Public Safety & Law Enforcement

New Bedford, Massachusetts – Mayor Scott W. Lang was joined today by Congressman Barney Frank, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, the Governor’s Seaport Advisory Council and several other key officials in a ceremony to unveil the City’s newest Port asset, Fire Boat Marine 2.

Boston, Mass. – The Animal Rescue League of Boston is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for throwing a suitcase with an adult female pit bull terrier and several bricks inside into the waters off the Frederick Street boat ramp on July 29 in New Bedford.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter is proud to announce that the full Senate and House passed a bill late Friday night and late Saturday night respectively, which includes a provision to allow prosecutors to once again request dangerousness hearings when defendants are charged with gun felonies involving illegal possession.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that George Duarte, 22, has been found guilty of second degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Duarte’s case was heard at New Bedford Superior Court and was presided over by Judge E. Susan Garsh.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Adrian DeJesus, 25, of 63 Hillman Street, New Bedford, was convicted Monday of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, and conspiracy to posses marijuana with the intent to distribute.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that New Bedford resident Keith Lake has been found dangerous by Superior Court Judge John Connor. Lake will be held without bail for the next 90 days while awaiting his trial. Mr. Lake was arrested April 26th after having repeatedly stabbed and bludgeoned his ex-girlfriend after ambushing her in her New Bedford apartment.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Terrell Baptiste has been indicted for murder by a Bristol County Grand Jury in connection to the previously unsolved June 2006 homicide of 35-year-old Antonio Semedo in New Bedford.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Keith Lake, 33, of New Bedford, was ordered held without bail during his Superior Court arraignment this morning. Mr. Lake is scheduled to appear back in court on June 3rd for a dangerousness hearing, during which a judge will determine whether he should continue to be held without bail for 90 days while the Commonwealth prepares for trial.

Today, around 7 p.m., the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to pass an amendment to the state’s dangerousness statute.



The House Amendment differs from the Senate amendment, which was passed in November.



The Senate amendment calls for prosecutors to have the option to ask for dangerousness hearings whenever a defendant is charged with carrying an illegal firearm outside home or work, possession of a machine gun, possession of a high capacity firearm, repeat serious felon in possession of a firearm.

Due to the House passage last night of dangerousness hearing legislation for illegal gun crimes, District Attorney Sam Sutter will be unable to hold today's planned press conference in New Bedford Superior Court. The district attorney will be back on Beacon Hill today to further his initiative to get the House and Senate Conference Committee to quickly pass legislation that would once again allow his office and other district attorneys to protect the public and reduce gun violence by requesting dangerousness hearings for certain individuals charged with illegal gun felonies.

District Attorney Sam Sutter will hold a press conference after tomorrow (Thursday) morning’s arraignment of Keith Lake in New Bedford Superior Court. District Attorney Sutter will address the media and take questions immediately after the arraignment, outside the Superior Court. The arraignment should occur sometime between 10 and 11 a.m.

District Attorney Sam Sutter today announced that Reggie Greene, 28, of New Bedford, was ordered held without bail during his arraignment today in New Bedford District Court.

Mr. Greene is charged with murder and accessory to murder in connection to the previously unsolved June 2006 homicide of 35-year-old Antonio Semedo. Mr. Greene pleaded not guilty during his arraignment today and is due back in court June 17th for a pretrial hearing.

District Attorney Sam Sutter today announced his office has brought criminal charges in connection to the June 2006 shooting homicide of 35-year-old Antonio Semedo.

After an extensive investigation into the June 18, 2006 slaying, state and local police yesterday arrested Reggie Greene, 28, of New Bedford, and charged him with murder and accessory to murder before the fact.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Vincent Waddlington, 44, of New Bedford, was convicted of first degree murder in connection to the December 24, 2005 killing of 19-year-old Rudolph Santos. Mr. Santos was shot once in the head and was impaled with a sword during the drug-related homicide, which occurred at 369 Hillman St., New Bedford.

District Attorney Sam Sutter is proud to announce plans for the third annual "Hear My Voice" event to commemorate National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The District Attorney’s Office has joined with partners from across the county to hold this family-friendly event.

The "Hear My Voice" event will take place on Saturday, April 10 at the Buttonwood Park and Zoo in New Bedford. Officials from the zoo have graciously offered to eliminate its standard entrance fee between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

For the eighth time in just over three years in office, District Attorney Sam Sutter today announced that his office has brought charges in an unsolved cold case homicide from a previous administration.

The Bristol County Grand Jury today returned an indictment charging Louis Bizzarro, 24, formerly of 208 State St., New Bedford with the December 1, 2002 murder of 34-year-old Albert “Rocky” Lopes.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office has completed its investigation into the August 11, 2009 police involved shooting of Joseph M. Ramos Jr. on Milton Street in Dartmouth.



The investigation has concluded that based on all of the circumstances involved and eyewitness accounts, the officers’ actions were necessary to defend themselves, and therefore the fatal shooting was justified and lawful, and did not violate any General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Seth Andrade, 19, of New Bedford, was arrested by state and local police inside a home at 74 Raymond Street, Fall River, early this morning. Mr. Andrade was being sought for the January 20, 2010 murder of 19-year-old Arthur Burton in New Bedford.

