Massachusetts State Troopers from State Police-Northampton and a Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit on Saturday captured a wanted felon from Connecticut after he broke into a home in Goshen, Mass.

MSP Troopers and a K9 located THOMAS WOJCIK, 31, on the second floor of a home in Aberdeen Road, after responding to another home on the same road that appeared to have been burglarized. After Troopers cleared the first home, a witness reported seeing a man fitting WOJCIK’s description a short time earlier near the first home and heading toward the second home.

Shortly before 11 a.m., MSP units responded to the second home on Aberdeen. Troopers set up a perimeter around the home, which was supposed to be unoccupied, while Troopers Christopher Dumas, Christopher Bruneau, and Scott Davis, and Trooper Davis’ K9 partner Cairo, entered the home.

After hearing movement on the second floor, the Troopers moved to the staircase. Trooper Davis issued repeated verbal commands telling the suspect to surrender or he would release Cairo on an apprehension. WOJCIK then walked up to the top of the stairs and was taken into custody by Troopers Dumas and Bruneau.

The suspect was transported in custody to Cooley Dickinson Hospital for evaluation and then released to State Police-Northampton, where he was booked as a fugitive from justice. WOJCIK, of Berlin, Conn., is wanted on a warrant out of that state charging him with burglary, robbery, and larceny. Connecticut authorities will arrange his rendition to their state to face those charges.

On Friday, the day before WOJCIK’s capture, he was the subject of a manhunt in Goshen, whose residents have been victimized by a string of recent housebreaks. He was not located on Friday but Troopers continued to work the case in the area the next day, leading to the swift response that led to his capture.

A 29-year old New Bedford man is being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol after police observed him parked in a ‘no parking’ area around 3 am on Sunday on Purchase Street in downtown New Bedford. New Bedford police officers report that the vehicle was still running when they approached.

29-year old Roberto Guerrero of New Bedford is being charged with OUI-liquor and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Recently released crime statistics from the FBI’s 2018 Uniform Crime Reporting [UCR] Program show that for two years running the number of crimes in the United States has decreased compared to previous years.

Since 2017 violent crime dropped 3.3% to 368.9 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, and property crimes fell to 2,199.5 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, a decrease of 6.3%.

Within Massachusetts, 23,000 violent crimes were reported – crimes that fall into the categories of aggravated assault, rape, robbery, and murder and nonnegligent manslaughter. These crimes were factored with population and per capita frequency to devise the rankings of the “Most Dangerous” cities in the Commonwealth.

The top ten most dangerous cities per capita according to the FBI’s statistics are as follow:

• #10 – Lawrence: 500 Violent Crimes, 6 Murders
• #9 – Boston: 4,324 Violent Crimes, 56 Murders
• #8 – New Bedford: 603 Violent Crimes, 3 Murders
• #7 – Chelsea: 277 Violent Crimes, 0 Murders
• #6 – Worcester: 1,271 Violent Crimes, 4 Murders
• #5 – Pittsfield: 356 Violent Crimes, 3 Murders
• #4 – Brockton: 868 Violent Crimes, 9 Murders
• #3 – Holyoke: 391 Violent Crimes, 1 Murder
• #2 – Springfield: 1,534 Violent Crimes, 19 Murders
• #1 – Fall River: 908 Violent Crimes, 1 Murder

New Bedford was listed at #5 last year.

“Calling all cAHs…Calling all cAHs

“As you know, the members of DPD love to stay active in the community. As part of our effort, we sometimes recognize people for their outstanding efforts, collect toys or canned goods, read to school children, organize small events, etc.

Recently, during our hugely popular ‘Ugliest T-shirt that a Thief Can Wear’ contest, these two participants came in first and second. The problem is that when they submitted their entry forms they forgot to provide us with their names and addresses.

As we would love to give these two winnAHs their respective prizes, we are reaching out to the community in an effort to help us identify them.

If you have any information that can help us get them their prizes (a pair of silver bracelets and an all-expenses paid trip to our new station), please either send us a private message or call Detective Kyle Costa at 508-910-1755.

Thank you!

PLEASE SHARE” -Dartmouth Police Department.

The driver of a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 30-year-old JOHN F. FANNIN, from Winthrop, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, after striking a parked, unoccupied 2013 Dodge Ram pickup.

One passenger, a 28-year-old woman from Winthrop, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital and later determined to be deceased at the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The second passenger, a 29-year-old Beverly woman, was determined to be deceased on scene, as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Winthrop Shore Drive at Neptune Avenue in Winthrop was closed in all directions during the crash investigation and reconstruction. All lanes were opened when all assets cleared, at approximately 6:58 p.m.

There will be charges filed against the driver, to include OUI-Liquor as well as other charges pertaining to the deaths of the two passengers. More information will be released when it is available.

A Lynn man was arrested yesterday and charged in federal court in Boston with theft of government benefits and aggravated identity theft.

John Doe, whose true identity is unknown, was indicted on two counts of theft of public money, one count of false statement on an application for Social Security benefits, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

According to the charging document, Doe made a false statement in an application for Social Security benefits in July 2019. In addition, Doe is charged with stealing over $16,000 in MassHealth benefits from October 2008 through July 2016, and over $12,000 in Food Stamps from September 2009 through July 2016.

The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of making false statements in an application for Social Security benefits provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year sentence that must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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.

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.

A 55-year-old Seekonk man was sentenced to serve three years in state prison yesterday after pleading guilty to charges connected to the operation of a prostitution ring out of his home and distributing cocaine, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Anthony Vitali pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocaine-subsequent offense, maintaining a house of prostitution, deriving support from prostitution, conspiracy, procuring a person for prostitution and detaining/drugging a person for prostitution.

The defendant was arrested in October of 2016 after an extensive investigation was conducted by Seekonk Police. During the execution of a search warrant at the home, police found indicia of prostitution and cocaine distribution. Some of the women being used by the defendant told police the defendant would give them cocaine and keep them addicted to it. He would then recruit them into prostitution as a means to pay off their drug debts to him, and in some cases, the defendant even kept the women’s drivers licenses and credit cards to make sure they worked off their debts to him.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Thompson and the three-year state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Sharon Donatelle.

“The defendant took advantage of the victims’ drug addiction to sell them for sex. By engaging in this conduct, the defendant dehumanized the victims and needs to be held accountable,” District Attorney Quinn said.

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.