Cache of electronics recovered after teens arrested on car theft charges

Saugus - Officers have arrested two teenagers they believe are responsible for a rash of motor vehicle break-ins that occurred in East Saugus.

Patrolman Matthew Donahue was conducting a patrol in an unmarked cruiser during the early morning hours on April 28 when he noticed a white Ford Contour with no headlights on that came back stolen out of Malden, according to Police Lt. Michael Annese.

As soon as Donahue approached, the Contour sped off and turned onto Serino Way. The officer rounded the corner to see the vehicle with two open doors crash into a parked car.

“They jumped out of the car and ran for it,” Annese said.
While searching the area for the suspects, officers located several vehicles in the area that appeared to have been burglarized.

Inside the damaged Contour patrolmen found a cache of electronics including numerous GPS units, iPods, DVDs, cell phones, a wristwatch, car starter and other mobile devices, Annese said.

Officers Paul Vansteensburg and Matthew Vecchio encountered a male matching one of the suspects’ descriptions on Bristow Street — identified as Mayco Martinez, 17, of 23 Russell St., Everett — and detained him following a brief foot pursuit.

Annese said Martinez was carrying cell phones, GPS systems, jewelry and cash on him when the officers apprehended him.

Moments later police saw the male walking down Bristow Street who drove the Contour, Barry Smith, 18, of 141 Washington Ave., Revere and arrested him without any resistance.

In addition the electronics officers recovered screwdrivers, wrenches and other items in the Contour that are frequently used to break into motor vehicles, Annese said.

Police arrested Smith and charged him with leaving the scene of property damage, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, receiving stolen property of more than $250 and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Martinez was arrested and charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, receiving stolen property of more than $250 and resisting arrest.

Altogether Smith and Martinez are suspected of breaking into at least four vehicles in East Saugus. Annese said the duo could be the culprits behind additional crimes in Saugus and other communities based on the items discovered in the Contour.

Annese credited the officers involved for identifying the suspicious vehicle and apprehending the two suspects.

“It was a good piece of police work all around,” Annese said.

Saugus Advertiser

State trooper killed in Saugus accident identified as Richard J. Cashin

Massachusetts State Police Capt. Richard J. Cashin, 52, was killed early Wednesday morning when he apparently lost control of his unmarked cruiser on Route 1 North in Saugus. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to information provided during a news conference at the Troop-A State Police Barracks in Danvers, Cashin’s car, a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, left the roadway to the right and struck a utility pole. The accident occurred near the Hess gas station across from York Ford.

Search uncovers missing Super Bowl rings in Saugus

Law enforcement officials say a safe deposit box they searched today at an Eastern Bank branch in Saugus held a glittering, ill-gotten treasure: 27 New York Giants Super Bowl rings, valued at more than $170,000, that were allegedly stolen in June from an Attleboro jewelry company.

Kristen Sullivan, 22, of Saugus, who rented the safe deposit box, was arrested by Lynn Police later on a charge of receiving stolen property over $250, said State Police spokesman David Procopio.

Sullivan had already been arrested Friday in connection with the June 8, 2008 heist at the E.A. Dion Inc. jewelry company, Procopio said. But as the investigation continued, the State Police, working with the FBI and local police, learned of the existence of the safe deposit box at the Eastern Bank on Lincoln Street in Saugus. The authorities obtained a search warrant, which they executed at noon today.

Police have said they believe that Sean D. Murphy, 44, a Lynn furniture mover, was the leader of a theft ring that moved up and down the East Coast, stealing jewelry and pharmaceuticals. After a series of search warrants were executed on Friday, Murphy was arrested in Lynn. Sullivan and Rikkile Brown, 21, were also arrested in connection with the heist.

The Super Bowl rings - which could have been flaunted by Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, or David Tyree if they hadn't been stolen - have been secured by the authorities for “evidence and for forensic testing," said Procopio.

Sullivan is being held by police, pending her arraignment on the second charge, he said.

Boston Globe

Saugus man charged as accessory to Bufalino robbery

SALEM - A Saugus man was arrested Tuesday for being an accessory to an armed robbery that reputed Revere mobster Darin Bufalino committed in Middleton a day earlier, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said.

John Viera, 47, of 42 Holland St., Saugus, turned himself into Winthrop police about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday for charges of being an accessory to armed robbery before and after the fact and threatening to commit a crime, according to Steve O'Connell, spokesman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

Middleton Police Chief James DiGianvittorio said Bufalino, 47, of 190 River Road, Winthrop, met with a 23-year-old landscaper on Village Road in Middleton about 12:30 p.m. Monday.