Comment from District Attorney Sam Sutter regarding arrests of Seth Andrade and Tyrone Solana in connection to January 20th murder of Arthur Burton:

"I am extremely pleased that this investigation, which has been vigorously pursued over the past two months, has resulted in two arrests and that both defendants are now in custody. We will be asking that both be held without bail. We will be taking the same determined and aggressive approach to the February 27th homicide of Jonathan Nieves at Sunset Hill in Fall River."

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that an arrest has been made in connection to the January 20, 2010 murder of 19-year-old Arthur Burton in New Bedford and that investigators are actively seeking a second suspect who is wanted for the murder.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - State Fire Marshall Stephen D. Coan and the New Bedford Fire Chief Brian Faria announced today a change in the state’s smoke alarm regulations for homes with five or less residential units. The change will take effect on April 5, 2010.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter will formally announce his candidacy for re-election on Monday, March 15th at 1:15 p.m. at the historic Wamsutta Club, located at 427 County Street in New Bedford.

District Attorney Sutter will be delivering a major address, which will review the work his office has done to enhance public safety in Bristol County during his first three-plus years in office and will preview a number of new initiatives he plans to unveil if elected to a second term.

The public and media are invited to attend. http://www.samsutter.com

Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide, which occurred early this afternoon in Fall River and Westport.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that at around 12:30 p.m. today, Alfred Arruda Jr., 43, of 80 Edmund St., Fall River, shot his brother, David Arruda, and his aunt, Barbara Platt, outside of the home they all shared with the Arruda’s parents at 80 Edmund St. Specific ages for both victims are unavailable at this time.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Robert Roy, 46, was convicted by a jury of his peers this afternoon of first degree murder. Mr. Roy was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert T. Kane to serve life in prison, with no possibility of parole.

Norfolk, MA, February 19, 2010 - Earl Sholley, 4th District United
States Republican Congressional Candidate praised the Amber Alert
System that is currently in place. The system, Sholley stated "is
responsible for the safe return of that 13-month-old child, who was
abducted in Swansea on Thursday. Our children are our future, and our
duty, as citizens and elected representatives is to put into place
legislation that aids in keeping them safe. Keeping its citizens safe
is one of the legitimate roles of government."

Sholley is opposing 15-term incumbent Barney Frank in the 2010 4th
District Congressional Race. Sholley noted the sharp contrast between
himself and Representative Frank. "Frank voted against the enhanced
nationwide Amber Alert legislation in 2003. The vote in the US Senate
was 98-0, and the vote in the US House was 400-25. Frank said at the
time he opposed the legislation because of Republican amendments
added to the bill. What were those amendments? They were more
stringent measures to punish pedophiles and child pornographers. It
shows, once again, how out of touch the incumbent is with his constituents.
I can promise the citizens of the 4th district, that, if elected, I will work
toward protecting the most vulnerable citizens of the Commonwealth,
our children. "

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter, announced that Bryan James, 37, of New Bedford, was sentenced today in Taunton Superior Court by Judge Barbara Dortch-Okara to serve 12 to 15 years in state prison for having assaulted a 3 year-old girl in 2007. The defendant was also sentenced to serve 15 years probation to begin upon his release.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter announced that Bryan James, 37, of New Bedford, was convicted by a jury of his peers today for assaulting a 3-year-old girl in 2007.

The jury returned its verdict this afternoon around 4:30. Mr. James was convicted of three counts of assault and battery of a child---causing substantial injury and one count of simple assault and battery.

Mr. James will be sentenced in Taunton Superior Court Monday at 3 p.m. He will be held in jail without bail over the weekend.

The defendant was accused of biting off his girlfriend's daughter's upper lip and of assaulting her enough times to deform the girl's ears. The girl also sustained bruises to her arms during the assaults, all of which occurred inside the home Mr. James shared with his girlfriend on Newcomb Street in New Bedford.

Second Assistant District Attorney Silvia Rudman, who is the Chief of District Attorney Sutter's Abuse Unit, prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.

The trial lasted two full weeks.

Westport Police received a 911 call around 11 p.m. Sunday regarding shots fired at the Oriental Pearl Restaurant, 576 State Road.

Upon arrival police located one deceased male and an injured female inside the restaurant.

The male, who has been identified as Paul Murphy, 64, of Fall River, is alleged to have shot his estranged wife Joan Murphy, 57, of Fall River. He then, according to a preliminary investigation, turned the gun on himself.

Joan Murphy was rushed to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River before being transferred to Rhode Island Hospital. She was in critical condition early this morning.

The investigation into the incident, which remains ongoing, is being conducted by the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, the State Police Unit assigned to the district attorney's office and Westport Police.

The Massachusetts District Attorney’s Association has elected Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter its new Vice President for 2010. Timothy Cruz, the Plymouth County District Attorney, was elected President. Each term will last one year. Sutter is currently entering the final year of his first term as Bristol County District Attorney, which began on January 4, 2007 after he defeated a 16-year incumbent in the election of 2006.

Yesterday, the Bristol County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Laura Lundquist, 98, with the second degree murder of 100-year-old Elizabeth Barrow. That indictment was received today by Judge Lloyd MacDonald in the New Bedford Superior Court. Upon review of this matter, the Court ordered Ms. Lundquist to be transported to the Taunton State Hospital for a competency evaluation prior to her arraignment.