Police, Fire & Courts

Questions raised on wording of debt exclusion for fire station

LAKEVILLE — Concerns were raised at the Nov. 18 Lakeville Select Board meeting about the wording of the January ballot vote that would decide the future of a new fire station. Lakeville voters will go to the polls Jan. 28 to decide whether to...

Attorneys general from 18 states ask Supreme Court to hear ‘Two Genders’ case

MIDDLEBORO – Eighteen states and several organizations have filed “friend of the court’’ briefs asking the Supreme Court to review the case of a Middleboro student who was forbidden to wear a T-shirt to school with the words “There are only two...
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Special Town Meeting voters support $21.5 million new fire station

LAKEVILLE — A new $21.5 million fire station was approved by Lakeville Special Town Meeting voters Nov. 12 with no public discussion and little dissent. Voters agreed by a 141-28 margin to borrow $21,409,960 to design construct, equip and furnish a...

Woman charged with animal cruelty after neglected, dead animals found on property arraigned on animal cruelty charges

WAREHAM — A Middleboro woman faced charges of 20 counts of animal cruelty, subsequent offense, in Wareham District Court Thursday, Nov. 7 after officials said they found 17 dogs, two cats and one guinea pig neglected and lacking water and food at...

Lakeville residents targeted in elder abuse scheme, officials say

LAKEVILLE — Two men were arrested for their alleged roles as couriers in a multi-state “grandparent scam’’ whose victims included Lakeville residents, United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha has announced. Roberto Munoz, 29, of Hialeah, Fla. and...

Three injured in Lakeville crash that temporarily closes Route 18

LAKEVILLE — Three people were transported to St. Luke’s Hospital after an accident that closed a portion of Route 18 just south of Lakeville Town Hall for about an hour Tuesday afternoon, Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins reported. The accident...

Lakeville resident thanks firefighters every year for saving his life

LAKEVILLE — One hot day in August of 2020 very easily could have been his last. In the midst of changing a tire in his driveway, Lakeville resident Charles Chaffalo collapsed and went unconscious. His heart stopped beating. If it weren’t for...

Help needed for dogs removed from Precinct Street, back in Middleboro

MIDDLEBORO — Most of the 17 dogs removed from a 53 Precinct St. home last week will be back in town Friday, Oct. 25 and donations are being sought for their care. The dogs, which were removed as part of an animal welfare investigation, spent the...

Hail to the chief: Middleboro has new top cop

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro has a new police chief. With unanimous approval from the select board and to the cheers of his fellow department members literally standing behind him, Robert Ferreira was named interim police chief at the Oct. 21 Select...

Animals from Precinct Street now in care of MSPCA

MIDDLEBORO – The 17 dogs, six horses, two cats, guinea pig and turtle removed from 53 Precinct St. in Middleboro are now being cared for by MSPCA-Angell in Boston, according to the MSPCA. The dogs were found living in unsanitary conditions in the...

Update: Dogs likely went without food for days before Precinct Street warrant

MIDDLEBORO — The 17 dogs located at 53 Precinct St. had likely gone without food since Tuesday, Oct. 15, Animal Control Officer Kevin Racicot said. That was three days before they were found when Middleboro Animal Control executed a warrant on the...

17 dogs with no food or water among animals removed from Middleboro home

MIDDLEBORO — Seventeen dogs needing medical care will be removed from a home at 53 Precinct St. in Middleboro that has been condemned as a health and fire hazard, Middleboro Town Manager Jay McGrail and Health Agent Kayla Smith have reported. The...

Route 140 crash injures one

LAKEVILLE — A crash on Route 140 Wednesday, Oct. 16 briefly closed down the highway, the Lakeville Fire Department reported. Crews responded to a report of an accident at about 8 a.m. on Route 140 south, just south of the County Road on-ramp. One...

U.S. Supreme Court asked to review case of ‘Two Genders’ shirt

MIDDLEBORO — The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review and rule on the case of a Middleboro middle school student who was asked to remove a T-shirt bearing the words “There Are Only Two Genders.’’ In reaching out to the nation’s top court,...

Lakeville Fire open house aims to build warm connections

LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Fire Department rolled its doors open and its equipment out to welcome the community as its annual open house Saturday, Oct. 5. The event featured a dunk tank, fire engines to kids to climb on, face painting, hot dogs and...

France Street home heavily damaged in fire, no injuries reported

MIDDLEBORO — Two adults and a child escaped without injury after a raging fire early Monday, Oct. 7 devastated their home at 52 France St. The three occupants had already escaped the blaze when firefighters arrived, Fire Chief Owen Thompson said. He...

Police Chief Perkins retires, Deputy Chief now acting department head

MIDDLEBORO — Deputy Chief Robert Ferreira is serving as acting police chief following the retirement Saturday, Sept. 28 of long-time Police Chief Joseph Perkins. Perkins began his career as a provisional police officer in Middleboro in 1999. He...

Theft of dirt bikes in Lakeville leads to arrest

LAKEVILLE — A New Bedford man was arrested and charged with breaking and entering and larceny over $2,000 after he allegedly broke into a Lakeville garage and stole two motorized dirt bikes, Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins said. Aidan Amaral...

Lakeville educator nominated for fire safety award

LAKEVILLE — Becky Saucier of Mullein Hill Christian Academy, 25 Staples Shore Road in Lakeville was one of eight nominees for the Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year Award. She was nominated for her work at the academy teaching the students...

