Arrest made in connection to New Bedford’s September 28 shooting

New Bedford Police officers have made an arrest in connection to a recent shooting that took place in the area of 250 Purchase Street on September 28, 2019.

Christopher Michael Adamides, 32, of 37 Bullard Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, was placed under arrest by detectives on Tuesday, October 1, after a warrant was obtained for his arrest in connection with the shooting.

Detectives from the New Bedford Police Department are actively investigating the recent shootings that have taken place on Purchase Street and Ruth Street with additional arrest forthcoming.

On September 30, at 7:30 pm, New Bedford police responded to calls of a shooting on Ruth Street. Police found a man in his 20s who received at least one gunshot wound and was transported to the hospital.




Mayor Jon Mitchell to hold October Neighborhood Office Hours at Domino’s Pizza

Mayor Mitchell will hold neighborhood office hours for the month of October on Tuesday, October 8, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Domino’s Pizza, 821 Rockdale Avenue.

Mayor Mitchell announced he would set aside time each month to hold office hours in city neighborhoods so that residents could meet with him outside of normal business hours and in their own neighborhood.

In his State of the City last year, the Mayor announced that a new format of office hours would be established, inviting residents to join him at local restaurants in different neighborhoods of the city. Food will be available at the office hours.

City residents are invited to attend the neighborhood office hours to meet with Mayor Mitchell directly and share their concerns and ideas, as well as a bite to eat. The sessions are open to all New Bedford residents, no advance appointments are required and meetings with the Mayor will be done on a first-come, first-served basis.




Investigators Seeking Public Assistance in Fatal September Attleboro Hit and Run

Armed with new information, investigators are once again seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that took place on Route 95 in Attleboro on September 16.

Massachusetts State Police responded to multiple 911 calls around 9:40 pm regarding a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle on Route 95 near Exit 1 in Attleboro. When first responders arrived on scene, they located the victim, 50-year-old John Gauthier, in one of the travel lanes of the highway. The victim, who was homeless, was pronounced deceased while in an ambulance just prior to 10 p.m.

After conducting numerous witness interviews and investigating the incident further, police believe that a woman who was driving a large white SUV struck the victim while the victim was attempting to cross the highway. The driver of the SUV is believed to have stopped on the left side of the highway, briefly exited her vehicle and then drove off. The driver was described as being about five feet, four inches tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds. The vehicle may have exited Route 95 into Pawtucket, RI around 10 pm on September 16.

Today, investigators developed new information and believe the large white SUV is either a white Chevy Suburban or a white Cadillac Escalade ESV (extended version), with damage to the passenger side headlight. A surveillance photo of the actual vehicle involved is attached to this email.

If anyone was in the area of the incident, has knowledge about this case or has seen a damaged white SUV, they are urged to contact State Police Detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office at 508-993-2016.




New Bedford man overdoses two days in a row

A New Bedford man in his 30s overdosed twice in as many days at his north end New Bedford home. The first overdose occurred on Wednesday, October 2 at 5:52 pm. The second overdose occurred on Thursday, October 3, at 10:14 am. There were a total of five drug overdoses in New Bedford on Wednesday ( one of them was fatal) and two non-fatal overdoses on Thursday.

While family and friends can attempt to “Section” someone who overdoses, no law currently mandates a hold of someone who overdoses in Massachusetts. Governor Baker did propose a 72-hour involuntary hold for people who overdose, but Massachusetts legislators killed that idea so people who overdosed are immediately free to leave medical care.

Overdoses can cost taxpayers thousands of dollars each as many police, EMS and fire personnel are called to the scene and medical care is administered immediately and later at the hospital.




59 year old New Bedford woman charged with OUI after car accident

A 59-year-old New Bedford woman is being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and then fleeing the scene after being involved in a car accident in New Bedford. The car accident occurred around 10:30 pm on Wednesday night and the arrest was made at the New Bedford Hotel New Bedford Housing Authority on 725 Pleasant Street.

Terri White, who lives at the New Bedford Hotel New Bedford Housing Authority, was arrested and is being charged with OUI-liquor and leaving the scene of property damage.




