New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“Shawn Lee Medeiros, 31, of New Bedford was indicted by a Bristol County Grand Jury today on a charge of burning of a building connected to the vacant Hawthorne Country Club in Dartmouth on May 7, 2023.
On May 7, 2023, the Dartmouth Fire Department received numerous 911 calls regarding smoke emanating from the long vacant Hawthorne Country Club. When fire department officials arrived on scene, they discovered the clubhouse fully engulfed in flames. After several hours, the fire was extinguished, however, the building was a total loss.
The Hawthorne Country Club had no running water, electricity or other utilities which could have caused the fire. In addition, the degree of the fire was immediately suspicious. Members of the State Fire Marshall’s office were contacted and responded to the scene. Based on their examination, the State Fire Marshall’s Office determined that the fire was deliberately set inside of the building with multiple areas of origin meaning the fire was set in several different areas.
A state police K-9 was also brought to the scene and alerted to the presence of accelerants. An independent insurance investigation also found that the fire was deliberately set. Samples from the debris were sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and testing confirmed the presence of accelerants which were used to set the fire.
Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Fire Marshall’s Office began an investigation into the fire and began to question witnesses. One of those witnesses was Shawn Lee Medeiros who was present at the scene of the fire. Mr. Medeiros told investigators that he was working at the Hawthorne Country Club the morning of the fire transporting tables and chairs from the country club to building in New Bedford. Mr. Medeiros was questioned several times by law enforcement. In addition, state troopers secured surveillance video in the area.
On March 27, 2024, the Bristol County grand jury indicted Mr. Medeiros for starting the fire. A warrant issued for his arrest and he was arrested on March 28, 2024. At his arraignment, Mr. Medeiros was released on the condition that he stay away from the Hawthorne Country Club and that he report to the probation department at least one time per week.
The grand jury probe was headed up by Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan.”-Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
