North Andover Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon with Guns and Explosives; Connected to July Blast

A 64-year-old North Andover man, connected with an explosion this past summer, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to possessing more than 30 firearms and explosives as a convicted felon. Daniel Medina pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosives and as a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for April 3. Medina was charged in October by criminal complaint. Prosecutors say police were sent July 1 to the area of Medina’s North Andover home after receiving a report of an explosion.

Methuen Police Arrest Salem, N.H., Man, 36, on Alleged Drug, Gun and Driving Offenses

A 36-year-old Salem, N.H., man faces drug and gun charges following an investigation by Methuen Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit. Edward Cieslik was arrested Tuesday by police for alleged possession of fentanyl and cocaine, possession of a firearm and ammunition without firearms identification or license to carry cards, improper storage of a firearm, unattended ammunition, motor vehicle equipment violation and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara said in a release Thursday that police were conducting surveillance in the area of Swan and Prospect streets, which he called, “a high-crime area that is known for drug activity.” After officers saw what they believed to be a drug transaction, they pulled over a car driven by Cieslik. The chief added officers found narcotics, drug paraphernalia and a loaded Desert Eagle .45 caliber firearm with hollow-point ammunition and Cieslik was arrested. He was arraigned Wednesday in Lawrence District Court.

No Injuries in Three-Hour Methuen Standoff; Failed State Law Prevents Release of Name

Police said there were no injuries during a three-hour standoff that began Wednesday afternoon with a person who had barricaded himself inside a Methuen home. Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara said police discovered the unnamed person had apparently barricaded himself inside a Huntington Avenue home when police were dispatched there around 3:40 p.m. Police said the person was “sought in connection with the investigation.”

Police established a perimeter around the home and called for assistance from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, or NEMLEC, SWAT team, which includes specially trained negotiators. At about 6:45 p.m., the person surrendered without further incident to members of the SWAT team. McNamara ‘s release said one of the legislature’s secrecy laws prevents police from immediately releasing any names. The particular law—the Domestic Violence Act of 2014—has been widely criticized since its adoption for its unintended effect of protecting perpetrators rather than victims.

Lawrence Man Pleads Not Guilty After Fentanyl, Methamphetamine Found at Day Care Center

A 40-year-old Lawrence man pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday to trafficking in drugs found at a registered day care center. Antonio “Tony” Solano was arraigned in Lawrence District Court on charges of trafficking in 36 grams or more of fentanyl, two counts of trafficking in more than 10 grams of fentanyl, distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of a Class B substance and possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance. Judge Carol-Ann Fraser set bail at $25,000 and ordered Solano to return Jan. 3 for a probable cause hearing. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office said police found a variety of suspected drugs at Sixta Child Daycare on Ames Street.

Former Lawrence Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty to Collecting Child Pornography Files

The former chief of staff to the mayor of Lawrence pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in Boston to transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material. Fifty-year-old Jhovanny Martes-Rosario pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 10. As WHAV reported in April 2023, Martes-Rosario was indicted by a federal grand jury. According to U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy’s office, Martes-Rosario was identified by police as the likely user of Yahoo and Apple accounts containing child pornography.

Police Arrest 40-Year-Old on Drug Charges at Lawrence Daycare Center Where Children Were Present

A 40-year-old Lawrence man was arrested Friday after police said they “found a variety of suspected drugs in a registered daycare center” where two young children were present. Antonio “Tony” Solano was charged with distribution of a Class B substance, distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of trafficking 10 or more grams of a Class A substance and two counts of trafficking 36 or more grams of a Class A substance, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office. The drugs were found at Sixta Child Daycare on Ames Street in Lawrence. The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to Tucker’s office, Massachusetts State Police Northshore Gang Unit and detectives from Lawrence Police Department’s Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit used a search warrant to find “numerous plastic bags of suspected drugs including fentanyl and methamphetamine.” Two young children were present at the daycare at the time that the search warrant was served. Solano is expected to be arraigned Monday in Lawrence District Court.

N.H. State Police Say Haverhill Men Sought to Throw Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine From Car Window

Two Haverhill men were arrested after a traffic stop on Interstate 95 by the New Hampshire State Police Narcotics Investigations Unit after bags, believed to contain fentanyl and crack cocaine, were thrown from the car. Announced Wednesday, N.H. State Troopers say they stopped a driver last Friday for speeding on I-95 in Portsmouth. During the stop, police allege a passenger, 43-year-old Raymundo DeJesus of Haverhill, tried to discard bags of alleged narcotics from the window. The attempted disposal was captured on a Trooper’s dash camera. During the roadside investigation, more than 200 grams of fentanyl and approximately 200 grams of crack cocaine were seized.

Grand Jury Indicts 24-Year-Old in Connection with 2017 Death of High School Basketball Player

A former Lawrence man was charged Wednesday with first degree murder in connection with the 2017 shooting death of an 18-year-old high school student. Twenty-four-year-old Robert Severino was indicted Wednesday by an Essex County grand jury for the murder of Juan Espinal of Lawrence, said Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker. Severino was arrested in Worcester and arraigned in Lawrence District Court Oct. 24. At the arraignment, Severino pled not guilty before Judge Jason Chan, who ordered him held without bail.