The victim planned to purchase a large amount of rock salt as part of a business transaction when Bufalino, a former enforcer of notorious mobster "Cadillac" Frank Salemme, allegedly pulled out a handgun and robbed the victim of $11,000 cash.

Bufalino fled onto nearby Interstate 95 and police in numerous North Shore communities, including Revere and Winthrop where he is known to frequent, were alerted of his vehicle's description.

Winthrop police said Bufalino made several calls saying he would turn himself in and did so about 6:15 p.m. He was transported back to Middleton by a State Police escort to face charges.

O'Connell said both Bufalino and Viera were arraigned Tuesday in Salem District Court.

Prosecutors requested $500,000 cash bail for Bufalino, who recently served a 10-year prison sentence for a 1993 Revere bank robbery, served approximately three years beginning in 1995 for non-fatally shooting a Revere woman, was acquitted of a 1984 Lynn murder on a technicality and widely rumored to have connections to others. Judge James Lamothe ordered him held on $75,000 cash bail, O'Connell said. Viera was ordered held on $7,500 cash bail.

Lamothe ordered Bufalino to wear an electronic ankle bracelet upon his release and to have absolutely no contact with the alleged victim, "including third party contact," O'Connell said. Viera was ordered the same conditions but does not have to wear an ankle bracelet.

Lynn Daily Item

Revere man held on $5G for robberies

SALEM - A Revere man charged with robbing businesses in Saugus and Salem during a three-day crime spree last year remains held at the Concord State Prison on $5,000, after pleading innocent.

William M. Nickerson, 28, of 12 Blaney Court, pleaded innocent Monday in Salem Superior Court to three counts of masked armed robbery.

As jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense, Judge John T. Lu set the bail amount proposed and continued the cases to March 9 for a pre-trial conference.

Charges relate to two incidents in Saugus and Salem.

Lynn Daily Item - Full Story

Patriot's drug link sentenced to prison

A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Saugus man to 42 months in federal prison for selling prescription painkillers to New England Patriots lineman Nick Kaczur, whom a prosecutor said was "addicted to drugs."

US District Court Judge William G. Young said from the bench that he would have given Daniel Ekasala more prison time, except for the fact that he concluded that Ekasala earnestly tried to persuade Kaczur to stop buying and using OxyContin even as he sold the lineman the pills.

"I am satisfied that you did counsel [Kaczur] to stop his drug use," Young told Ekasala.

US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan's office had asked for a 46-month sentence for Ekasala, who was secretly recorded selling Kaczur 300 OxyContin pills while the player was working as a cooperating witness for the Drug Enforcement Administration in May.

Boston Globe - Full Story

Bernie & Phyl's Jingle Contest winner takes home a car

Saugus - Rarely is Stephen Aiello at a loss for words, but the singer/guitarist was admittedly a little tongue-tied upon learning he won a Honda Civic Hybrid for submitting the best entry in the Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Jingle Video Contest.

"I’m speechless, I honestly don’t know what to say other than this is amazing," Aiello remarked.

Aiello, 25, garnered the most votes as part of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture’s jingle promotion that began over the summer and ended last Friday at the company’s store on Route 1 South.

Individuals were asked to create original 30-second videos of themselves singing the furniture franchise’s famous jingle: "Bernie and Phyl’s, quality and comfort and price, that’s nice!"

Bernie & Phyl’s received a whopping 215 submissions from people who hoped to take home the grand prize 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid.

Once the field was narrowed to the 10 best jingles, Bernie & Phyl’s took a page out of the American Idol playbook and turned the contest over to the public.

Saugus Advertiser - Full Story

Click here to view entries

Saugus duo arrested for mall parking lot robbery

PEABODY-A dispute over a parking space outside the North Shore Mall turned ugly Tuesday when the fight escalated into a robbery, police said.

Amy Ventrice, 24, of 10 Lincoln Court, Saugus and Justine Comeau, 25, of 8 Atherton St., Saugus, were arrested on robbery and assault and battery charges shortly after the 4:45 p.m. incident.

“It started as a dispute over a parking space,” explained Lt. Dennis Bonaiuto, Peabody police spokesman. “It’s rare but it does happen every holiday season at least once.”

According to police, the female victim was waiting for a parking space to open up outside Macy’s. As the victim started to pull in, Comeau allegedly tried to pull into the same spot with her car.

The victim succeeded in obtaining the spot, which allegedly angered Comeau and Ventrice greatly.

Lynn Daily Item - Full Story

Star of ‘Twilight' to appear in Saugus

I would not have even known anything about this movie if it weren't for my friend, Toni. Seems the books are a hit with teens.

