Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (MSP VFAS) this morning arrested one of the Department’s Most Wanted fugitives, a street gang member who shot a man in the neck last year.

MSP VFAS Troopers developed information that DANIEL L. RODRIGUEZ, 19, was at an apartment on Aspen Street in Ware. At approximately 8 a.m. today, police located and arrested RODRIGUEZ at that location. In making the arrest MSP VFAS Troopers were assisted by members of a US Marshals Task Force, Springfield and Ware Police Officers, and Officers from the Massachusetts Parole Department and Hampden Sheriff’s Department.

RODRIGUEZ, a suspected member of the Worthy Boys Posse street gang, was wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, intimidation of a witness, and unlawful carrying of a loaded firearm. The charges stem from a shooting on Dwight Street in Springfield on the night of July 28, 2018. Responding Springfield officers located a male victim with a gunshot wound to his neck; the man survived but was paralyzed from the chest down. Springfield Police identified the shooter as RODRIGUEZ and obtained a warrant for his arrest in January.

On Thursday, October 24th at 7:16 p.m., Wareham police officers Stephen Harrison and Joseph Cardoza responded to an address on Quaker Road for a report of a bullet that had struck a house. The officers noted that a bullet had entered a home through a wall and landed on a bed, however, no one was injured. Detectives responded to assist in the investigation.

In a short period of time, it was determined that a neighbor had fired a gun in his residence. The individual told officers that he had accidentally pulled the trigger while looking at the gun.

Christopher Poirier, 50, of Barker Road, East Wareham, is being summoned to Wareham District Court for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, possession of a firearm without a Firearms Identification Card, and reckless endangerment of a child.

On Thursday, October 24, 2019, Detectives from the New Bedford Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at 155 Shaw Street, New Bedford after concluding an investigation into cocaine distribution.

Michael A. Santos, 39, and Rebecca M. Santos, 28, of 155 Shaw Street, apt. 12, were both arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine in excess of 18 grams and conspiracy to violate drug laws. In addition, Michael A. Santos was charged with a subsequent offense of distribution of class B. Rebecca M. Santos also had an active warrant for her arrest.

Detectives located just over 28 grams of cocaine and $161 in their apartment. Both are due to be arraigned in Third District Court on Friday, October 25, 2019.

The lead investigator was Detective Stephen Gwozdz.

A 28-year-old New Bedford man was convicted yesterday in Fall River Superior Court after a four day trial of forcing his way into a home, holding a gun to the victim’s head and firing two shots at the victim as he fled to safety, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Orlando Perez-Calderon was convicted by a jury of his peers of indictments charging him with armed assault in a dwelling, armed assault with intent to rob, attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm and carrying an illegal firearm.

On January 11, 2017 at noon, the defendant knocked on the front door of a Clara Street home. When the male victim opened the door, the defendant pointed a firearm at him and forced his way inside. The defendant demanded money and forced the victim into his bedroom where he began to rifle through the victim’s property and the victim’s wife’s jewelry. At one point the defendant told the victim to get on his knees and put a pillowcase on his head. The victim was able to distract the defendant for a moment, push him, and run out of his home wearing only a t-shirt, shorts and socks. The defendant chased the victim outside and shot the revolver at the victim twice.

After an extensive investigation into the incident by New Bedford Police, the defendant was identified as the prime suspect and an arrest warrant was issued in February 2017. However, the defendant eluded capture until October 2018 when he was finally taken into custody in Springfield.

Superior Court Judge Debra Squires-Lee scheduled sentencing in this case for October 31 at 2 pm in Fall River Superior Court. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia.

“I’m very pleased the jury convicted the defendant of this outrageous act of violence. This very easily could have been a homicide,” District Attorney Quinn said.

In August, a person was violently robbed by a man with a gun in Greensboro, North Carolina. Greensboro Police quickly identified the suspect as TAFARI ASANTI HENDERSON-SAMUELS, 25, who was out parole for firearms violations at the time of the robbery. On the night of August 16, Greensboro Police located HENDERSON-SAMUELS and attempted to arrest him, but he fled on foot. Officers, including Greensboro K9 Officer Clint Franklin and his partner, Rambo, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, pursued on foot.

During the pursuit, Rambo was struck by a motor vehicle in traffic. The vehicle and driver were not connected to the robbery. Officer Franklin rushed Rambo to an emergency veterinarian, but the loyal canine died from his injuries. HENDERSON-SAMUELS escaped capture.

During the subsequent investigation, Greensboro Police developed information that HENDERSON-SAMUELS had fled to Springfield, Mass. The Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (MSP VFAS) began working with Greensboro Police, who had obtained an arrest warrant, and working together, the Massachusetts troopers and North Carolina officers developed an area of interest on Centre Street in Springfield’s Indian Orchard neighborhood. Troopers from the Hampden County (Mass.) Narcotics Task Force also began assisting in the investigation.

