The Massachusetts State Police today added two men wanted for attempted killings to the Department’s list of Most Wanted fugitives. The suspects were added to the list by the MSP’s Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, which is leading the investigations, along with our local police partners, to track them down.

The first, JESSE G. OUELLET, 37, is wanted for two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, as well as for firearm offenses. The charges stem from evidence that OUELLET shot a man in the stomach outside the S&A Market convenience store on Ward Street in Worcester following an altercation on April 16, 2019. A bystander walking on the street was struck by a stray bullet. Both victims survived.

After the shooting OUELLET fled and Worcester Police obtained an arrest warrant.

He is white, approximately 5’5” and 150 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He has many tattoos, including on both arms and his shoulders, stomach, and legs.

OUELLET should be considered armed and dangerous.

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The second fugitive added to the MSP’s Most Wanted list is SAEED Y. ALI, 40, wanted for attempted murder, aggravated assault and battery, and vehicular offenses for running down his victim with a motor vehicle.

Evidence indicates that on July 12, 2019, ALI was driving a vehicle when, without warning, he intentionally struck a male relative of his former girlfriend as the man walked through a parking lot outside a Savers store on Memorial Avenue in West Springfield. After the initial impact ALI then backed over the victim and then went forward again and struck him a third time.

The victim sustained extremely serious injuries including multiple bone fractures, severe lacerations, and broken teeth.

West Springfield Police obtained an arrest warrant for ALI. ALI has a lengthy criminal history including prior convictions for various assaults.

ALI is black, approximately 6’ and 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos on his back and right shoulder, including a large dragon (ALI’s wanted poster and a tattoo photo included with this release. He has connections to the Greater Springfield area.

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Anyone who sees either suspect or who has information on their whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section at 1-800-KAPTURE (1-800-527-8873).

Attention: Coaches, Teachers, Parents, Guardians, or anyone who strives to empower our youth. DEA 360 Southcoast, in collaboration with the Partnership for Drug Free Kids requests your attendance for our Train the Trainer Program.

Come join your community in learning how to facilitate the conversation with young people about making healthy lifestyle choices and the effects that the Opioid crisis has on all of our lives.

• Training One: “Heroin + Other Opioids: From Understanding to Action.”
This presentation provides an overview of the opioid crisis and outlines the
actions that can be taken to address this issue by individuals and communities.

• Training two: “How to Talk with Your Kids about Anything”
This presentation identifies challenges in caregiver and youth communications and introduces approaches that can help caregivers better prevent and respond to substance use.

DECEMBER 4TH, 2019
6:00 P. M.-8:30 P.M.
FORT TABOR COMMUNITY CENTER
1000 S. RODNEY FRENCH BLVD, NEW BEDFORD,MA 02740

Please note: Parking is available in the main parking lot.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

TICKETS ARE FREE, SPACE IS LIMITED

Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, released the following statement in response to today’s sentencing of DAVID NJUGUNA for causing the death of Trooper Thomas Clardy.

STATEMENT OF COLONEL MASON:

“First and foremost, we are painfully cognizant that no sentence can return Trooper Clardy to those who loved him and love him still. This loss can never be restored, and everyone who loved or worked with Tom would prefer that the law allow for a sentence much more commensurate with the taking of a life under these circumstances.

Nonetheless, we are aware of the sentencing guidelines prescribed by the law and we are grateful for the court’s consideration of the severity of this offense. As we move forward, we continue to look toward and be guided by Tom’s example as a family man and a Massachusetts State Trooper, and our thoughts and hearts are, as ever, with his loved ones.” —Colonel Christopher Mason.

PAY: $59,841 – $74,809

Oversees all transactional audits activities and conducts business process reviews; assists the City Auditor with assigned tasks; provides oversight of municipal systems and procedures relating to the fiscal administration of the City of New Bedford. Monitors departmental financial transactions for compliance with Mass General Laws. Prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations. Supervises, performs, assists subordinates in performing their duties including payroll, accounts payable and cash receipts processing.

