should be back to serving the Commonwealth very soon.”

Massachusetts State Police photos:

Massachusetts legislators are always churning out a number of proposed bills. The vast majority of the time these bills seem to revolve around something to ban – the Commonwealth has had a centuries-old love affair with banning things and 2020 will be no different.

However, unlike in past years, there are a few surprises – there are actually some new laws that will actually benefit your wallet. Shocker, right?

Let’s begin with the bans: cell-phone use while driving and vaping.

The Bans
A controversial ban on flavored tobacco, including menthol cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and vape products was enacted by Governor Baker on September 24th of this year. Baker’s concern is that kids and teenagers will be drawn to the products that killed at least 47 people in the U.S., including three in Massachusetts.

Initially temporary, elements of the ban became permanent on November 27th. While the ban of flavored e-cigarettes was upheld, the ban on flavored tobacco products will take effect on June 1st, 2020.

In addition, Baker tried to include Cannabis vaping products in the ban but courts ruled that only the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has that authority and they opted to quarantine marijuana vaping products until such a time that they can determine that they are safe.

The controversial aspect is that many residents went into business before the ban under the assumption that they could turn a profit and in some cases, make a living. Imagine, being told a few months into your business that all sales must stop and you can no longer take in a paycheck? For that reason, a number of businesses have sued the Baker administration.

Another aspect of the controversy is that while 47 people in the U.S., including three in Massachusetts, have died from vaping related causes, cigarettes kill just shy of half a million people annually, yet they are legal.

If you are in the habit of using your phone while driving you’d better start weaning yourself off or go cold turkey or you will be hit in the wallet, court-ordered into an educational program, and/or have your insurance surcharged. As of Sunday, Feb. 23, police officers can pull you over if you have your phone in your hand. That means you can’t play the old “I wasn’t texting sir, I swear.” If any electronic device in your hand you get a ticket.

There is, however, a sort of warning period until March 31 which will prepare the public and until the end of March, you will simply receive a warning.

This is a law that has stalled a number of times over the years because some legislators felt police would racially profile people and pull them over. With the law comes data collection tracking those pulled over to ensure no ethnicity, in particular, is being singled out. Race, gender, and age will be culled with each traffic stop and sent to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The data will also be made public.

So what are the specifics? Your first violation will set you back $100. Didn’t learn your lesson and still feel the need to make sure you send off a “LOL” or electronically sign that Nike deal? Well, your second offense will be $250 and you will be court-ordered to complete an educational program focused on distracted driving prevention. Still being ignorant and stubborn? Third and subsequent offenses are for $500 and your insurance gets a surcharge.

Put the phone away it can wait.

The Positives
Two decades ago the income tax rate was 5.86% and voters approved of a measure to lower it. Since lawmakers know what is best for every one they took the will of the voters and decided that an almost 1% drop would be “too jarring” so they determined they would lower it over many years. As of 2020, the final increment will take place and it will finally reach the 5% that voters decided upon 20 years earlier.

Finally, the minimum wage will jump up 75 cents to $12.75. The idea is to increase it each year until it finally reaches $15 an hour in 2023. If you are waiting tables or work at let’s say a cafe and receive tips your wage will be raised to $4.95 an hour. While 75 cents doesn’t seem like much if you work a $40 week that’s an increase of $1,560 a year. That’s a sizeable chunk for those living paycheck to paycheck on the minimum, perhaps utilities for a single person, gas for local commutes, or a cable or phone bill.

Have an opinion about these laws? Feel that there are laws that should be on the “books” but aren’t? Leave a comment below or inbox us at info@newbedfordguide.com?

Five of the nation’s busiest airports have reported the extremely contagious measles infection to its patrons: Richmond’s International Airport in Virginia, Denver International Airports, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

In Austin, Texas health officials stated that one person alone may be responsible for infecting thousands as the unnamed person traversed the city visiting a supermarket and area restaurants over a four-day span before flying off to the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and spreading it further. It has been two decades since Austin had a single reported case.

What makes the measles virus particularly dangerous is that 9 out of 10 people are not immune, it is more contagious than most diseases, and an infected person may be unaware that they are carrying the virus since it may take up to two weeks to exhibit major symptoms. In that time, an individual spreads the virus with those they share living space with, any direct contact with the mouth or nasal secretions, and with each sneeze and/or cough.

Generally, within 4 days a blotchy, red rash will appear on the head and spread from there to the lower part of the body. Other symptoms follow such as diarrhea, feeling achy, fatigue, white spots inside the mouth, coughing, fever, and “pink eye.” Though rare it may also cause swelling of the brain and death. Secondary bacterial infections may occur such as ear infections or pneumonia.

While there is no treatment available for the virus, a vaccination for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) can prevent it. Typically limited to developing areas of the world in Asia and Africa, the virus which affects approximately 20 million people a year is gaining new ground in the United States as the “anti-vaxxer” demographic grows. As of 2018, it was the second leading vaccine-preventable disease that causes death in children with “Whooping Cough” or Pertussis ranked first.

In Massachusetts, there have been three reported cases this year, with the most recent case reported in October in Boston which is the city’s first case since 2013. The CDC reported that 2019 has the distinction of having the most confirmed cases of measles infection in the nation since 1992.

For more information about Measles, how it is transmitted, what you can do to prevent it, and more visit
mass.gov/service-details/measles>/font>