Police, Fire & Courts

Middleboro man arrested on child pornography charges

MIDDLEBORO — Police arrested a Middleboro man Thursday, May 22, on child pornography charges. Kenneth Lanham, 31, was taken into custody without incident and charged with possession of child pornography, his second offense according to police, as...

Parole granted for Middleboro man’s killer

MIDDLEBORO — A man convicted of first-degree murder after the fatal beating of a 79-year-old Middleboro resident in 1987 has been granted parole, a decision that angered Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz. The state parole board...
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Lakeville Fire Department makes room for ducklings

LAKEVILLE — Lakeville firefighters are no strangers to water rescues. But most victims usually are pulled from the water, not placed into it — then again, most victims don’t have webbed feet and bills. When a group of ducklings got stuck in a storm...

Victims identified in fatal single-vehicle crash on I-495

MIDDLEBORO — The district attorney identified the two people killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 495 on Thursday, May 15, as Cecil Johnson, 70, and Rosemarie Dias, 68, both of Wareham. At approximately 12:28 p.m. Middleboro Fire...

Two dead in single-vehicle crash on I-495

MIDDLEBORO — Two people were killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 495 in Middleboro on the afternoon of Thursday, May 15, according to Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson. Officials have identified the victims as an adult male and female...

Two hospitalized after crash in Lakeville

LAKEVILLE — Two people were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital after a car crash Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Taunton and Bedford streets, according to the Lakeville Fire Department. The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. Emergency crews...

Middleboro man found guilty of killing his parents

A jury convicted Middleboro man Ryan True, 25, of two counts of first-degree Murder in Brockton Superior Court on Thursday, May 8 for the 2020 killing of his parents. The following day Judge Robert Gordon sentenced True to two consecutive life...

Finance Committee member alleges defamation by town officials

MIDDLEBORO — Several town officials defamed Finance Committee member John Barrella, according to a letter from Barrella’s attorney that was read aloud at the May 5 Select Board meeting. The letter was drafted by Attorney William Chignola and...

Kayaker rescued from Long Pond by Lakeville, Freetown fire

LAKEVILLE — A 21-year-old man was rescued from Long Pond and transported to St. Luke’s Hospital after his kayak became swamped with water Tuesday, April 8. The man was located more than 1,000 feet from shore and was struggling to stay afloat when he...

Middleboro Fire’s south station now open 24/7

MIDDLEBORO — For the first time, the Middleboro Fire Department’s south station at 566 Wareham St. is fully staffed at all hours. As of 8 a.m. Monday, April 7, an engine company of three firefighters will be working out of the station, Middleboro...

East Bridgewater man, 18, killed in Middleboro crash

MIDDLEBORO — An 18-year-old man from East Bridgewater was killed early Sunday April 6 in a single-vehicle crash on Marion Road in Middleboro. The victim has been identified as Joseph Saccone. At about 2:37 a.m., Middleboro Police and Fire received...

Program to offer free smoke detectors, fire safety education

MIDDLEBORO — Three minutes. That’s all the time people have, on average, to escape a house fire. And that makes smoke detectors crucial, fire officials say. The more warning time people have to escape, the better the chances for a safe exit from a...

Middleboro settles MBTA lawsuit, agrees to add new subdistrict

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro has settled its lawsuit with the state and agreed to support creating an area on East Clark Street for market-rate and affordable housing in lieu of following state-mandated MBTA Communities Act requirements. "This is a huge...

Update: Missing woman found dead in shallow body of water

MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro woman who was the subject of a multi-agency search has been found dead. The body of Michele Sperling, 83, was located by a State Police K-9 unit in a shallow body of water on Thursday afternoon March 27, Police Chief...

Middleboro man, 20, dies from injuries received in car crash

MIDDLEBORO — A 20-year-old Middleboro man died Thursday, March 20 at Boston Medical Center from injuries he suffered in a car crash two days earlier in Taunton. Richard “R.J.’’ Blanchette Jr. succumbed to injuries he received when the Dodge Charger...

Two Middleboro residents injured in serious crash in Raynham

RAYNHAM — Two Middleboro residents were injured when the car they were riding in collided with a motorcycle on Route 44 Wednesday March 19. Two people on the motorcycle were critically injured, according to Raynham Police Chief David LaPlante and...

Lakeville police establishes tip line

LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Police Department has established a tip line that is accessible via telephone and email. The department encourages anyone with information regarding criminal or suspicious activities to reach out. Police have committed to...

