Past Incidents

For Immediate Release Contact: Corey Welford/Meredith Lerner

January 23, 2007 617-679-6522

Medical Examiner Rules Medford Death A Homicide

Medford Man To Be Arraigned On Murder Charges On Friday

MEDFORD – Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.’s office informed the public today that the Office of the State Medical Examiner (ME) has completed an autopsy of James Bottiglio, age 21, of Medford and ruled the death a homicide. Another Medford man, Douglas Gershon, 18, is being held in connection with the incident and will be arraigned in Somerville District Court on Friday on murder charges.

The ME ruled the cause of death of Bottiglio to be multiple stab wounds, with contributing factors of hypothermia due to environmental exposure and acute ethanol intoxication.

“Following the incident on Sunday morning, our investigation commenced immediately which resulted in the charges that were brought on Monday,” District Attorney Leone said. “Now, based on the results of this autopsy and further investigation, we will upgrade the charges against the defendant to first degree murder.”

According to authorities, at approximately 2:20 a.m. on January 21, Medford police responded to a 911 call to the LaPrise Village, 24 Foster Court, in Medford, where the defendant’s mother lived. Upon arrival at the scene, police found Bottiglio lying on the ground in the courtyard area, after an apparent altercation inside the defendant’s mother’s apartment. Bottiglio was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital and pronounced dead at approximately at 4:13 a.m.

Gershon was arrested later that morning on trespassing charges. At his arraignment on Monday, Gershon was charged with trespassing as well as armed assault with intent to murder in connection with the stabbing of Bottiglio. At the arraignment, he was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. He will now be charged with first degree murder at a Friday arraignment in Somerville District Court.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office and Medford police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Verner.

###

MEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
	Informational News Release
100 Main Street Medford, MA 02155 P 781.391.6770 F 781.391.0598
January 5, 2007
DATE OF EVENT: January 3,2007	TIME OF EVENT: 3:45pm		REPORTED BY: Lt. Paul F. Covino
LOCATION:		NATURE OF INCIDENT: Untimely Death of Officer Patrick Fahey Medford Police
NAME: Officer Patrick T. Fahey		CHARGES: N/A
DETAILS: It is with great sorrow and deepest regrets that the Medford Police Department announce the sudden death of Officer Patrick T. Fahey. Officer Fahey was the primary D.A.R.E instructor for the City of Medford. He taught D.A.R.E at the fifth grade level, and he was active in other aspects of the elementary schools. Officer Fahey was a major part of the Medford Police Community Service Unit. He was as committed to the community as he was to the children of Medford. Officer Fahey was always present, yet he was never in the lime light. He made it a habit of being where he was needed at the time he was needed without ever having to be told to be there. It was Officer Patrick Fahey’s devotion to this job and the children of the city that made him shine as the D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year. This award was presented to Officer Fahey in October of 2005 by Cruisen Magazine. This was a proud moment not only for officer Fahey, but for us at the Medford Police Department. Officer Fahey was an old car buff, and he restored a 1978 Plymouth Fury as a Medford Police Cruiser at his own expense with the help of the Medford Vocational School Auto Body Shop. He proudly displayed this cruiser at parades and other community events. Officer Fahey was our go to guy when we needed something done. He would do anything from cover a call when we were short handed to cover a traffic post to shovel the sidewalk in front of the police station. Officer "Pat" Fahey will be sorely missed by all of us. May he Rest in Peace and God Bless him and his family Officer Patrick T. Fahey was 40 years old, and has been a Medford Police Officer for 9.5 years. He leaves behind his wife Linda (Talbot), his father Thomas J. Fahey, his mother Theresa (Canfield) Fahey, his brother Sgt. Michael T. Fahey of the Medford Police Dept. his wife Civita, his sister Mary Kate Little and her husband Steve , his brother William and his wife Chris. He also leaves behind his niece/goddaughter Chysten Fahey, nephew Cameron Fahey, and nephew Jake Little.

For Immediate Release Contact: Corey Welford/Meredith Lerner

February 1, 2007 617-679-6522

District Attorney Leone and Middlesex Partnerships For Youth Host Youth Leadership Conference

WESTFORD – Bringing together a group of more than 120 middle school students to discuss ways to keep their schools safe and be leaders in their communities, District Attorney Gerard T. Leone, Jr. and Middlesex Partnerships For Youth hosted the third annual Citizenship in Action Youth Leadership Conference in Westford.

