Crime

Drug Case Against Haverhill DPW Workers Frasca, Allen Dropped: ‘Justice Was Served’

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Nearly one year after the arrests of former Department of Public Works employees Erik Frasca and Steven Allen, Haverhill District Court First Justice Stephen Abany Wednesday declared the charges against the men dropped. Different than a dismissal, Wednesday’s outcome of “nolle prosequi” came one month after Judge Patricia Dowling suppressed evidence in the case at the request of Frasca and Allen’s defense attorneys. Speaking only to WHAV after Wednesday’s victory, Allen’s attorney Stephen Colella and Frasca’s attorney William Early proudly declared that “justice was served.”

“It’s like it never happened and the government said 'We can’t proceed, therefore we’ll withdraw everything,'” Colella told WHAV, explaining the outcome. In the wake of Frasca and Allen’s August 2018 arrests for the alleged drug deal outside Summer Street’s City Hall, WHAV was the only media outlet in the courtroom as the case continued month after month. Co-defendant Kevin Moriarty pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in April, receiving one year of probation after two charges--one count of possession and one count of distribution—were declared continued without a finding.

Crime

State Police Arrest Man, 23, After Crash that Killed Seven, Including Former Haverhill Man

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A 23-year-old West Springfield man is accused of being the driver of a truck involved in Friday’s crash that killed seven motorcyclists, including a former Haverhill man, in Randolph, N.H.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy is facing seven counts of negligent homicide. He was arrested at his home, where Massachusetts State Police found “wax packets containing a residue suspected of being heroin,” around 8 a.m., Monday. In Springfield District Court Monday afternoon, he said he would not fight extradition to face charges in New Hampshire. He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Lancaster, N.H.

Former Haverhill resident Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr., 59, of Lee, N.H., was among those killed when, New Hampshire State Police say, a Dodge pickup truck “collided with several motorcycles.” The motorcyclists were part of Jarheads Motorcycle Club who were riding to a charity event at the American Legion in Gorham, N.H. The club consists of active duty or honorably discharged marines and FMF Corpsmen. Besides Mazza, those killed are Jo-Ann and Edward Corr, of Lakeville, N.H.; Michael Ferazzi, of Contoocook, N.H.; Daniel Pereira, of Riverside, R.I.; Desma Oakes, of Concord, N.H.; and Aaron Perry of Farmington, N.H. Two others were taken to the Androscoggin Valley Hospital and one was airlifted to Maine Medical.

Crime

UPDATED: Valley-Centered Raid Nets 24 Kilos of Fentanyl, Heroin, $100K Cash: AG’s Office

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The largest opioid takedown in the history of Attorney General Maura Healey’s office centered in Methuen and Lawrence took millions of dollars of the deadly drugs fentanyl and heroin off Merrimack Valley streets, Healey confirmed Thursday. More than 100 members of local, state, federal agencies worked in tandem Wednesday to execute warrants at 14 locations across the region to arrest 12 people and seize weapons, cash and drugs. Methuen Police Department Capt. James P. Jajuga Jr. was among those to lend a hand with the two-year investigation that involved law enforcement partners as far away as New Jersey. “This underground economy has a direct and detrimental impact on countless lives, and knows no boundaries, economic, geographic, or otherwise,” Jajuga told WHAV. “We, as a police department, pledge to continue to work in conjunction with fellow law enforcement, and the public, to battle this epidemic.”

Four guns, nearly $100,000 in cash and more than 24 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine were seized as a result of the raid, Healey said.

Crime

State Police Arrest Haverhill Man Allegedly Dealing in 165 Grams of Heroin

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A 34-year-old Haverhill man faces heroin trafficking charges after being arrested Thursday night by State Police in Lawrence. State Police said Julio Valerio, of the Bradford section of city, was found with 165 grams of what is believed to be heroin. He was arrested by Trooper Nicholas Neczypyr after a routine traffic stop just after 7 p.m. The trooper said Valerio initially gave a false name. Valerio, driving a 2002 Nissan Altima, was also charged with driving after license suspension, subsequent offense; refusing to identify himself; a seat belt violation; driving without a valid inspection sticker and an equipment violation. He was arraigned Friday at Lawrence District Court.

Crime

Police Nab Fugitive Wanted for Two Rhode Island Bank Robberies in Haverhill

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Haverhill Police assisted an out-of-state agency Wednesday with the capture of a wanted fugitive from Weymouth on the run after allegedly committing two brazen daytime bank robberies in that state. Forty-one-year-old Kevin Donovan was picked up in Haverhill’s Central Plaza on June 12 after his cell phone pinged near the Merrimack Valley Credit Union just after 4 p.m., Haverhill Police said in court documents obtained by WHAV. Rhode Island police had been on Donovan’s tail since May 23, when they say he entered an East Providence Citizens Bank wearing a hat and sunglasses, removed an envelope from a stack at a teller’s window and wrote a note that read, “No die packs, sorry” before slipping it to a clerk at a different window. The teller complied with Donovan’s request and he exited the bank with $3,475, police said. He also carried out a June 3 cash grab at a Citizens Bank in North Providence, R.I., making off with approximately $2,000, according to police.

Crime

Acre Violence Heats Up with Haverhill Police Confirming Shots Fired Sunday Night

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There were no injuries reported after a gun was fired late Sunday night in the Acre neighborhood. Haverhill Police Capt. Stephen J. Doherty Jr. confirmed “a firearm was discharged” just before 11 p.m., Sunday, near Cedar Street and Eighth Avenue. He told WHAV police arrived after receiving a call about shots being fired. Witnesses said they heard a single gunshot and then screeching tires as a car sped off. As is customary, police closed Eighth Avenue.

Crime

Ground Pounder’s Biker Who Allegedly Terrorized Haverhill Woman Released to House Arrest

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A Malden man who police say is a member of a Hell’s Angels-affiliated motorcycle club called the Ground Pounder’s was released on bail and ordered to surrender his weapons five days after he allegedly “flashed” a pistol at a Haverhill woman in a “road rage” incident last weekend. Forty-six-year-old Albert Menkello was fitted for a GPS monitor during a Thursday afternoon court appearance where First Justice Stephen Abany listened in as Assistant District Attorney Stephen LaMonica and Menkello’s Attorney Courtney Joy came to an agreement on the conditions of his release. As his case continues in Haverhill District Court, Mankello must surrender all firearms and his firearms license to the Burlington Police Department, where he is registered, and stay away from the 23-year-old victim in the case. As WHAV previously reported, the woman was driving on River Street near Westgate Center June 1 when, as she told police, four bikers including Menkello drove up behind her and allegedly cut her off. When she beeped her horn, the motorcyclists slowed down and two drove to the left side of her car and two to the right.

Haverhill

UPDATE: Police Nab Methuen Shooting Suspect, 17, in Haverhill

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On Wednesday afternoon, Methuen Police took a 17-year-old Haverhill teen into custody in connection to the shooting in Haverhill. Solomon praised the joint efforts of Methuen and Haverhill’s police departments, along with the Massachusetts State Police. He remains held on $500,000 bail pending arraignment in juvenile court Thursday. ORIGINAL STORY:

A Haverhill juvenile is being sought by Methuen Police in connection with Sunday afternoon’s shooting on that city’s Davis Road, Methuen Chief Joseph E. Solomon tells WHAV. An arrest warrant has been obtained for a juvenile on charges including assault and battery resulting in serious bodily injury and armed assault with intent to rob.