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Updated: Suspect Under Arrest for City Arson Attempt

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A suspect, who allegedly planned to burn a Hilldale Avenue duplex, is being held by New York police and will be extradited back to Massachusetts to face charges. Jennifer Mieth, public information officer for state Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, confirmed the arrest this morning. Haverhill Fire and Police and the state Fire Marshal’s office are investigating the unsuccessful attempt to burn a duplex condominium a little more than a week ago. Haverhill police report responding to an arson call Saturday, March 18, just before 4:30 in the morning, at 493 Hilldale Ave. Citing the ongoing investigation, Fire Chief William F. Laliberty, said he could offer few details.

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Essex District Attorney Details Minor Drug Offender Help Plan

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Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. Part 1 of 2. A recent decision to “divert” a Haverhill public works employee from the court system over a drug possession charge to a drug treatment program has helped raise awareness of a little-known effort targeting addiction. In the first of a two-part series, Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett tells WHAV listeners how the program started, who it is helping and why it is a benefit for the community. “We saw so many families that were struggling with this, cutting across the entire county, the entire socio-economic stratus,” he said.

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Lawyer For Haverhill Man Detained by Immigration Agents Reveals Story

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Attorney Petronila Veras-Rizwan of Lynn. (Courtesy photograph.)

An Ecuadorean man, now conclusively identified by WHAV as the target of a U.S. immigration raid at a Main Street apartment last month, has been released on a $4,000 bond by a Boston immigration judge. The early-30s man, who has lived in Haverhill for more than 10 years, was targeted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency—known as ICE—during one of at least two recent raids. Contrary to established protocols, ICE activity was apparently undertaken without the knowledge of the Haverhill Police Department. Local reports of ICE raids, first made public by Haverhill City Councilor Andy Vargas Feb.

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Cedardale Owners Vow to Quickly Rebuild After Devastating Fire

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Cedardale owner Ed Veasey, right, tours the fire-damaged health and fitness center. (WHAV News photograph.)

The owners and founders of Cedardale Health and Fitness are vowing to rebuild quickly after a three-alarm blaze Wednesday that caused an estimated $2 million in damage to a principal building at the complex. Ed and Zoe Veasey, who had been at the fire scene since about 4 a.m., said they are going right to work on a new Cedardale. Ed Veasey said work will begin once the insurance company completes its assessment. “We’re going to get this place put back together one way or another as quick as we possibly can.” Veasey said he is prepared to move quickly, whether part of the building is salvageable or not.

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Police Officer Rogers Decides to Retire; Still Facing Drunken Driving Charge

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A Haverhill police officer, charged last week with drunken driving for a second time, is retiring. Francis Carl Rogers, 60, of Bradford, submitted retirement forms this week to City Hall, confirmed Mayor James J. Fiorentini late Friday afternoon. Applications are filed with Haverhill Retirement Board and retirements generally take effect immediately if the individual is qualified. “He was a very good police officer for the city of Haverhill and we’re sorry to see the career of someone who served the city well end in this fashion,” the mayor told WHAV. “We wish him well,” he added.

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Police Raid Nets Two for Trafficking, Drugs, Stun Gun

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Two men are under arrest and charged with trafficking in the heroin, morphine or opium class of drugs after their arrests by Haverhill police early last night on Pentucket Street. Francis Fernandez, 33, 14 Pentucket St., and Hector Ocasio, 27, of Lawrence, were arrested between 6:15 and 6:30, Wednesday. They were each charged with trafficking drugs and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Fernandez was also charged with possession of drugs with the intent to distribute and possession of a stun gun. They men face arraignment today in Haverhill District Court.

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Former Councilor Scatamacchia Returns to City on Parole

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Former Haverhill City Councilor Robert H. Scatamacchia, convicted last July of theft related to his former funeral business, has returned to the community after being released on parole. Scatamacchia was released from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department’s Pre-release and Re-entry Center, Lawrence, a week ago Wednesday. He was serving a one-year prison sentence. His release was confirmed Friday by Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger. Scatamacchia was eligible for parole as of mid-January, he said.

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Police Charge Another Accomplice in String of Armed Robberies

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Carlos Perez is placed into a waiting ambulance at the conclusion of a four-hour armed standoff. (WHAV News photograph.)

Another alleged accomplice of the man who holed himself up in a Franklin Street basement last month, was arrested Friday and charged in connection with a robbery at a Main Street hair salon. Haverhill police, with the help of Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, brought in Louis Jones, 41, of Methuen, on a warrant, charging him with armed robbery while masked. He was arrested at the Haverhill police station Friday, just before 8 a.m. Police allege Jones helped Carlos Perez, 37, of Bradford, rob Europa Hair Designs, 749 Main St. Perez has also been charged in connection with the robbery and, with the help of another alleged accomplice, Brandon Lucia, in the robberies of Dunkin’ Donuts, 407 Amesbury Road, and Tire Warehouse, 773 River St.