Drug Offenses

December 8, 2008

Massachusetts Bank Robbery Suspects Continue To Engage Police In High Speed Chases And Win… Larger Criminal Sentences

Happy Monday. How did you start your weekend? I hear a lot of people went shopping. At Altman & Altman, LLP., we moved our offices next door.

In Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a gentleman had a high speed chase with an officer.

As usual, he did not win. He did, however, manage to injure a police officer, which successfully gained him membership into the infamous “Hey, I’ll Bet I Can Make This Worse” Club.

Of course, according to authorities, James T., 36 of Templeton (hereinafter, “Defendant 1”) had not exactly been the pillar of good judgment before the chase. There had already been a little matter of that warrant out for his arrest in connection with the robbery of the Fitchburg Savings Bank in Parkhill Plaza in April 2007.

Last Friday, police say that Detective Perry Pappas saw Defendant1 come out of a Marshall Street house around 1 p.m. and get into a black Saturn driven by a woman. The Detective followed the Saturn in an unmarked cruiser through city streets, and called for marked cruisers to help him with the arrest.

So far, so good.

Marked cruisers arrived around the intersection of Blossom and Crescent Streets. They signaled for the driver of the Saturn to stop.

That did not go over so well.

The Saturn did not stop. Instead, it drove along several more streets in the Fitchburg State College area and then hit another car at Pearl Street and Myrtle Avenue; that car, in turn, struck the cruiser driven by Police Officer Michael Rochette, police said.

The female driver of the Saturn was arrested at the scene and was taken to Leominster Hospital. Officer Rochette and three people in the car his cruiser collided with were taken to Leominster Hospital with what police said are non-life-threatening injuries.

Defendant 1, however, was not done yet.
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December 5, 2008

Massachusetts Is On The Go With Assaults, Drugs And Captive Audiences

by Altman & Altman

A new year is just about dawning! There is a new administration coming in to lead the country! Even our Cambridge office is moving (next door)! Let’s face it, people are on the go!

And, as goes “the people”, so goes the criminal justice system.

For example, let’s look at the case of the “Traveling Brawl Show” which opened its tents this week. It had a relatively short run, though. It ran from the evening hours of Tuesday to the morning hours of Wednesday, starting in Dennis, Massachusetts and ending in Hyannis.

It was not a “feel good” type of show, though. The star of the show, Patrick D., 27, of Dennisport (hereinafter, “Defendant 1”) performed the last act solo amidst charges of assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

The touring group began around 9:30pm on Tuesday at a Christy’s in Dennisport. A customer mentioned to the store’s assistant manager that a fight was underway near the dumpster to the rear of the store. The employee looked out and saw about 10 people fighting, including one with a baseball bat.

The assistant manager called the Dennis police. Meanwhile, the fight moved to the middle of Route 28, stopping traffic. The participants fled when Dennis police cruisers arrived.

According to court documents, the altercation allegedly led to two men being beat with one or more baseball bats and to the stabbing of Defendant 1 ‘s brother. The injured were taken by others, including Defendant 1 , to the hospital.

Later that night, Officer Barrette was dispatched to the hospital to stand by the victims while Dennis police were en route to take statements. Hospital security guards took Barrette into an office to observe the people who had arrived with the injured.

The officer said he saw a man run into the emergency room lobby being chased by Defendant 1 . The man stood behind a hospital guard, but Defendant 1 allegedly still punched him.
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November 26, 2008

North And South Of Boston, Sex Trade Stings Are In Full Swing

by Altman & Altman

As we near Thanksgiving, we look around for reasons to be thankful. True, economic times are tough and getting tougher. However, it would appear that all the violent crimes and drug dealing in Lynn, Massachusetts, has been stopped. No more guns rape, robbery or murder. It would appear that even the drunk driving problem is under control.

Now, the police have the time and resources to concentrate on other vicious crimes plaguing our society.

Prostitution, for example.

This past Saturday, a well timed police prostitution sting was said to be different than others done in the recent past. According to the Lynn Item, it was conducted in “broad daylight”.

No pun intended, I’m sure.

“For the city of Lynn, unfortunately, it’s a 24/7 problem,” said Sgt. Rick Carrow of the world’s oldest profession. He is the head of the department’s Special Investigation Unit that conducted the operation between 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday, netting nine arrests of would-be customers.

