By Tiffany Williams –
NEW ENGLAND — A body recovered from the Merrimack River. A ghost gun discovered during a Boston traffic stop. A confrontation involving knives inside a Dorchester CVS. A deadly motorcycle crash in Connecticut. And in Worcester, police say an investigation into neighborhood complaints led them to synthetic marijuana, alcohol, flavored tobacco products and more than $3,000 in cash.
It was a series of separate public safety investigations across New England, with authorities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut investigating cases ranging from an unexplained death to firearms and drug allegations.
BODY FOUND IN MERRIMACK RIVER IN BEDFORD
New Hampshire State Police are investigating after a deceased person was discovered in the Merrimack River near Hawthorne Road in Bedford Saturday afternoon. Marine Patrol Officers and State Troopers assigned to the Troop B barracks responded at approximately 3:22 p.m. on Sept. 12 after receiving a report of a body in the river.
First responders located the deceased individual, and preliminary information indicates the person may have been in the water for an extended period. Authorities said the death is not believed to be suspicious at this time, and there is no known threat to the public.
The person’s identity is being withheld as the investigation continues. An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death.
New Hampshire Marine Patrol and State Police were assisted by the Bedford Police and Fire Departments and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Trooper Jonathan Janosz at (603) 451-9772 or Jonathan.M.Janosz@dos.nh.gov.
BOSTON TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO GHOST GUN ARREST
A traffic stop over what police described as extremely dark window tint ended with the discovery of a loaded ghost gun and the arrest of a 19-year-old Dorchester man Saturday evening. Boston Police officers assigned to District B-3 in Mattapan arrested Kyle Cooper on multiple firearm charges.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., officers were patrolling near Blue Hill Avenue and Glenway Street when they observed the vehicle. A registration check showed the vehicle’s registration had been revoked because it was uninsured and unregistered, according to police.
The vehicle stopped in front of 37 Glenway Street after making a right turn, and officers initiated a traffic stop. Police said no one inside the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt and multiple marijuana cigarettes were visible in an ashtray in the center console.
Officers told the occupants to get out because the vehicle would need to be towed. During an inventory search, police recovered a firearm, and Kyle Cooper then attempted to run from the scene before being quickly handcuffed, according to police.
Police determined the weapon was a ghost gun with one round in the chamber and an unloaded magazine capable of holding 15 rounds. Four loose rounds of ammunition were also recovered from a backpack. Kyle Cooper is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a large-capacity feeding device and carrying a loaded firearm without a license.
TWO ARRESTED AFTER KNIFE ALTERCATION AT DORCHESTER CVS
A confrontation over alleged shoplifting escalated into a physical fight involving knives Friday morning at a CVS on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester. Boston Police arrested Jewel Crutchfield, 60, of Dorchester, and Philip Busam, 36, of Cambridge, following the incident.
Officers assigned to District B-2 in Roxbury responded at approximately 10:47 a.m. to a report of a person with a knife at 468 Blue Hill Avenue. Police received information that a man and woman had been involved in an altercation and that both had knives.
Officers reviewed security footage that showed a man and woman physically fighting near the store’s main entrance. Police said the video also showed the man attempting to conceal several items under his armpit while trying to leave the store before being confronted by the woman.
Jewel Crutchfield told police she had been shopping when she saw Philip Busam attempting to steal various items and approached him in an effort to retrieve them. Police said the confrontation became physical and Jewel Crutchfield brandished a knife, which she used to slash Philip Busam in the chest.
Philip Busam told police he fled the store following the confrontation but returned for his cell phone and took out his knife because he feared for his safety when he reentered. He refused EMS treatment, and both individuals were taken into custody. Jewel Crutchfield is charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, while Philip Busam is charged with shoplifting, with both expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.
MOTORCYCLIST KILLED ON ROUTE 2 IN EAST HARTFORD
Connecticut State Police are investigating a deadly motorcycle crash on Route 2 East in East Hartford. Troopers were called to the area near Exit 1A at approximately 11:56 p.m. Sunday for a report of a serious crash.
The motorcyclist died in the crash, according to state police. The person’s identity has not yet been released, and information detailing what led to the collision was not immediately available.
The Connecticut State Police accident reconstruction team responded to the scene. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
WORCESTER MARKET RAID LEADS TO DRUG AND ALCOHOL CHARGES
An investigation that Worcester Police said began with community concerns about double parking and public drinking led officers inside A&C Market at 6A Boylston Street, where investigators reported finding synthetic marijuana, alcohol, flavored tobacco products, vaping products, a digital scale and thousands of dollars in cash.
Members of the Worcester Police Neighborhood Response Team executed a search warrant at the business at approximately 11 a.m. on Sept. 11. Police said officers located numerous boxes containing flavored tobacco and vaping products along with several containers of alcohol.
Investigators also reported finding multiple bags containing K2, also known as synthetic marijuana, which police identified as a Class C substance. Officers seized $3,144 in cash and located a digital scale that police said was consistent with distribution.
According to Worcester Police, the store does not have a liquor license or a tobacco exception allowing it to sell flavored tobacco. Julio Abreu, 60, was arrested following the search.
Julio Abreu faces charges of distribution of a Class C substance, possession of a Class C substance with intent to distribute, illegal sale of alcohol without a liquor license and illegal sale of flavored tobacco. The charges remain allegations, and Julio Abreu is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.