Grant awards funds for six new firefighters in Middleboro

MIDDLEBORO — Six new firefighters will be hired in Middleboro, thanks to a federal grant award of more than $2 million. This represents the largest mass hiring of firefighters in recent town history, Fire Chief Owen Thompson said at the Sept. 16...

Middleboro police chief to retire

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro Police Chief Joseph Perkins will retire within the next 30 to 60 days, he announced in a letter read at the Sept. 9 Select Board meeting. He made the announcement, the letter stated, with “bittersweet sorrow and joy.’’ An...

Lakeville to add civilian traffic employees

LAKEVILLE — Lakeville has agreed to hire six civilians to assist with traffic control during road construction and events. The hires would offset the loss of six part-time and reserve officers, who didn’t meet minimum training requirements required...

Man arrested for trafficking fentanyl after rollover crash in Middleboro

MIDDLEBORO — A Boston man was arrested and charged for trafficking and possession of what police believe to be fentanyl and Cocaine after he and another person were involved in a rollover car crash on 495 southbound in Middleboro the morning of...

Middleboro man faces multiple assault charges after stabbing officer

MIDDLEBORO — A Middleboro man who already had several warrants out for his arrest faces additional felony charges after he stabbed a police officer twice with a steak knife during an incident the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 14, according to...

Former Wareham Sewer Commissioner killed in Middleboro crash

MIDDLEBORO — Former Wareham Sewer Commissioner Malcolm White, 71, has been identified as the victim of a multi-vehicle crash on I-495 north in Middleboro on the morning of Friday, Aug. 2. The news of White’s death was confirmed by current Chair of...

Firefighters tackle stinky situation when septic truck catches fire

LAKEVILLE — New firefighters saw a textbook example of fire science when part of a commercial septic truck went up in flames on Bedford Street in Lakeville on Wednesday, July 24. A toolbox attached to the side of the truck collapsed and was rubbing...

Camper catches fire in Lakeville

LAKEVILLE —The driver of a recently purchased motorhome didn’t get the chance to enjoy his new buy after the camper caught fire on Monday, July 22 in Lakeville. The driver, whose identity is not known at this time, noticed the vehicle started...

Firefighters able to extinguish house fire quickly with increased staffing

MIDDLEBORO — No one was injured in a Purchase Street house fire on Tuesday, July 2 that was extinguished “within 15 minutes,” according to the Middleboro Fire Department. Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson attributes this quick success, in part, to...

Driver rescued with Jaws of Life after crash in Lakeville

LAKEVILLE – Firefighters armed with chainsaws and the Jaws of Life cut through brush and vegetation to rescue the driver of a heavily damaged car that crashed off Route 140 north in Lakeville on Tuesday, July 2. The driver, the car’s only occupant,...

Two people sent to hospital after car strikes tree

LAKEVILLE — Two people have been transported to the hospital after the electric vehicle they were in struck a tree. The crash occurred on Myricks Street in Lakeville. Responders were dispatched for the single motor vehicle accident just before 3:30...

One person injured in rollover crash in Lakeville

LAKEVILLE — A woman was injured in a rollover crash near the intersection of Rhode Island Road and Precinct Street in Lakeville on Saturday, June 22. According to Lakeville Deputy Fire Chief Pamela Garant, fire fighters and police responded to the...

Select board chair walks a mile in their boots during fire department ridealong

MIDDLEBORO — Select Board Chair Mark Germain always knew that firefighters carry a heavy weight of responsibility as they battle blazes, provide medical care to injured residents and respond to varied emergency calls in the course of a shift. When...

Lakeville Fire Department celebrates 75 anniversary

LAKEVILLE — Fire Chief Mike O’Brien’s words said it all: “The trust we enjoy with the community, the trust we need to do our jobs, has been built on 75 years of service to our town.” He shared these words in a speech during the celebration of the...

Middleboro man arrested on drug charges after Dartmouth crash

DARTMOUTH — A Middleboro man was arrested on drug charges after Dartmouth Police responded to a car crash just after midnight on Saturday, June 15. According to the Dartmouth Police Department, the vehicle’s passenger, 20-year-old Middleboro...

Bridgewater man killed in Middleboro crash

MIDDLEBORO — A Bridgewater man was killed in a crash on Fuller Street Monday, June 10, after his vehicle hit a tree and flipped over into a nearby marsh, Middleboro police reported. Middleboro police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash...

Lakeville Fire Department responds to laptop fire

LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville fire department responded to a fire caused by a teen’s laptop at a home in Lakeville on Thursday night, the fire department has reported. The fire broke out just before 9 p.m. on Thursday night. The fire occurred as a...

Middleboro departments train on active shooting scenarios

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro Public Schools, Police, and Fire Departments recently participated in Active Shooter Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Training, Police Chief Joseph Perkins, Fire Chief Owen Thompson, Town Manager James McGrail and...

Hungry predators no match for fish rescued by Lakeville fire

LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Fire Department is no stranger to rescues. But one that took place recently turned into a real fish story. This one took place right on their fire station front lawn and involved the survivor of a battle between an osprey...

Middleboro Fire Department receives grants for fire safety education

MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro Fire Department has received grant funding totaling more than $8,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to support fire safety education programs for students and seniors, State Sen. Marc Pacheco has...

Informational open house June 1 at Lakeville Fire Station

LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Fire Department is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1 at the station to educate the community about the status of the current fire station and plans for the new station. Leadership from the...