Assures that assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget; performs cost control activities; monitors revenue and expenditure in assigned area to assure sound fiscal control; prepares annual budget requests; assures effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities and time; assists in the preparation of the annual City budget, financial statements, Free Cash, and Tax Rate Recap.

Associate degree in accounting, finance, or a related discipline. At least three years of relevant experience in an auditing or accounting field, including two in municipal, State, or Federal government. Any equivalent combination of education and experience. Mandatory CORI (Criminal Offender Record Investigation) background check per City Council Ordinance effective May 14, 2013.

For application/complete job description, please visit www.newbedford-ma.gov. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. New Bedford has a residency requirement. EEO

Troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (MSP VFAS), along with Deputy United States Marshals and Springfield Police Officers, this morning arrested a suspect wanted for a drug-related shooting homicide in Atlanta in February. The suspect is the second arrested in Springfield in connection with the Atlanta homicide; in August MSP VFAS Troopers, Deputy Marshals, and SPD Officers arrested another suspect in the same homicide.

Yesterday, Atlanta Police detectives notified MSP that a warrant had been obtained for a second suspect, HARRISON JOSEPH OGBUNIZE, 34, who had ties to Springfield area. MSP VFAS Trooper Nelson Zayas initiated an investigation and identified an apartment at 8 Blake St. in Springfield as a possible location for OGBUNIZE. Shortly before 7 a.m. today, Trooper Zayas and other VFAS Troopers, along with the Springfield Police Warrant Apprehension Unit, members of a US Marshals Task Force, and other officers went to the Blake Street address and located OGBUNIZE. The suspect, who stands approximately 6’7” tall and weighs approximately 320 lbs., was arrested without incident as a fugitive from justice. He was transported to Springfield Police station for booking and will be held pending rendition to Georgia.

The warrant from Fulton County, Ga., charges OGBUNIZE with the Feb. 17, 2019 shooting homicide of a 32-year-old male at an apartment building in Atlanta. MSP VFAS Troopers, Deputy US Marshals, and SPD Officers arrested another suspect from the homicide, JAMEL R. DAVIS, on August 6. DAVIS was located and arrested in the Indian Orchard neighborhood of Springfield.

The New Bedford Police Department advises that William Street between Pleasant Street and Acushnet Avenue, as well as Purchase Street between Union Street and William Street, are closed to traffic Thursday and will remain closed through Thursday afternoon until further notice.

At approximately 9:57 a.m., New Bedford Fire, Police, and EMS were dispatched to the New Bedford campus of Bristol Community College, located at 800 Purchase Street, due to a report of an odor of an unidentified source. City and state officials, working with Bristol Community College staff, continue to investigate the site, which was evacuated this morning out of an abundance of caution.

The Police Department advises motorists to avoid the two blocks of William Street between Pleasant Street and Acushnet Avenue, and the block of Purchase Street between Union Street and William Street, for the remainder of Thursday afternoon until further notice.

Lawmakers have finally come to a compromise on a bill banning the use of cell-phones while driving – the Senate voted 38-1 in favor of the bill yesterday.

The legislation now heads to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker for his signature. Baker has expressed support for a ban on drivers using hand-held cellphones and filed a bill earlier this year. The bill, which had been stalling time and again, has finally reached its final stages on its way to becoming law. Previously, the Massachusetts House and Senate had approved separate versions.

The bill will prohibit drivers from holding the cell phone at all but does allow hands-free phones. Specifically, that means you cannot send a text or look at a text, peer at videos or images or scroll your social media accounts. Sadly, in a day and age where one would think common sense would dictate not doing those things, however, the practice is almost ubiquitous.

The exceptions are for medical emergencies, reporting accidents, calling the police or using a navigation system that is mounted.

90 days after it is signed into law, the police may begin to cite drivers but until March 31, 2020, they must first give the offending driver a warning. Thereafter, a fine of $100 will then be levied on first-time offenders, $250 for the second offense, $500 for the third and subsequent offenses.

Once a person is a habitual offender – the third offense – insurance companies may begin to charge extra on their policies so users will begin to take a serious hit to the wallet, or purse.