MSP VFAS Troopers, along with Springfield Police, members of a United States Marshals Task Force, and Hampden County deputy sheriffs initiated surveillance of the area of interest. This morning at approximately 11:30, an MSP VFAS Trooper observed a man matching HENDERSON-SAMUELS’ description enter a 2009 Subaru Outback with Massachusetts plates. Police followed the vehicle and made a positive identification of the front seat passenger as HENDERSON-SAMUELS. The above-listed Troopers, Officers, and Marshals then stopped the car on Leyfred Terrace in Springfield and took HENDERSON-SAMUELS into custody without incident.

A search of the fugitive resulted in the seizure from his person of 33 packets of suspected heroin. Troopers and Officers transported HENDERSON-SAMUELS to the Springfield Police Station, where he was booked as a fugitive from justice on the North Carolina warrant as well as for possession of a Class A narcotic with intent to distribute.

Immediately upon his capture, MSP VFAS Troopers notified Greensboro Police of the fugitive’s apprehension. After an initial court appearance in Massachusetts, prosecutors will arrange his rendition to North Carolina to face charges related to the robbery incident that cost K9 Rambo his life. Social media postings about Rambo and a photo of him and Officer Franklin are attached.

We are looking for the publics’ help in identifying two males from two separate incidences on October 16. Shoplifting occurred at Stop & Shop.

Please contact the detective division with any information at the Fairhaven Police Department TIP line at 508-979-4100. Requests for anonymity will be respected. You can also email them at detectives@fairhavenpolice.org.

Four individuals from Providence and one from New Bedford were arrested and charged with trafficking women for prostitution.

Rodolfo Galvez, 66 and Carlos Lopez, 56, both from Providence, along with Hector Montilla Segura, 36, of New Bedford were charged with transporting and facilitating females for the purposes of prostitution and conspiracy. Milton Estrada, 35, and Mairenya Valdez, 37, both from of Providence, were charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude, recruiting and transporting for the purposes of human trafficking, transporting and facilitating for the purpose of prostitution, and conspiracy.

The arrests were a culmination of months-long evidence gathering as well as surveillance by Providence police. Police seized financial documents, ledgers, as well as over $100,000 in cash.

The ring utilized a number of Providence homes to house the women who arrived mainly from Mexico and the Dominican Republic and spoke little to no English under the guise that they would work as massage therapists.

Early yesterday morning, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Trooper Scott Bouttell, who is assigned to the State Police Shelburne Falls Barracks, was patrolling I-91 northbound when a registration query revealed the registered owner of a 2017 Toyota Camry traveling ahead of him, had a suspended driver’s license. Trooper Boutell subsequently stopped the vehicle on I-91 northbound, just north of Exit 28 in Bernardston for motor vehicle violations.

The driver was identified as JULIETTE E. RENAULT, 20, of Florence. The male passenger, after providing false identification, subsequently fled the traffic stop on foot, by running across the highway, through the median and across the southbound lanes nearly being struck by a passing vehicle, and then into the woods, was identified as LAKEAM A. BENNETT, 27, of Holyoke. It was later learned that BENNETT currently has five active warrants for his arrest from two different courts; Holyoke and Springfield. A K9 responded to the scene to assist in searching for BENNETT who fled into the woods, to no avail.

During a brief investigation, approximately 50 grams (2,502 bags) of heroin was located in the vehicle. A warrant request was filed in Greenfield District Court, charging BENNETT with the following offenses;

1. Fail to wear seat belt
2. Trafficking in Heroin
3. Conspiracy to violate drug laws
4. Resisting arrest
5. Disorderly conduct

RENAULT was placed under arrest and transported to the State Police Shelburne Falls Barracks for booking. RENAULT was charged with the following;

1. Speeding
2. Trafficking in Heroin
3. Conspiracy to violate drug laws

RENAULT was held on $1,500 bail and transported to the Franklin County House of Correction to await arraignment in Greenfield District Court.

A Westminster woman was sentenced to six months of home confinement on Wednesday in federal court in Worcester for stealing $46,310 in Social Security benefits from a disabled person.

Theresa Kenda Benedict, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Hillman to six months of home confinement, two years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $46,310. In May 2019, Benedict pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public funds and four counts of making false statements. Benedict was arrested and charged in June 2018.

Benedict served as the representative payee for a disabled individual who was receiving Social Security benefits. In 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, Benedict informed the Social Security Administration that she used all of the money she received as a representative payee for the beneficiary. In fact, Benedict had used some of the money for her own expenses. Between December 2007 and March 2016, Benedict stole approximately $46,310.36 in Social Security benefits intended for the disabled individual.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

At 6:45 am today, Fairhaven Police responded to the area of Adams Street and Brown Street after receiving a report of a child on a bicycle being struck by a vehicle. When officers arrived, they determined that a 14-year-old male was struck by a vehicle that was traveling south on Adams Street. A witness described the vehicle as an older model, full-size SUV that was dark in color.

After striking the child, the vehicle continued south on Adams Street without stopping, and left the scene. When police arrived, the child was conscious and alert, and was speaking with the officers. He was treated at the scene by paramedics from the Fairhaven Fire Department, who then transported him to Hasbro Hospital in Providence.

The investigation is still active. Fairhaven Police Officer James Bettencourt is completing an accident reconstruction report. If anyone has any information about this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Fairhaven Police Department at 508-997-7421. Callers can remain anonymous.