Crime

Police Charge North Andover Woman, 72, After I-93 Crash with Cruiser in Windham, N.H.

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A 72-year-old North Andover woman and a New Hampshire state trooper were evaluated at a local hospital following a crash Thursday afternoon on I-93 in Windham, N.J.

New Hampshire State Police report Sharen Marcus, driving a 2012 Ford Focus, was traveling southbound on I-93 just before 3:30 p.m., when she veered to the right and crashed into the parked State Police cruiser within the right breakdown lane. Police added, the cruiser had all of its emergency lights on during a construction detail in the area south of exit 3. Marcus was charged with driving with an invalid license, misuse of plates and reckless operation after it was learned she was driving with a suspended license and using invalid plates. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Windham Fire and Rescue, Salem Fire Department, Windham Police Department, Rockingham County Sheriff Office and N.H. Department of Transportation were on scene as the highway was closed during the investigation.

Crime

State Police Seize Methamphetamine at North Andover Auto School, Lawrence Home

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An investigation into a large-scale methamphetamine distribution operation led local and State Police to a Lawrence home and a North Andover driving school where “a significant quantity” of narcotics were sized. In a statement this week, State Police said 56-year-old Michael Larocque of Lawrence, was arrested Friday at his home and booked at the State Police Barracks in Newbury. He was charged with two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine of more than 200 grams. Larocque, owner of North Andover Auto School, was arraigned before Judge Michael Uhlarik in Lawrence District Court Monday and ordered held on $250,000 cash bail and ordered to surrender his passport and remain substance free. His next court hearing is Oct. 19.

Crime

Federal Judge Sentences Haverhill Nurse to Five Years in Prison for Taking Patients’ Morphine

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A Haverhill nurse was sentenced in federal court in Boston Monday for tampering with patients’ morphine. As WHAV reported in June, 32-year-old Brianna Duffy, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud or deception. She was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. According to U.S. Andrew E. Lelling’s office, on March 17 and 18, 2019, while working as a registered nurse at Hunt Nursing and Rehab in Danvers, Duffy tampered with morphine sulfate prescribed to an 89-year old hospice patient. In an attempt to avoid detection, she replaced the extracted medication with another liquid, diluting the morphine to just 26% of the prescribed concentration.

Crime

West Newbury Police Summons 26 Youth After Party Results in Injury and Destruction

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Twenty-six minors are being summonsed into court—some for underage drinking—after a fight broke out at a West Newbury home last Saturday. West Newbury Police Chief Jeffrey Durand said one juvenile male claimed to have been attacked at the Ash Street home and was sent to the hospital. Police were dispatched just before midnight after receiving a report of a large fight. They said party-goers came from Lawrence, Lynnfield, Middleton, Newburyport, Peabody, West Newbury and Dover and Plaistow, N.H. The youth are being charged with disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property, less than $1,200. Some will also be charged as minors in possession of liquor.

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Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Dealing from Methuen Elderly Housing Complex

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A Lowell man, involved in drug dealing from a Methuen elderly housing complex, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Thirty-year-old Steven Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl before U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young. The judge scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10. Perez was arrested and charged with Anthony Holloway, of Methuen, last Dec.

Crime

Haverhill Man, Methuen Woman Among Eight Charged with Buying Cars with Stolen Identities

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A Haverhill man and a Methuen woman are among eight people charged with using stolen identities to fraudulently purchase and finance late-model vehicles from dealerships in Massachusetts. The U.S. Attorney’s office said 37-seven-year-old Alvin Rivera, of Haverhill, was charged with false representation of a Social Security number, aiding and abetting the same, aggravated identity theft, aiding and abetting the same and wire fraud. Rivera also allegedly assisted other individuals with the fraud. Forty-three-year-old Neida Lopez, of Methuen, was charged with aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lopez allegedly used a stolen identity to obtain a credit card and accrue $21,931 in charges on that card.

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Methuen Man, 28, Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Dealing Fentanyl

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A Methuen man pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston to distributing fentanyl. Twenty-eight-year-old Alexsander Padro pleaded guilty to distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl before Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, who scheduled sentencing for next Jan. 8. Padro was arrested in July of 2019. U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling’s office said Padro sold more than 40 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating source at a restaurant in Methuen on July 10, 2019.

Crime

Methuen Police Warn Residents of Fake Social Security Calls, Say ‘Do Not Fall for This Scam’

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Methuen Police are warning the public to beware of calls that appear to be coming from a city telephone number and purporting to be representing the Social Security Administration. Police said the scammer has a foreign accent and identifies himself as a law enforcement officer. “The scammer will attempt to gain personal information and request payment to clear the matter up,” a Methuen Police statement said, warning, “do not fall for this scam.”

Police advise resident who receive a similar call to immediately hang up. If a resident believes they or someone they know has fallen victim to the scam, they should call dispatch at 978-983-8698 to speak with an officer.