At an all-day program held at the Westford Regency, middle school students from 13 communities participated in a series of fast-paced, fun and challenging activities designed to further engage them in their roles as peer leaders and support their efforts to foster a school climate focused on caring, citizenship and community activism. The students volunteered to participate in the program.

The workshop featured opening remarks by District Attorney Leone. He commended the students for their commitment to make their schools and communities safer places and for answering the “call to action” as peer leaders.

“Your commitment doesn’t end when you walk through these doors to head home at the end of this conference,” Leone said. “You need to bring that same energy and commitment back to your schools, back to your fellow students, and back to the people of your communities as peer leaders with courage of conviction. Because that is when the real work begins.”

The conference is part of the Citizenship in Action Program developed by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in 2003 which brings important civic principles to life and makes them real and relevant to students.

The activities the students participated in during the conference explored the values of justice, equality, rights, responsibilities and civic activism. At the end of the program the students created an action plan identifying something they would like to change for the better in their school or community. As peer leaders, they were asked to take their action plan back to their schools to educate and involve other students to not only make safer schools, but also safer communities.

The Middlesex Youth Leadership Conference was held at the Westford Regency in Westford. The conference attendees were 146 middle school students and faculty advisors from 13 Middlesex communities, including:

· Chenery Middle School (Belmont)

· Locke Middle School (Billerica)

· Hanscom Middle School (Hanscom)

· Robert Adams Middle School (Holliston)

· JFK Middle School (Hudson)

· Stoklosa School (Lowell)

· Andrews Middle School (Medford)

· Melrose Veterans Middle School (Melrose)

· North Reading Middle School (North Reading)

· AD Healey School (Somerville)

· John Wynn Middle School (Tewksbury)

· Weston Middle School (Weston)

· Winchester Youth Center (Winchester)

Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. (MPY) is a non-profit organization established in 1988 by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office to foster communication on school-related legal issues relating to substance abuse and violence. Through Project Alliance, MPY’s primary initiative, the non-profit provides prevention and intervention resources, as well as training and programming to Middlesex school districts and communities using a combination of education, training and technical support. To address a variety of youth health and safety issues. MPY’s membership now includes over 60 school districts. For more information on Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. and Project Alliance, please visit www.projectalliance.org.

###

MEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
	Informational News Release
100 Main Street Medford, MA 02155 P 781.391.6770 F 781.391.0598
February 1, 2007
DATE OF EVENT: January 25, 2007	TIME OF EVENT: 6:35pm		REPORTED BY: Lt. Paul F. Covino
LOCATION: Franklin St. @ Hadley Place		NATURE OF INCIDENT: Drug Arrest
NAME: Pimentel, Irving Age 28 132 Rowe St. Roslindale, MA 02131		CHARGES: 1. Poss. Of class A drugs , Heroin 2. Poss. Of Class A drugs w/intent to distribute Heroin
DETAILS: On Thursday January 25, 2007 at approximately 6:25pm Sgt. David Montana of the Medford Police Drug Control Unit observed the defendant , Irving Pimentel operating his gray Toyota Camry in the area of Salem St. and Park St. He observed this person stop next to a car on Park St. near Salem St. There was a brief conversation and both cars proceeded on Park St. to Franklin St. They parked on Franklin St. near Hadley Place. Sgt. Montana watched as the passenger of the second car, gray Saturn, exited that car and entered the gray Camry which Pimentel was in. Sgt. Montana activated his blue lights and approached the vehicles on foot. At this time back up units were on the way to assist Sgt. Montana. The passenger who went into Pimentel’s car fled on foot when he saw Sgt. Montana. Sgt. Montana was still alone at this time, so he stayed with Pimentel who he believed to be the drug supplier. When officers Barbara Decristafaro and Joseph Gagliardi arrived to assist Sgt. Montana he was able to safely search Pimentel and his car. Sgt. Montana seized heroin and several hundred dollars in cash from Pimentel and his car. The driver of the Saturn was checked out by the officers on scene. He was free to leave after a check with the MA Registry of Motor vehicles indicated that he was properly licensed to drive and there were no warrants for his arrest. In the past couple of years this has become a more prevalent way of making drug transactions. The buyer and seller converse via cell phone, and they set up a location to meet on a quiet side street. A quick transaction is made and they drive off. If you see anything like this in your neighbor hood please try to get a license plate number and a description of the people involved. Any information is helpful. You can call the Medford Police Drug Hotline at 781-391-6171 or you can call the Medford Police Community Service Unit at 781-391-6770.

MEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
	Informational News Release
100 Main Street Medford, MA 02155 P 781.391.6770 F 781.391.0598
February 1, 2007
DATE OF EVENT: January 31, 2007	TIME OF EVENT: 11:07am		REPORTED BY: Lt. Paul F. Covino
LOCATION: 238 Ashcroft Rd.		NATURE OF INCIDENT: Execution of Search Warrant and Arrest of drug dealers
NAME: 1. Daniel G. Wells age 24 238 Ashcroft Rd Medford, MA 02155 2. Nicole Mary Leone age 24 2 Whittier St. Winthrop, MA		CHARGES: 1. Conspiracy to violate Drug Laws 2. Poss. Of class B drugs w/intent to distribute 3. Poss. Of class B drugs
DETAILS: As a result of an ongoing investigation in to the Oxycontin distribution business of Daniel Wells at his residence of 238 Ashcroft Rd. in Medford, the detectives of the Medford Police Drug Control Unit were able to get a search warrant to search the residence of Wells for illegal drugs and anything relative to the illegal distribution of drugs from his home. The officers of the Drug Control Unit along with officers from the Investigative Services Unit and the Field Services Unit were able to execute the search warrant without incident. Those officers seized Oxycontin and several other illegally possessed drugs from the control of Daniel Wells and a female companion, Nicole Leone. All illegal drugs, contraband and money was seized by the detectives, and both Wells and Leone were placed under arrest for the above stated charges

For Immediate Release Contact: Corey Welford/Meredith Lerner

May 7, 2007 617-679-6522 (o)

781-910-0276 (c)

Somerville Man Arraigned In Connection With Series of Assaults In Medford And Somerville

SOMERVILLE – Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone, Jr.’s office informed the public today that a Somerville man has been arraigned in connection with a series of sexual assaults of multiple victims in Medford and Somerville committed since mid-April.

Nicolas Chacon, 19, of Somerville, was arraigned today in Somerville District Court on two counts of aggravated rape, one count of assault with intent to rape, two counts of assault and battery with dangerous weapon, one count of kidnapping, and five counts of indecent assault and battery. Chacon pleaded not guilty and Judge Maurice R. Flynn III ordered Chacon held pending a dangerousness hearing on May 15.

“We allege that this defendant was responsible for the string of assaults in Somerville and Medford against five different women,” District Attorney Leone said. “It’s important to thank the public for the tremendous amount of cooperation we received during this investigation – their help and assistance was a significant factor in our ability to make this arrest.”

During the arraignment, details of the charges were presented to the court. It is alleged that Chacon committed these crimes against five women between April 12 and April 26. The times, locations, and charges for each alleged incident are as follows:

· April 12 at 10 p.m. on Broadway in Somerville – Indecent assault and battery

· April 12 at 10:15 p.m. on Broadway in Somerville – Indecent assault and battery

· April 20 at 10:30 p.m. on Winthrop Street in Medford – Two counts of aggravated rape, two counts of assault and battery with dangerous weapon (knife), indecent assault and battery, kidnapping

· April 21 at 10:45 p.m. on North Street in Somerville – Indecent assault and battery

· April 26 at 5:45 a.m. on Boston Avenue in Medford – Assault with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery

Chacon was questioned by Medford police and admitted to the incidents for which he has been charged. The investigation is ongoing.

Chacon will next appear on May 15 in Somerville District Court for a dangerousness hearing.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case was jointly investigated by Medford Police, Somerville Police, Tufts University Police, Concord Police, and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Adrienne Lynch.

###

For Immediate Release Contact: Corey Welford/Meredith Lerner

January 23, 2007 617-679-6522

Medical Examiner Rules Medford Death A Homicide

Medford Man To Be Arraigned On Murder Charges On Friday

The ME ruled the cause of death of Bottiglio to be multiple stab wounds, with contributing factors of hypothermia due to environmental exposure and acute ethanol intoxication.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office and Medford police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Verner.

