Public Safety & Law Enforcement

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced that Jose Carrion, arrested Sunday in connection to the ongoing investigation into the homicide of 33-year-old Melvin Pina early Saturday morning in New Bedford, was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail during his arraignment in New Bedford District Court today.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter will be hosting the Second Annual Free Family Fitness and Fun Day this Saturday at UMass Dartmouth.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that a major New Bedford Narcotics Trafficker was convicted Friday in Fall River Superior Court and sentenced to serve 15 years in state prison.

District Attorney Sam Sutter’s office will be leading an anti-bullying educational program aimed at both students and parents during the course of the next week. District Attorney Sutter’s Community Affairs staff and a veteran district court prosecutor will be presenting the program to students at New Bedford High School on March 7th and 8th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The presentation will also be given to parents of New Bedford High School students on Monday, March 12th at 6 p.m. in the high school.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Gary Gomes, 39, of New Bedford, was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, for the 2009 killings of Robyn Mendes and Katherine Gomes.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Gary Gomes, 39, of New Bedford, pleaded guilty yesterday to first degree murder.

On January 6, 2009, the bodies of Robyn Mendes and Katherine Gomes were discovered by police at 24 Independent Street in New Bedford. New Bedford Police and Fire personnel responded to the Independent Street apartment that day after neighbors detected the smell of natural gas coming from the upstairs apartment. Upon entry to the apartment, police found both women deceased.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Khalil Carter-Woods, 23, of New Bedford, was sentenced Monday to serve 18 months in the House of Correction after being convicted of carrying an illegal firearm. Mr. Carter-Woods was also convicted of assault and battery of a police officer and carrying a firearm while loaded.

District Attorney Sam Sutter today announced that the Bristol County Grand Jury returned Indictments yesterday against Jonathan Flores, 20, of New Bedford and Jason Denison, 20, of New Bedford for murder , Possession of an Illegal Firearm, and Armed Assault with Intent to Murder. Mr. Denison was also indicted on a charge of witness intimidation (misleading investigators )and Mr. Flores was also indicted on a charge of being an Armed Career Criminal . Both men will be arraigned on the indictment in Fall River Superior Court on a date yet to be determined.

Fairhaven Police and State Police Detective assigned to the district attorney's office are currently investigating an apparent fatal hit and run, which occurred in the area of 9 Francis Street late last night.

District Attorney Sam Sutter and New Bedford Police Chief David Provencher this morning announced that 20-year-old Jonathan Flores, wanted for the December 2nd shooting homicide of Michael Pina, turned himself in to New Bedford Police last night. Mr. Flores will be arraigned on a charge of murder this morning in New Bedford District Court.

District Attorney Sam Sutter and New Bedford Police Chief David Provencher today announced that murder charges have been filed against two city men in connection with the December 2nd shooting death of 20-year-old Michael Pina.

New Bedford Police received a call for shots fired around 5:30 this morning in the area of 120 Locust Street. At that time, police immediately responded and discovered the body of 32-year-old Tracy Monteiro, (a male) of New Bedford, outside of 120 Locust Street. As a result of the discovery, New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to this office and Homicide Unit prosecutors have now begun a homicide investigation. The investigation is being coordinated by Co-First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley.

Anyone who may have any information regarding this incident is urged to either contact New Bedford Police at 508-991-6300, or take advantage of the district attorney's anonymous Text-a-Tip program. Citizens can anonymously submit a tip regarding this homicide by visiting www.tipsubmit.com or by texting the phrase "Call50" to the phone number 274637(CRIMES) from a cell phone.

Because the investigation has just begun this morning, no further information can be released at this time. If further updates become available, this office will send out another press release.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced that the state Appeals Court today reversed a New Bedford District Court judge’s decision to acquit 26-year-old Joshua Linhares of an animal cruelty charge, and reinstated the original trial jury’s guilty verdict.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office and prosecutors are currently investigating a suspicious death in the City of New Bedford.

The body of a male was discovered this evening inside an unoccupied home at 1058 Churchilll Street. The victim's identity cannot be released at this time, due to next of kin notification protocols.

Detectives and other crime scene personnel are currently processing the scene and an autopsy will likely be performed by the State Medical Examiner's office tomorrow.

The investigation is being coordinated by Co-First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley, and Assistant District Attorneys Katie Rayburn and Michael Cahilane.

Since the investigation into the homicide has just begun, no further information regarding the case will be released at this time.

Update: The body discovered earlier this evening in New Bedford has been positively identified as 36-year-old Michael Duarte of New Bedford.

Update: November 10, 2011

The State Medical Examiner's Office this afternoon concluded that the death of 36-year-old Michael Duarte was the result of a homicide.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office and prosecutors are actively investigating this homicide.

The body of Mr. Duarte, a New Bedford resident, was discovered last night inside an unoccupied home at 1058 Churchilll Street.

The investigation is being coordinated by Co-First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley, and Assistant District Attorneys Katie Rayburn and Michael Cahilane.

Since the investigation into the homicide is still in its early stages, no further information regarding the case will be released at this time.

The New Bedford Police Department has joined up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to conduct a third National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at New Bedford Police Department, 871 Rockdale Ave, New Bedford, MA to provide a venue for city residents and others who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

District Attorney Sam Sutter confirmed today, that after a thorough, six-month investigation, the death of 11-year-old Elijah Lopes on March 8th was the result of a suicide.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- On Tuesday, August 2, 2011, New Bedford will celebrate Annual National Night Out Against Crime, on the grounds of the Alfred J. Gomes School from 5:00-9:00pm. National Night Out (NNO), America’s Night Out Against Crime, is a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) to encourage neighborhood camaraderie as part of the fight for safer streets. The NNO campaign involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states.