First Battle of the Badges a slam dunk success

MIDDLEBORO — Donned in specially made jerseys, the Middleboro Police and Fire Department protected their nets and served free-throws in the first annual Battle of the Badges Friday, March 14. . Organized by the Middleboro High School Class of 2027...

Man suffers second-degree burns in Middleboro fire

MIDDLEBORO — A man suffered second-degree burns and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital after a fire Tuesday, March 11 that consumed a house and barn at 61 Vernon St. and scorched grassy areas nearby. Middleboro Fire responded to the blaze at...

Judge agrees to hear Middleboro on MBTA compliance

PLYMOUTH — A Plymouth Superior Court judge agreed to hear arguments from Middleboro officials that the town already complies with the MBTA Communities Act and should not be forced to accept it. Judge Mark Gildea made that decision at a hearing...

Middleboro Police earns re-accreditation

MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro Police Department recently earned re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, Police Chief Robert Ferreira has reported. The Middleboro Police Department's newly obtained reaccreditation award...

Middleboro police, fire to hoop it up at Battle of the Badges

MIDDLEBORO — Who’s the best at basketball, Middleboro Fire or Police? They will settle the score at the first Battle of the Badges, to be held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 14 at the Middleboro High School gym. The real winner, though, will be the...

Residents uninjured after Middleboro house fire

MIDDLEBORO — Two residents were displaced after a house fire at 126 Fuller St. Sunday night March 2. The residents smelled smoke and safely exited the home at about 10:45 p.m., Fire Chief Owen Thompson said. No one was injured. Middleboro fire crews...

Fire in wall of home extinguished quickly by Lakeville Fire

LAKEVILLE — A fire at a home on Apple House Road was quickly extinguished early Monday, March 3 by the Lakeville Fire Department. The fire was reported at 7:16 a.m. and is believed to have originated from an electrical issue within the exterior wall...

Middleboro sues state over MBTA Communities Act

MIDDLEBORO — The Town of Middleboro filed suit Friday, Feb. 28 against the state in Plymouth Superior Court over the MBTA Communities Act. “This is a landmark case for the courts to decide,’’ attorney Gregg Corbo of KP Law, the town’s legal firm,...

Melo named Lakeville Police sergeant

LAKEVILLE — Emiliann Melo has been promoted to sergeant for the Lakeville Police Department. As an overflow crowd of supporters looked on, Lakeville Select Board members at their Feb. 24 meeting unanimously approved Police Chief Matthew Perkins’...

Driver injured, bridge damaged after Middleboro crash

MIDDLEBORO — A bridge at routes 105 and 495 in Middleboro was damaged early Sunday morning Feb. 23 when ​​it was struck by a dumpster truck that rolled onto its side. The driver of the truck sustained injuries that were not life threatening, State...

Middleboro police has new deputy chief, lieutenant

MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro Police Department has a new deputy chief and lieutenant. Lt. David Beals has been promoted to the post of deputy chief. That job became vacant when the previous deputy chief, Robert Ferreira, was promoted to chief. He...

Woman escapes safely from Lakeville house fire

LAKEVILLE — A woman escaped without injury following a house fire at Chrisjenn Brooke Lane in Lakeville Wednesday afternoon Feb. 19. Smoke was showing from the home when firefighters arrived just after 2:30 p.m., Lakeville Fire Chief Michael O’Brien...

Two pets killed in Lakeville barn fire

LAKEVILLE — Two family pets, a five-month-old dog and a cat, were killed in a barn fire on County Street near Freetown Street Saturday afternoon Feb. 15. Lakeville Fire received reports from multiple callers of the fire at about 2:22 p.m., Lakeville...

Stolen vehicles on Ashley Lane investigated by Middleboro police

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro Police are investigating reports of two stolen cars early Monday, Feb. 10, Middleboro Police Chief Robert Ferreira reported. At 7:38 a.m., on Monday, Feb. 10, Patrol Officer Cameron Amaral was sent to Ashley Lane to...

Former Middleboro corrections officer denied parole in killing

MIDDLEBORO — Parole was denied for a former corrections officer from Middleboro convicted in the death of a man found badly burned and stabbed multiple times Darren Caswell, 60, was charged for his role in the 2003 murder of Matthew Cote and was...

Middleboro welcomes six new firefighters

MIDDLEBORO — Six new members of the Middleboro Fire Department were sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, Jan. 27, Fire Chief Owen Thompson and Town Manager James McGrail reported. Firefighters Rebecca Cullity, ​Anthony LaCivita, Matthew Mokeler,...