###

MEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
	Informational News Release
100 Main Street Medford, MA 02155 P 781.391.6770 F 781.391.0598
April 26, 2007
DATE OF EVENT: April 26, 2007	TIME OF EVENT: 5:45 am		REPORTED BY: Lt. Paul F.Covino
LOCATION: Medford Hillside Area		NATURE OF INCIDENT: Multiple assaults on females
NAME: N/A		CHARGES: N/A
DETAILS: At approximately 5:45am on Thursday April 26, 2007 a female between the ages of 30-40 was grabbed from behind while she was waiting for a bus in the Boston Ave. / Hillside area of Medford. The assailant grabbed the victim from behind, and she felt a hard object pressed against her side. The encounter was brief. The victim was sexually assaulted in such that she was groped. We believe the perpetrator was scared off by an oncoming motor vehicle. The perpetrator fled on foot. Other than the emotional distress of this frightening ordeal, the victim was unharmed. As a result of the April 20 sexual assault that occurred in the Winthrop St. area of Medford many woman have come forward with information about similar encounters (not all escalated to the level of a rape). Some occurred in Somerville near the Medford border. The assaults and encounters that occurred in Medford are all near that area of Somerville. Tufts University is located in the middle of these locations. We have determined that we have had several assaults on women in an area that encompasses part of Medford, Somerville, and Tufts University in the past 30 days. Medford, Somerville, and Tufts Police departments have come together to work on these cases in a joint effort. Although some of these cases may not be related, we believe that many of them are because of similarities in the cases. One of similarities is a physical description of a male in his twenties, possibly Hispanic. He is approximately 5’5" – 5’10" tall with a heavy set build. He may have some facial hair, and he may be wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt or a hooded jacket. The suspect may be operating a small reddish colored SUV type of a motor vehicle. We ask anyone that has any information at all regarding any of these crimes please call the Medford Police Department Investigative Services Unit at 781-391-6767, Somerville Police Department Detective Unit at 617 625-1600, Tufts University Police at 617-627-3030. Press Conference at 8:30pm tonight Thursday April 26, 2007 at the Medford Police Station

MEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
	Informational News Release
100 Main Street Medford, MA 02155 P 781.391.6770 F 781.391.0598
April 22, 2007
DATE OF EVENT: Sexual Assault	TIME OF EVENT: Friday 4/20/07 @ approximately 10:30pm		REPORTED BY: Lt. Paul F. Covino
LOCATION: Area of George St. and Winthrop St.		NATURE OF INCIDENT: Sexual Assault
NAME: N/A		CHARGES: N/A
DETAILS: At approximately 10:25pm on Friday April 20, 2007 a 24 year old female exited a bus on Boston Ave. in the Hillside area of Medford. She proceeded to walk north on Winthrop St. A short distance down Winthrop St. she noticed a male on the opposite side of the street. She noticed that he seemed to be pacing back and forth on the side walk. As she proceeded down Winthrop St. the suspect crossed over to the victim’s side of the street. In the area of George St. and Winthrop St. the suspect began to walk behind the victim in very close proximity to her. The Suspect then grabbed the victim, and he put a knife to her throat. The suspect then forced the victim into driveway on one of the side streets where he sexually assaulted her. When the suspect was done there he held the victim close to him and walked her back onto Winthrop St. where they walked in a southerly direction back toward the Hillside area. The Suspect had his vehicle parked on a side street off of Winthrop St. near the Hillside area. As they walked back towards his vehicle he showed the victim the knife and told her not to try to get away. He also held her close to him, so she could not escape. When they got back into the vehicle, he sexually assaulted her again. He then drove around the area and told her to get out of the vehicle. She was left on a side street which is less than a ¼ mile away from where the encounter began. Suspect description: Male, early 20’s, 5’5" – 5’10" , Heavy set (thick build), The victim described the suspect as "Not White and Not Black". Suspect Clothing: Dark Colored Hoodie with Blue Jeans Suspect M/V: Small Red SUV Type Vehicle (like a Toyota RAV4) Any one with any information regarding this incident please call the Medford Police Investigative Services Unit at 781-391-6767