One of the reasons that the bill hadn’t be approved when it was initially introduced was that legislators wanted to ensure that the law would not lead to more racial profiling by coming up with a way to collect data on the race of drivers. Statistically, black drivers are pulled over more than white drivers are. The disagreement on how to exactly collect that data led to the delays and postponement of the bill’s approval.

With the new bill, if police write a ticket they will also have to track the race, gender, and age of the offender and the Registry of Motor Vehicles would send that data to the Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security. From there, an independent agency would analyze it and issue an annual public report. In addition, the state would hold tri-annual hearings to present that analysis to the public.

If the analysis indicates a police department is racial profiling, that department would have to receive “implicit bias training” and be placed under further scrutiny in the form of collecting data for an entire year about each and every traffic stop, whether a citation was given or not.

The State Police Fleet Section during the month of November has been participating in “No Shave November” to raise funds and support Cops for Kids with Cancer, in memory of State Police Detective Lieutenant Bill “Ironman” Coulter.

Please consider going to copsforkidswithcancer.org/donation-massachusetts-police-department-2019/ to make a donation.

Several local departments are also participating. To see total donations, go to https://copsforkidswithcancer.org/no-shave-november-2019/

Thank you for supporting a great cause, every little bit counts. The 5th Annual Cops for Kids with Cancer Fundraiser is tonight at 6:00pm-10:00pm.

The following was posted to The Coalition for Animals of Greater New Bedford’s Facebook page:

As part of its commitment to the humane treatment of animals, The Coalition for Animals of Greater New Bedford is issuing a $1,000 reward for the apprehension and conviction of a New Bedford man wanted on animal cruelty charges after he was captured on video striking a dog.

Miguel A. Martinez, 42, of 472 Cottage St., New Bedford, is wanted on animal cruelty charges after an online video showed him striking a dog at his Cottage Street residence Oct. 9.

The dog and her puppies were taken from the home by New Bedford Police and transported to Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment & Specialties, where tests indicated they were not injured in the attack.

“This kind of treatment of an innocent animal is reprehensible,’’ said Coalition President Lauren Stamatis. “Our Coalition works to protect the animals in our community and we are horrified by this blatant act of violence and abuse.’’

“We are offering this reward from our established Animal Abuse Reward Fund to encourage the public to keep their eyes out for this individual, who needs to be brought to justice in the criminal court system,’’ she said.

Martinez also has pending drug trafficking charges against him.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Martinez is asked to call New Bedford Police Department tip line at (508) 961-4584.

The Coalition for Animals of Greater New Bedford is a non-profit composed of dedicated volunteer members and organizations working hard to promote the wellbeing of animals in our community. The Reward Fund is just one of many programs sponsored by the Coalition, all aimed at educating the public about animal-related issues, reducing pet overpopulation, and aiding local homeless animals.

If you are interested in donating to support the Coalition, please use the “Donate” button on their website and note which program (the Reward Fund, Spay and Neuter, etc.) you are seeking to support. For more information, please visit: www.coalitionforanimals.com

A 27-year-old New Bedford man was convicted last week in Fall River Superior Court of trafficking cocaine and illegally possessing a firearm, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Arcadio Navarro pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with trafficking in excess of 36 grams of cocaine, illegal possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and illegal possession of a firearm without an FID Card.

On October 4, 2017, New Bedford Police lawfully obtained a court-authorized search warrant for the defendant’s 262 Nash Road apartment. After obtaining the search warrant, New Bedford Police detectives set up surveillance at the apartment and witnessed the defendant and another male get into the defendant’s rental car. When police tried to pull the car over, the defendant attempted to get away and struck two cruisers before stopping. Police found about nine grams of cocaine on the defendant’s person at this time.

Once inside the apartment, police located a safe which contained more than one kilo of cocaine, a .357 Taurus Magnum revolver loaded with five rounds, more than $7,500 in cash and a digital scale. The cash was forfeited.

Judge Thomas McGuire sentenced the defendant to serve seven to 12 years in state prison and placed him on probation for an additional two years.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney William Flynn.

“The defendant was reaping substantial profits from selling a large amount of cocaine. Once again, this is a defendant who is contributing to the drug problem that is plaguing our communities, especially our cities,” District Attorney Quinn said.