Students experience minor symptoms after hazardous incident at Bristol Plymouth

TAUNTON — A hazardous materials incident Monday, Feb. 3 at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School sent several students to the hospital with minor symptoms, Taunton Fire Chief Steven Lavigne and Superintendent-Director Dr. Alexandre Magalhaes...

Lakeville voters approve new fire station

LAKEVILLE — Lakeville voters gave the green light to a new fire station Tuesday, Jan. 28 by a margin of more than 2-1. A total of 813 votes were cast in support of the debt exclusion to fund a new station, with 346 opposing the project. A debt...

Ferreira goes from interim to permanent police chief

MIDDLEBORO — Interim Middleboro Police Chief Robert Ferreira is now the town’s permanent police chief. When Ferreira was appointed in October 2024 as police chief, the position was interim. He was given the option to notify the select board by Jan...

Fire destroys farm building in Lakeville

LAKEVILLE — A farm building at 32 Southworth St. was destroyed by fire Thursday night, Lakeville Fire Chief Michael O’Brien reported. At least seven 911 calls were received at about 6:47 p.m. reporting a large fire, the chief said. A resident of a...

Lakeville voters to decide Jan. 28 on new fire station

LAKEVILLE — Lakeville voters head to the polls Tuesday, Jan. 28 to make a final decision about whether the town constructs a new fire station. They will be asked whether to approve a debt exclusion vote to fund a new fire station, with an estimated...

Middleboro residents graduate from Barnstable County sheriff training

MIDDLEBORO — Two Middleboro residents, Aron Pierce and Courtney Randall, were among the 21 individuals who have completed the 12-week training program to become Barnstable County Sheriff’s corrections officers following a graduation ceremony on Jan...

DA speaks against parole for man who killed Middleboro resident

MIDDLEBORO – A man imprisoned for killing a 79-year-old Middleboro man during the course of a 1986 robbery appeared before the parole board in Natick Jan. 8 to ask for his release, which Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz testified...

Free-Lake district sued for failing to protect student who was raped

LAKEVILLE — The Freetown Lakeville School District should have taken steps to protect a Freetown Lakeville Middle School student from a former substitute teacher and faculty advisor convicted on multiple charges of raping her, according to a lawsuit...

Garage a total loss after fire on Oak Street in Middleboro

MIDDLEBORO — A smoky fire destroyed a detached garage at 107 Oak St. Wednesday, Jan. 8, Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson reported. The four-bay garage was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The owner of the nearby...

Lakeville man indicted in connection with fatal crash

LAKEVILLE — A Lakeville man was indicted Friday, Jan. 3 on charges relating to a 2024 fatal motor vehicle crash which he is accused of causing while driving under the influence, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced. David...

Lakeville fire, community ‘likely saved Steve’s life,’ wife of burn victim says

LAKEVILLE — A man seriously injured in a cooking fire in Lakeville Nov. 29 is recovering as his family reaches out to thank the fire department for their efforts and community members for offering support. Steve Forrester received significant burns...

Lakeville receives equipment to respond to train disasters

LAKEVILLE — No one wants to imagine the worst when a commuter rail train travels through a community. But if a derailment or other disaster happens with the train in Lakeville, equipment provided by state funding will allow the fire department to...

UPDATE: ‘Stressed’ driver reportedly dumped Amazon packages

LAKEVILLE — The holidays can be stressful, and they certainly were for an Amazon driver who acknowledged dumping about 80 packages in a wooded area in Lakeville Saturday, Dec. 21. The driver visited the Lakeville police department Monday, Dec. 23...

Family displaced after Lakeville house fire

LAKEVILLE — At least 6 family members were displaced after a house fire Tuesday night Dec. 22 at 3 Anaconda Drive, Lakeville Fire Chief Michael O’Brien reported. One person was home at the time of the fire but was able to escape without injury, the...

About 80 Amazon packages discovered in Lakeville woods

LAKEVILLE — About 80 Amazon packages were discovered by a Lakeville police sergeant in a wooded area early Sunday, Dec. 22, Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins reported.. Sgt. Shawn Robert was on routine patrol at about 2 a.m. when he noticed...

Middleboro woman charged with shoplifting from Wareham store

WAREHAM — A Middleboro woman was arrested Thursday, Dec. 19 after she allegedly shoplifted from the Target store on Cranberry Highway in Wareham, according to Wareham Police. Wareham Police were dispatched to the store at about 2:45 p.m. for a...

Lakeville barn destroyed by fire

LAKEVILLE — A barn at 36 Staples Shore Road home was deemed a total loss after a fire Monday, Dec. 16, Fire Chief Michael O’Brien reported. The call came in at about 12:11 p.m. No injuries were reported. The cause has not been determined, but the...

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