“There’s a market out there and we’re going to do what we have to do,” he said. And so they did.

Twenty-four-year-old Officer Kelly Aylward was the undercover decoy during the operation conducted in the downtown area, according to Carrow. The targets of this brilliantly conceived plan was to have an attractive female see if she could get men to want to have sex with her and be willing to pay for it.
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November 18, 2008

Burglaries Abound Throughout Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

As we drift ever closer to Thanksgiving, it would appear that some people are ready to name the pre-holiday weeks as Thanks! Taking!

In other words, there has been a rash of burglaries throughout the Commonwealth recently.

One rather enterprising culprit is believed to have cut a hole into the roof of a pharmacy in Swampscott, Massachusetts, thereafter stealing some prescription drugs.

It has not been revealed the nature of these drugs…whether they were sedatives for dealing with the holiday jitters, stimulants to help one work overtime in order to afford better Christmas gifts or, simply, a variety of goodies to sell on the street. One thing we do know, however, is that the burglary has left the local law enforcement baffled.

Police said they have no idea how the suspects scaled the walls of the building, but once they got on the roof, it is clear they used a power tool to saw a hole through the sheet metal. They then lowered themselves into the pharmacy. A second hole about the same size, believed to be the exit, was discovered in the wall of the store, according to police.

“Any time someone goes to that extreme you have to wonder just how dangerous they could be if you were to come in contact with them,” said a concerned customer.
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November 11, 2008

Massachusetts Probation For Fraud Is Violated By Assault Charges

by Altman & Altman

Today is Veteran’s Day. It is a day for reflection and a day to honor the men and women who have served this country in the trenches of various lands throughout the years.

Today’s daily blog looks at a matter occurring inside more local trenches. Criminal Justice trenches. The courtroom. A courtroom on Salem, Massachusetts, to be exact. While it certainly does not involve the valor we celebrate today nationally, it does contain some violence and a couple of lessons for us.

Martin S., 53, of Lynn (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) recently lost his battle for his own personal liberty in the Salem courtroom. He was sentenced to serve two years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Cedar Junction as he was found to have violated probation. Two witnesses testified at the hearing that he grabbed a woman by the throat and fought another man during a September 21, 2008 altercation at an apartment on Lynde Street in Salem.

The Defendant’s attorney said he had gone to the apartment to get his girlfriend out of there because she was drinking alcohol, a violation of her probation for a drunken-driving conviction.

Although the assault charge is still pending in court, the Superior Court Judge observed that the arrest itself is a probation violation. “He’s gotten away with quite a bit in the last couple of years,” the judge said yesterday before announcing the sentence at the conclusion of a probation hearing.
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November 10, 2008

Arrests Made During Investigations Concerning Juvenile Alcohol And Drug Traffic North And South Of Boston

by Altman & Altman

Friday night was a big night for Massachusetts law enforcement in the prosecution of juvenile alcohol parties and narcotics investigations.

In Danvers, An investigator’s patience paid off as he sat back and watched an alleged drug deal, stopping the car afterwards. He found a wide variety of drugs in the car, police said yesterday.

Danvers Police Lt. Carole Germano said Detective Robert Sullivan was staking out a Newbury Street business at 10:15 p.m. Friday. “He had set up surveillance in the Motel 6 parking lot and he observed a hand-to-hand (pass) and subsequently stopped the vehicle and seized the drugs and currency,” she said.

The stash allegedly found included cocaine, heroin, Vicodin and other prescription drugs inside the car, as well as an undisclosed amount of money.

Darren L., 40, and Twyla H., 27, (hereinafter, “Defendants 1”), both of Lynn, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate a drug law, drug violation near a school or park, possession of Class A drugs to distribute, possession of Class B drugs to distribute and three counts of possession of Class C drugs to distribute.

The stop of the car was also occasioned by the driver’s alleged failure to stop at a stop sign, winning her an additional criminal charge.

Meanwhile, in Plainville, Massachusetts, thirteen youths, all under 21 years old, (hereinafter, “Defendants 2”) were having their weekend ruined. They were arrested at a party with underaged drinking Friday night, police said.
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November 7, 2008

South And North Of Boston Tales Of Drunk Driving And Providing Alcohol To Minors Come Home To Roost

by Altman & Altman

Massachusetts just voted to change the way we handle the prosecution of possessing a small amount of marihuana. Meanwhile, alcohol still seems to be getting its share of publicity as well.

