New Bedford - Local News - ABC News Radio

Police Investigating Attempted Robbery

Louis Milman — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:58:24 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- Police are searching for four men connected to an armed robbery on Ruth Street on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Standard Times, the suspects were armed with a gun and a hammer and approached the victim just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday demanding money. The victim reportedly attempted to run from his assailants, but they caught him and beat him with the hammer.

The Standard Times reports that the victim, 34, suffered cuts to his face and hands when he was kicked, punched and hit with a hammer. He was treated at St. Luke's Hospital and released.

No money was taken. Anyone with information is asked to call (508) 991-6300, ext. 134.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Town Officials Debating Options to Quiet Wind Turbines

Louis Milman — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:06:01 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- After officials announced that a pair of Fairhaven's wind turbines violated Massachusetts noise regulations earlier this week, the town is considering turning the turbines off at night.

According to the Standard Times, the Board of Health has considered turning the turbines off from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. However, the developer of the turbines told the newspaper that he hopes to attempt to make mechanical changes to quiet the wind turbines, including changing the angle of the blades, before turning them off altogether. Determining how the turbines will be quieted could take until the winter, says the Standard Times.

Developers and the Board of Health will meet in June to discuss a solution to the noisy turbines. If the two sides cannot agree, legal action is possible.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Two Men Charged After Shooting, High-Speed Chase

Louis Milman — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:12:10 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- Two men were charged on Tuesday in connection with a shooting incident and a high-speed police chase.

According to the Standard Times, Teigan Pina and Cory Hayden were spotted leaving the scene of a shooting on Myrtle Street at about 11:10 p.m. on Monday. The two reportedly fired four shots at a car on Myrtle Street before speeding away.

Police chased the car Pina and Hayden were in after it was spotted fleeing the area. When the two men eventually pulled over, officers did not find a gun in the car, but did locate shell casings, says the Standard Times.

No one was injured in the shooting. Police are not sure whether the car was targeted or chosen at random.

According to the Standard Times, both men face a number of charges, including possession of a loaded weapon, disturbing the peace and malicious destruction of property.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Mayor Announces New Program to Reduce Number of Vacant Lots

James Grebey — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:54:29 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- On Monday, Mayor John Mitchell announced the launch of a new program designed to reduce the number of vacant lots in New Bedford.

The new program, entitled the “Side Yard Sales Program,” allows eligible property owners to buy any vacant lots that neighbor their property at an incredibly discounted price.

“We’ve developed a pathway for the transformation of blighted empty lots into gardens, side yards, off-street parking as well as a range of other productive reuses,” said Mitchell. “This program offers a great bargain to eligible landowners as the cost to purchase a vacant city-owned lot ranges from $999.00 to just $250.”

The price of the vacant lots is a fixed price depending on their size. In order to combine the vacant lots with their existing property, property owners will have to have both plots surveyed and recorded with the Bristol County Registry of Deeds. The city will refund owners for the cost of the surveying and recording after a successful purchase.

To begin the process of acquiring a vacant lot through the Side Yard Sales Program, property owners must complete and return an application to the New Bedford Treasurer’s Office.

New Bedford High School Alumna Wins State Teacher of the Year Award

James Grebey — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:56:09 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- A woman who grew up and attended school in New Bedford was named Massachusetts’ teacher of the year, according to The Standard-Times.

Anne Marie Bettencourt graduated from New Bedford High in 2000 and currently teaches ninth-grade English at Springfield Central High. The 31-year-old grew up in New Bedford’s West End, and credits her own 10th-grade English teacher, David Pepin, with inspiring her to become a great educator and keeping her engaged in her own education.

Bettencourt said Pepin kept her engaged and focused with school when she started to “spiral out of control” due to her parent’s divorce.

"I started coming to school more and I ended up turning it around because I didn't want to disappoint him," Bettencourt told The Standard-Times.

Pepin remembers Bettencourt fondly, though says that she gives him “too much credit,” noting that she was an enthusiastic student.

"She always had a great love and appreciation of the power of words,” he said. “That's what you want to give to students and that's what they'll have with them all of their lives."

Bettencourt’s ability to instill that same enthusiasm in her students a decade later earned her the honor of being the 52nd person to be named teacher of the year.

The award will be presented at the Statehouse in June.

Man Dies After Swallowing Cocaine During Traffic Stop

Louis Milman — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:56:35 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- A man who needed to be hospitalized after swallowing cocaine during a motor vehicle stop died Thursday.

According to the Standard Times, Edwin Santos, 24, was pulled over just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday for failure to signal a turn and driving through a stop sign. After detectives pulled the car over, they found Santos showing "signs of medical distress."

Emergency medical technicians removed an item from Santos' throat, which was determined to be a package of cocaine, reports the Standard Times.

Santos died Thursday at a Boston-area hospital. He had been in critical condition since his hospitalization.

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Two Businesses Burglarized in North End

Louis Milman — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:45:48 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- Police are investigating a pair of burglaries in the North End of New Bedford on Wednesday.

The first burglary took place just after 12 a.m. on Wednesday at an Advanced Auto Parts on Mt. Pleasant Street, according to the Standard-Times. Later, at about 2:45 a.m., a Cumberland Farms store on Acushnet Avenue was broken into.

The Standard-Times reports that the front door to each business was shattered and an unspecified amount of merchandise was stolen.

Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call (508) 991-6300.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Man Beaten, Handcuffed and Robbed by Attackers

James Grebey — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:42:47 +0000

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) -- A New Bedford man was beaten, handcuffed and robbed late Monday night, according to The Standard-Times.

The victim, 45, was attacked by three men near Dartmouth and Rivet Streets. The three men, all wearing masks, beat the man with an unknown object, handcuffed him, and stole two cell phones, his wallet and some money from him.

After they left, the injured victim, still wearing handcuffs, was able to get to his girlfriends house and be driven to St. Luke's Hospital.

At the hospital, security guards were able to remove the handcuffs, and he was treated for injuries to his lip and the back of his head.

Providence Police Rule Death of New Bedford Man a Homicide

James Grebey — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:53:52 +0000

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) -- Providence police have determined that the death of a New Bedford man in over the weekend was a homicide, The Standard-Times reports.

Charles Bettencourt, 21, was found unconscious behind Club Ultra, a Providence nightclub, on Friday late at night.

Police had been summoned by witnesses who reported a disturbance. Police did not see anything, but witnesses told them that several men had been arguing, and one had punched Bettencourt in the head, knocking him to the ground.

He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and died Saturday afternoon.

Providence police say they are continuing to investigate the crime, and have scheduled an autopsy.

Freetown Dunkin’ Donuts Damaged by Fire

James Grebey — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:55:25 +0000

(FREETOWN, Mass.) -- A fire broke out in the women’s restroom of a Dunkin’ Donuts in Freetown on Saturday, The Standard-Times reports.

Employees at the donut shop, located on 60 S. Main Street, first noticed the fire just before 6 p.m. They reportedly saw and smelled smoke throughout the building.

Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, and it took 13 of them around 10 minutes to put out the blaze.

The fire is thought to have been started by a short circuit in the women’s restroom fan. Nobody was injured during the incident, but the fire and smoke is estimated to have done $10,000 worth of damage to the building, mostly to the restroom.