A New Bedford double shooting defendant apprehended last week in New York City will be arraigned Monday morning in New Bedford District Court. Christopher Wagner, 22, fo New Bedford will face charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, firearm armed assault to murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, carrying a loaded firearm without a license and carrying a firearm without a license.

District Attorney Sam Sutter stood alongside Governor Deval Patrick today as the Governor launched his Safe and Successful Youth Initiative aimed at eliminating youth violence in the Commonwealth. The Governor's plan includes targeted prevention and intervention efforts for high risk youth, better preparation for those young adults about to leave jail or prison and re-enter society, and the introduction of legislation creating tougher penalties for those convicted of shooting someone.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- Today, Mayor Scott W. Lang announced the appointment of Captain David Lizotte to serve as Deputy Chief of the New Bedford Police Department. Captain Lizotte, a 28-year veteran of the force, began his career in New Bedford in 1983, serving as a uniform patrol officer for the next ten years. In 1994, he achieved the rank of Sergeant; in 1998, Lieutenant; and in 2010, he attained the rank of Captain, serving as the Station 3 Division Commander.

District Attorney Sam Sutter---and several law enforcement partners from throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the federal government---today announced the results of an extensive "wiretap" investigation, dubbed "Operation Night Out."

The wiretap operation has thus far resulted in charges being brought against five individuals in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and the seizure of large amounts of drugs, cash, ammunition and vehicles.

Massachusetts based Youth Courts will host a Meet and Greet reception for the Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Mary Elisabeth Heffernan, from 4:00-5:00PM on Tuesday March 29th at New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.

New Bedford, Taunton and Fall River Youth Court programs have joined together to sponsor this event in hopes of bringing state and local officials as well as community partners together to discuss the future and sustainability of these valuable juvenile diversion programs.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced that New Bedford cold case murder defendant John D. Loflin, 48, of Tennessee, was ordered held without bail during his arraignment this morning in New Bedford District Court. Mr. Loflin is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on April 28th.

New Bedford, Massachusetts – Mayor Scott W. Lang, Congressman Barney Frank, District Attorney Sam Sutter and the New Bedford Police Chief Ron Teachman held a press conference today to announce the deployment of a ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System® (GLS) in the City of New Bedford. The new system will enhance public safety and enable the police to respond more quickly, consistently and efficiently to gun fire.

The victim of yesterday's homicide in the City of New Bedford has been positively identified as Timothy Cowart, 29, of 40 Roosevelt Street, New Bedford.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office and Homicide Unit prosecutors are all currently investigating a homicide, which occurred in New Bedford Friday afternoon.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that Mr. Cowart was shot near the intersection of Thompson and Hyacinth streets today around 12:05 p.m. The victim was rushed by rescue personnel to St.Luke's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 1 p.m.

Since the investigation into the homicide is currently active and pending, no further information regarding the case will be released at this time.

If an arrest is made or any other updates become available this office will send out another press release to alert the media.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office and Homicide Unit prosecutors are all currently investigating a homicide, which occurred in New Bedford this afternoon.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that an unidentified male was shot near the intersection of Thompson and Hyacinth streets today around 12:05 p.m. The victim was rushed by rescue personnel to St.Luke's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 1 p.m.

Since the investigation into the homicide has just begun, no further information regarding the case will be released at this time.

If an arrest is made or the identity of the victim is positively ascertained, and a next of kin notification is made, this office will send out another press release to alert the media.

District Attorney Sam Sutter and New Bedford Police Chief Ronald Teachman announced that a second man connected to the January 5th slaying of Anthony Jones on Grinnell Street in New Bedford, turned himself in to authorities at the New Bedford District Court late this afternoon.

District Attorney Sam Sutter and New Bedford Police Chief Ronald Teachman announced this afternoon that a 15-year-old New Bedford boy has been arrested and charged in connection with last night's homicide in New Bedford. The juvenile is charged with carrying an illegal firearm, carrying a loaded illegal firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and assault with a dangerous weapon. He will be arraigned later today in New Bedford Juvenile Court. Because he is a juvenile, no further information can be released about this defendant.

New Bedford Police, State Police Detectives assigned to this office and Homicide Unit prosecutors are actively investigating a late Wednesday night homicide in the City of New Bedford. On Wednesday night, around 11:42 p.m., 19-year-old New Bedford resident Anthony Jones was shot and killed while outside of a home at 215 Grinnell Street.

Several individuals attempted to drive Mr. Jones to the hospital, while others called police. The vehicle driving Mr. Jones eventually stopped in the area of 488 Union Street, where police found individuals performing CPR on Mr. Jones's body. He was deceased at this time, and an extensive homicide investigation has been underway ever since.

As the investigation remains very active and fluid at this time, no further information regarding the incident will be released at this time. The investigation is being coordinated for the district attorney's office by Co-First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley and Assistant District Attorney Katie Rayburn.

District Attorney Sam Sutter today announced the departure of one his veteran Superior Court prosecutors and the hiring of another prosecutor who was recently named the 2010 William O'Malley Prosecutor of the Year by the Massachusetts District Attorney's Association.