Two recent stories bring the subject of alcohol home.

No, literally….home.

For example, at approximately 4:30 a.m. this past Saturday morning, Park Street in Stoughton was the scene of a lot of excitement; a car crashed into one of its houses, causing a fire that is now said to have made the house structurally unsafe.

Donald M., 22 (hereinafter, “Defendant 1”) is said to have driven into the uninhabited home, police said, and charged with operating under the influence of liquor, operating a motor vehicle negligently so as to endanger and marked lanes violation.

Fortunately, the home had already been uninhabited.

“Why?”, you ask.

“Because a similar thing happened last year”, I answer. That’s right, the house had already sustained serious damage, including a gaping hole to its foundation, caused by a similar accident last year. Defendant 1’s accident simply added another gaping hole. And caused a fire. And pushed the safety of the structure over the edge of soundness.
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November 6, 2008

Breaking And Entering And Maybe Drugs Lead To Murder Charges Plus One In Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

This one isn’t so funny. It involves the type of tragedy that happens all the time, particularly in urban areas. Of course, this one has a couple of twists.

This wasn’t the big city…it was Winchester, Massachusetts. In a peaceful dead-end street lined with single and multifamily houses where residents have lived for generations. Chris and Bryan Barbaro were two brothers living on the same street where they were raised. The same street where their parents and sister still live.

Now, they are both dead.

In October, 2007, Wally S., 30 (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) allegedly kicked in the door and forced his way into the Barbaros’ three-family home and shot 48-year-old Bryan Barbaro in the chest, a wound he survived after being rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital. Brother Chris was shot in the forehead and died at that time.

Despite being wounded, Bryan Barbaro was able to call 911 and report that both he and his brother had been shot, officials said.

Although Assistant District Attorney Nathaniel Yeager told the court that 50-year-old Chris Barbaro was killed by the gunshot to the forehead, the Defendant was not immediately charged with the murder.
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November 3, 2008

Boston Narcotics Detective Drunk, Assaultive And Indicted Outside The Commonwealth.

by Altman & Altman

Well, it just goes to show you…nobody is immune to the criminal justice virus.

Ask most members of law enforcement, and they will tell you that there is a big difference between “us” and “them”, referring to themselves and the “perps” they go after on a daily basis. The difference? Well, that “we” are the good guys and “they” are the bad guys, of course.

Hm. Somebody apparently forgot to mention this to Boston police detective Sgt. Thomas J. (hereinafter, the “Defendant”). He is alleged to have gotten a bit confused about this difference back in March during a trip out of town. In fact, it was in Savannah, Georgia, where he was celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. His actions during that vacation have now earned him an even longer respite from work now that he has been suspended without pay from the force. The suspension came when the eight-count indictment was handed down last week. Before that, the highly respected drug detective had simply been on paid leave from the department since March 15th.

Savannah police say that the Defendant followed a group of women back to their home and pounded on the door, saying he was a police officer and demanding they open up. He then attempted to force his way inside and struggled with one of the women at the door, police said.

He soon overpowered the women and pulled them outside, where he forced them to the sidewalk but made no further demands, police said. Instead, he fled. However, that course of action apparently works as well in Georgia as it does in Massachusetts. The Savannah police caught him.

According to the indictment, he then resisted arrest. Yes, same result as when it happens in the Commonwealth.
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October 28, 2008

Massachusetts Police Find Guns, Drugs And Explosives In Pre-Halloween Visit

by Altman & Altman

We continue our Halloween-themed week of daily blogs, which will culminate with Friday’s subject of today’s witch-trials, with a frightening tale of unwanted visitors, illegal treats, and a resulting trick.

It was last Thursday night in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Approximately 8:30 pm. One week and a day before Halloween night. 22-year-old David W (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was spending what he believed would be a quiet night in his home. Alone. His alleged treats surrounded him in his happy little piece of heaven as he settled in for the evening.

Outside, it was a calm night. Very little wind. Temperatures in the 30’s.

And then it happened.

The calm, both inside and out, became thing of the past.

One week later, it might have been various masked monsters who descended upon the house. Not tonight, though. Not ghosts, witches or goblins, either. Tonight, the most feared intruders of all for the Defendant…The Police
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