Crime

Haverhill Man Tied to 2016 Swasey Field Shootings Faces New Gun Charges After State Police Arrest

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A Haverhill man tangled up in the city’s so-called “gang war” dating back to 2016’s Swasey Field shooting has been arrested and charged with new firearms offenses, State Police said last week. Mario Acosta, 23, was arrested by Trooper Steven Hanafin Wednesday night in Lawrence after being pulled over for marked lane violations, police said in a statement. Behind the wheel of a yellow BMW sedan with illegally tinted windows, Acosta and a 17-year-old female passenger were observed making “strange movements” that put Hanafin on alert. During the traffic stop, police located and seized a Polymer80 9mm handgun and an illegal extended high-capacity magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. While the juvenile was arraigned in Essex County Juvenile Court, Acosta faced a judge in Lawrence District Court, answering to several charges including possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without an ID card. Bail was set at $25,000.

Crime

Man Arrested for Bloody Richdale Brawl Over $4 Released Ahead of May Trial

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A 41-year-old Haverhill man who was called a good Samaritan by eyewitnesses for sticking up to a panhandling bully by kicking and punching him at the White Street Richdale was released by a Haverhill District Court judge Tuesday following his April 5 arrest, WHAV can exclusively report. Charged with two counts of assault and battery—using a shod foot and the pavement—5-foot-4 Jeremy Coito was represented in court by Attorney Maria Murber. During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Mary McCabe ordered him released on his own recognizance pending a bench trial in mid-May. Haverhill Police responded to a disturbance at 73 White St. Friday afternoon just after 4:30 p.m. to find a man on the sidewalk bleeding from his mouth, face and head, with witnesses identifying Coito as the aggressor.

Crime

Lawyer Refutes Police Evidence After Haverhill Woman’s Drug Arrest: Doesn’t Pass the Sniff Test

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Much ado over a paper bag. When Erika Esmurria appeared in Haverhill District Court Monday to answer to drug charges, court-appointed Attorney James J. Carney took police—and the Commonwealth—to task, despite his client’s status as a parolee. The incident began Friday afternoon when police say Haverhill’s Christina Dube engaged an alleged “hand-to-hand transaction” with Esmurria involving a Dunkin’ Donuts bag in the River Street McDonald’s parking lot. When stopped by Haverhill Police Detective Tiffany Maldonado, Dube removed a small plastic tube of white powder and told Maldonado she purchased cocaine from Esmurria and codefendant Angel Rivera. According to Esmurria’s lawyer Carney, Haverhill Police failed to provide probable cause for Esmurria’s arrest, which took place after a traffic stop near the High Street Market.

Crime

Finn Murder Suspect’s Grandfather Wraps Up Probation on Firearms Charges

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Raymond J. Maczuba, the Haverhill man whose grandson stands accused in the 2017 Bryce Finn murder, wrapped up a probation stint Monday stemming from a winter firearms arrest. As WHAV previously reported, Haverhill Police arrested 80-year-old Maczuba at the West Meadow Road home he shared with Joseph “Max” Benner in February, charging him with possession of an unlicensed weapon and ammunition, among other firearms offenses. He was released on personal recognizance following a Haverhill District Court hearing shortly after his arrest and pleaded guilty to the charges in January 2019. Terms of his probation included forfeiture of his weapons and payment of a $500 fine, court officials told WHAV. His 21-year-old grandson Benner stands accused of driving the getaway car carrying Delaware’s Kenneth Pitts, Thomas Warner and Nicholas Mandato on the night of June 6, 2017, the night Benner told police he and childhood friend Pitts conspired to rob Finn of his marijuana stash.

Crime

No Bail for Haverhill Man Who Threatened to Kill 8-Year-Old During Burglary

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A 26-year-old Warren Street man faced a Haverhill District Court judge Wednesday, accused of threatening to kill an eight-year-old girl during a February burglary attempt on White Street. Arrested on a warrant-related charge by Haverhill Police Officer Carlos Arriaga Wednesday morning, Nathan David Whittier was ordered held without bail by Judge Stephen Abany later that day. As WHAV first reported in February, Haverhill Police sought the public’s assistance to identify the masked man later determined to be Whittier after he entered the home through an unlocked first floor window just after 5 a.m. on Feb. 3. Court documents obtained exclusively by WHAV reveal Whittier left the little girl quite shaken.

Crime

Wallaces’ Uncle Now Faces Murder Charge in 11-Year-Old’s Death

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Miguel Rivera, the 58-year-old uncle of Haverhill’s Precious Wallaces, now faces a murder charge three months after the Consentino student’s sudden death. On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted Wallaces’ uncle, 58-year-old Miguel Rivera, on charges of murder and child rape, according to the DA’s office. The grand jury also returned an indictment against Rivera for distributing a Class E substance to a minor on Dec. 15, the night police say Wallaces was exposed to fentantyl. He is also charged with rape of a child aggravated by age difference and indecent assault and battery committed with a dangerous weapon.

Bryce Finn

Haverhill’s Benner Formally Indicted for 2017 Finn Murder

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A secret grand jury proceeding Wednesday formally brought an indictment against 21-year-old Joseph “Max” Benner, the fourth man charged in the 2017 murder of Haverhill High School graduate Bryce Finn, the DA’s office tells WHAV. The closed-door session now elevates Benner’s case to the Superior Court level and comes three months after he was charged with murder and armed assault with intent to rob in connection with Finn’s shooting death. Benner is currently held without bail and continues to serve a two-and-a-half-year sentence on drug charges. As WHAV previously reported, 18-year-old Finn’s death began as Benner’s plan to rob the teen of his marijuana stash with boyhood pal turned co-defendant Kenneth Pitts. In Benner’s own works, the result was “things going badly,” according to a joint State and Haverhill Police interview.

Crime

Police Seek Public’s Help in Solving Rash of Weekend Car Breaks

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Haverhill Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying those who broke into multiple vehicles this past weekend in the area of Grove and Blaisdell Streets. Police reports show officers responded to multiple automobile break-in and thefts along Bedford, Marshall and Pilling Streets and Stover Lane Saturday and more along Hancock and Pilling Streets Sunday. Police are asking for residents to check any surveillance video footage they may have in an effort to identify the person or persons responsible for the breaks. Those with information or video are asked to call Detective Kyle McCann at 978-373-1212, extension 1578.