SAUGUS, Mass. - Robert Pattinson, star of the upcoming movie "Twilight," is set to appear Friday at the Square One Mall in Saugus.

Fans lined up overnight for an autograph session with Pattinson at Hot Topic. Police allowed fans to line up in advance in hopes of preventing situations seen across the country.

(WHDH TV 7-Full Story)

Globe North Community Briefing

REVERE
BEACH CLEANUP PURSUED - City Councilor Daniel Rizzo has asked that Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral appear before the council to discuss whether the partnership between Cabral's office and Revere Beach would be affected if the Department of Conservation and Recreation budget is cut. Through Cabral's office, low-security inmates help clean the beach each summer. Rizzo said he wants to make sure the program continues next summer and wants to find out how best to improve it. Rizzo said he would like to talk to Cabral about possibly increasing the number of work-release inmates, who, he said, have done a terrific job. - Katheleen Conti

SAUGUS
BOARDS SEEK MEMBERS - The Board of Selectmen is accepting applications for volunteers to serve on three town boards. Openings exist on the Cultural Council, Cemetery Commission, and the Affordable Housing Board of Trustees. Residents interested in serving should submit a letter and resume to the board by Dec. 1. The materials can be mailed to the Saugus Board of Selectmen, Saugus Town Hall, 298 Central St. - Kathy McCabe

WINTHROP
NO SOLUTION IN LOGJAM - The legal actions brought by the owner of Wyatt's Mobil gas station on Main Street against the owners of the Dunkin' Donuts next door and the town were recently dismissed without prejudice by a Suffolk Superior Court judge. Robert Wyatt, owner of the gas station, wanted the court to force the town to enforce its 2007 decision ordering Dunkin' Donuts to shut down its drive-through window between 7 and 10 a.m., seven days a week. After determining last year that Dunkin' Donuts owners violated their special permit order to have a police detail directing traffic during morning commute hours, the Board of Appeals ordered the drive-through shut down during those hours. Dunkin' Donuts owners filed an appeal, in the meantime allowing them to continue to operate the window. Some residents, including Wyatt, blame Dunkin' Donuts for aggravating the daily congestion of vehicles leaving town toward East Boston. In his legal argument, Wyatt argued that not only was the congestion a public safety issue, but also that the cars queued up for the drive-through service were blocking entrance to his business. James J. Cipoletta, attorney for Dunkin' Donuts, asked the court to dismiss Wyatt's case, claiming that as a lessee of the property where his business sits, Wyatt had no standing to interfere in the zoning case. An attorney hired by the town and Wyatt's landlord, Nicholas Simione, who is also Dunkin' Donuts' landlord, argued the same thing. Ultimately Wyatt's attorney asked that the matter be dismissed without prejudice. Wyatt said he is frustrated. "Even though I have a 30-year lease and I've been there for 25 years, they don't even consider me a person of standing," Wyatt said.

PEABODY
MORE OPEN SPACE PURCHASED - A closing was recently held on the city's purchase 11.5-acres of forest and wetlands on Scouting Way from Eastman Gelatine Corp. The city is using its Community Preservation Fund for the $550,000 purchase. According to community and development director Jean Delios, Peabody paid half of the price at closing and will pay the balance in a year. The city bought the parcel for open space and possible use as athletic fields. Delios said the purchase is part of Mayor Michael J. Bonfanti's ongoing effort to secure open space. With the Scouting Way land, Peabody has bought close to 70 acres during the past three years. - John Laidler

APPLY FOR HABITAT HOME - Habitat for Humanity - North Shore is initiating the selection of a family to purchase an affordable one-family home it plans to build on Cooper Street in Lynn. Applications from prospective buyers are being accepted through Dec. 1. Applicants must meet income requirements. Preference will be given to people who have resided for more than a year in Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, or Topsfield. The three-bedroom home will be sold in the price range of $100,000 to $125,000. The family selected is required to contribute 400 hours of "sweat equity" to the project. Anyone interested is invited to an informational meeting Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St Pius V Parish, 215 Maple St. in Lynn. For more information, go to www.habitatforhumanity-northshore.com, call 781-598-0310, or e-mail homeowner@habitatforhumanity-northshore.com. - John Laidler

Troubled Library Catches a Break

State lawmakers have given Saugus a major incentive to increase funding for the town's public library.

The recently approved state environmental bond authorizes the state to provide Saugus with $3 million to support environmentally related capital projects in the schools. But there's a catch: The town's legislative delegation, which secured the authorization, included language that would allow Saugus to receive the "green schools" grant only if its public library is recertified. (Boston.com-Full Story)