All articles tagged with #massachusetts state police
The murder trial of Karen Read resumed with testimony from a state police lieutenant and a forensic expert. Read is accused of hitting John O'Keefe with her SUV and leaving him to die. The defense claims she is being framed. Testimonies included details about the evidence search and forensic analysis of Read's vehicle and O'Keefe's clothing. The trial continues with extended hours and varying court schedules throughout the week.
A car caught fire in Boston's Interstate 90 connector tunnel on Saturday morning, just a day after multiple vehicles went up in flames in a nearby tunnel. No injuries were reported in Saturday's incident. The previous day's fire involved three vehicles and led to several people fleeing their cars, causing additional fires. Three individuals were hospitalized, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation temporarily closed ramps for inspection.
A 3-year-old boy, Liam David Pagan, who was in a car stolen in western Massachusetts, triggering an Amber Alert, has been found safe at a hotel in Windsor, Connecticut. The suspect, a white man aged 50-60, was located at a nearby fitness center, and the stolen car was found at a shopping plaza. The Amber Alert has been deactivated, and the suspect is in custody.
A 3-year-old autistic boy, Liam David Pagan, was found safe after an AMBER Alert was issued in Chicopee, Massachusetts, when a car was stolen with him inside. The suspect, Vadim Vorobyov, was apprehended in Connecticut, and the child was found at a hotel. Vorobyov faces charges in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the incident serves as a reminder for drivers to never leave their cars running unattended and to prioritize vehicle security.
A robotic police dog named Roscoe, part of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, was shot multiple times while helping to avert a potential tragedy involving a person barricaded in a home in Barnstable. The dog, controlled remotely by state troopers, prevented the need for human operators to enter the suspect's residence and potentially engage in a firefight. Boston Dynamics, the company behind the SPOT robot, stated that it was the first time one of their robots had been shot and expressed relief that the only casualty was the robot. The shooter has not been identified, and the robotic dog will be replaced with a new unit.
A 38-year-old Chelsea man, Timothy Brown, has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography after police found thousands of photos and videos on his phone. The investigation into Brown was initiated after his friend, Kenneth Higgins, was arrested for the third time on similar charges. Brown is currently being held on $100,000 bail and is set to be arraigned in Chelsea District Court next week.
A state trooper investigating the death of a Boston police officer is now under internal investigation for a potential violation of department policy, adding complexity to the case. The officer's girlfriend is accused of hitting him with her SUV and leaving him outside to die, but her defense alleges he was fatally beaten in a fellow officer's home. The trooper's alleged violation is not specified, and his attorney maintains his integrity. The defense claims the trooper did not fully disclose his relationship with key witnesses, while the prosecution accuses them of using the relationships to distract from the girlfriend's alleged guilt.
The Massachusetts State Police have initiated an internal investigation into Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read case, for a potential violation of department policy. This comes after claims by Read's lawyers that evidence was hidden and relationships between key witnesses and police investigators, including Proctor, were not disclosed. Proctor has been accused of planting evidence at the scene where Read's boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, was found dead, but Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey has denied these claims. Proctor will remain on full duty during the investigation.
Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctor, involved in the Karen Read murder case, is now under internal investigation for a potential violation of department policy. Read's defense team accuses Proctor of having conflicts of interest and relationships with witnesses, seeking to have her murder charges dropped citing new information from federal investigators. Proctor's alleged conduct has raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation, as Read's trial is set to begin on April 16.
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on Route 146 North in Sutton, Massachusetts, at around 6:35 p.m. The victim was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Massachusetts State Police are investigating the incident, and the crash closed two left lanes on Route 146 North for several hours.
A man is dead after being shot while driving on Interstate 95 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The shooting involved at least two vehicles traveling south on I-95, and the victim was found with gunshot injuries inside a stopped vehicle. He was pronounced dead at Sturdy Memorial Hospital, and the Massachusetts State Police are currently investigating the incident.
The 2023 Massachusetts State Police payroll has been released, revealing earnings ranging from $400,000 and above. The Boston Herald encourages readers to explore the database and offers a Watchdog newsletter for related coverage, while also inviting tips and questions regarding the payroll.
Critics are calling for a major overhaul of the Massachusetts State Police, with some urging the government to put the agency into receivership following a string of scandals including bribery charges, overtime abuse, and drunken driving. The agency's high pay and corruption have eroded public trust, leading to demands for a complete management overhaul and sustained oversight on ethics. While the Healey administration claims to have taken steps to clean up the State Police, critics argue that the agency's union wields too much power and there is still a lack of oversight.
A military projectile, identified as a mortar shell, was discovered near the Condon Shell in Medford, Massachusetts. Massachusetts State Police, along with the MSP Bomb Squad, Medford police, and firefighters, responded to the scene. The west side of the Mystic Valley Parkway was temporarily closed, but has since reopened after the inert device was removed.
Massachusetts State Police sergeant Gary Cederquist has been dishonorably discharged and retired amid a commercial driver’s license bribery scandal, where he and five others are charged with giving CDLs to unqualified applicants in exchange for kickbacks. The troopers are accused of conspiring to give preferential treatment to at least 17 CDL applicants and making false reports for four Class A CDL applicants who were MSP troopers. The state police have taken steps to improve accountability and efficiency in response to the investigation, and the case remains ongoing.