Statement of New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell on Senate’s passage of Student Opportunity Act

Below please see New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell’s statement the Senate’s passage of a bill on education funding in Massachusetts: The Student Opportunity Act, An Act relative to educational opportunity for students:

“The Senate’s unanimous approval of the Student Opportunity Act marks a significant step toward a fairer educational system for the state’s neediest children. I salute Senate President Karen Spilka, Education Chairman Jason Lewis, and Senator Mark Montigny for their work in further opening the doors of opportunity in our cities.” —Mayor Jon Mitchell




New Bedford Man Sentenced to Consecutive Jail Terms for Molestation of Pre-Teen Girl

A 30-year-old New Bedford man was sentenced to consecutive maximum jail terms yesterday after being convicted in New Bedford District Court of sexually molesting a pre-teen girl, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

A jury of his peers convicted Aaron Costa after a two-day trial of three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person under 14 years old. The defendant was sentenced by Judge Douglas Darnbrough to consecutive two-and-a-half year jail sentences in addition to five years of supervised probation. The two-and-a-half year jail terms are the maximum sentences allowed in the district court.

The defendant, who was 26 at the time of the incidents in 2015, was a friend of the 11 year-old victim’s family. He stood accused of molesting her on three separate occasions in New Bedford and Dartmouth. During the first incident, the defendant sat the victim on his lap during a baby shower in New Bedford and rubbed her vagina. During the second incident, which occurred at a storage facility in New Bedford, the defendant cupped the victim’s buttocks in a hallway. And during the third incident, which occurred in Dartmouth, the defendant had the victim sit on his lap in a car, took photos of her and once again rubbed her vagina.

The victim disclosed the molestation to her mother after the mother had a discussion with her about “stranger danger” and inappropriate touching.

Upon his release from the house of corrections, the defendant must register as a sex offender, must stay away from the victim and her family and must complete sex offender counseling.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine Letsche.

“I am pleased with jury verdict. The defendant manipulated his position as a family friend to indecently assault the young victim on three occasions. I commend the victim and her mother for their perseverance in this case, which involved multiple court hearings and continuances over the last three years. The sentence holds the defendant accountable for this serious criminal conduct,” District Attorney Quinn said.




Massachusetts Gov. Baker orders flags flown to half-staff in honor Lt. Colonel Gerard Eric Hill

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has ordered the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset at all state buildings on Saturday, October 5, 2019, the day of interment, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Eric Hill, United States Army Reserve, of Boston, Massachusetts, who passed away on September 14th, 2019 at the age of 50, due to natural causes. Lieutenant Colonel Hill will be laid to rest at Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.

This gubernatorial order applies to:

1. The main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, e.g. town and city halls.

2. Other state-owned or state-controlled buildings.

3. All state military installations.




Faces Of New Bedford #225: Peter Walker

Meet Peter Walker, 34-year-old Co-Chair at Third-Eye and owner of IAMSTILLILL. Peter grew up in the housing projects of Roxbury. It was a rough environment and although Peter had always done well in school, it still wasn’t enough to keep him away from the street life. Peter also an affinity for music, which would help him travel the country after he graduated from high school, meeting and working with artists like KRS-One.

While working on his music career, he also was trying to balance a normal life, working as the director of security for several Boston Universities and still returning to his neighborhood and being involved in all of the wrong activities. This all came to a head when he was arrested and facing serious charges, when he knew he needed to take a new direction in life and that he needed a reset.

After visiting New Bedford for an open mic event, he knew this was where he could get that second opportunity at life, falling in love with the open arms and amazing community he was welcomed into. He met his wife, quickly began getting involved and volunteering with the youth and trying to encourage them to not make the same mistakes he had. This would help him to eventually get involved with 3rd-Eye, where he works to provide a handful of programs for the youth and paid gigs for young musicians at local community events. He also runs a clothing and lifestyle brand, IAMSTILLILL, which was recently featured in a recent Beyonce documentary. Peter hopes to continue not only transforming his life, but the lives of the youth he gets the opportunity to enrich.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com. Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Read more of the Faces of New Bedford series here.




Frost advisory issued across the SouthCoast

The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for much of the area as temperatures are expected to drop.

Temperatures will be falling into the lower to middle 30s in portions of northern Connecticut, central, eastern, northeastern, southeastern and western Massachusetts and northern and southern Rhode Island.

The advisory is taking place from 2 AM to 8 AM EDT on Saturday.

Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.

Residents are encouraged to take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.