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Saturday, may 31

Josh Lanier

Assistant Managing Editor

jlanier@dailyvoice.com

Josh Lanier started his reporting career in high school for his local newspaper. Many — many — years later, he’s still chasing leads for compelling stories. During his time writing for newspapers, magazines, and online publications, he’s covered everything from murderers to mommy bloggers, but his most interesting story is always the next one.

Josh Lanier's Contributions

Police & Fire

Feds Open Investigation Into Worcester Police Potential Bias, Use Of Force The Department of Justice has opened a civil investigation into the Worcester Police Department to determine if the agency uses excessive force or engages in racial or gender bias. The US Attorney's Office didn't say what sparked the investigation but said the probe would be comprehensive. Analysts will scrutinize Worcester's training, policies, procedures, evidence handling, interactions with the public, accountability systems, how superiors handle complaints, and disciplinary procedures. "The purpose of this civil investigation is to determine – through objective and thorough …

by Josh Lanier

11/15/2022

Police & Fire

3 Charged With Trafficking Drugs After Traffic Stop For Tag Goes Awry: Police Three people face drug trafficking charges after Massachusetts State Troopers noticed them acting strangely during a traffic stop on I-91 in Bernardston last week, authorities said. The troopers first noticed their white Subaru after it passed the patrol cruiser around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, with an unreadable temporary tag. Troopers tried to look up the vehicle with what little information they could discern on the plate, but they found nothing, state police in a press release. The troopers turned on their lights to pull over the Subaru, but the car continued for a quarte…

by Josh Lanier

11/15/2022

Police & Fire

Teens Jump, Seriously Beat Officer At Forest Hills MBTA Station In Boston A group of teenagers is accused of beating a transit police officer at the Forest Hills station Monday, Nov. 14, authorities said. The 10-year transit police veteran was assigned to the Jamaica Plain station for the public school break. Transit police said some 40 to 50 teenagers were loitering at the station just before 4 p.m. When the officer told them to "utilize the transportation services available to them" or leave, a group of teens "violently set upon the officer," transit police said in a statement. They punched and kicked him until he fell to the ground, where they stom…

by Josh Lanier

11/15/2022

Business

Beat Brew Hall In Cambridge Has Closed — Again The Cambridge restaurant and music spot Beat Brew Hall is no more. Despite reopening earlier this year with a new vision, the 13A Brattle Street spot says that it's closed. The restaurant announced in March that it would rebrand and reopen after two years, this time focusing on "tequila, bourbon & beer-focused, taco, rib & burger-slinging honky-tonk in the heart of Harvard Square," according to Hidden Boston. But apparently, that didn't catch on. The restaurant didn't announce the closure or explain why, but they quietly updated the Facebook page to say permanently closed. When a…

by Josh Lanier

11/14/2022

Police & Fire

Worcester DA Honors Lunenburg Police Officer Who Saved Man From Pitbull Attack The Lunenburg police officer who saved a 75-year-old man from certain death after a dog attacked him for no reason earlier this year was honored for his bravery and quick thinking. Wayne Comeau was at the Lunenburg Animal Control office when one of the dogs attacked him. Comeau's wife is the town's animal control officer. The pit bull would have likely killed Comeau if not for Officer Gage Russell, who arrived moments before it was too late. Russell shot and killed the animal, which allowed medical staff to reach Wayne Comeau and airlift him to a hospital for several hours …

by Josh Lanier

11/14/2022

Police & Fire

55-Year-Old Turners Falls Man Guilty Of Child Rape Gets Up To 14 Years In Prison: DA Jeffrey Fleury of Turners Falls, who was found guilty of raping a child for years, will spend at least 12 years in prison, authorities said. A judge ruled this week that Fleury will serve between 12 to 14 years behind bars after the jury returned its guilty verdict last month, Franklin County court records show. Though, that was much less than what the prosecutor had requested. According to the Greenfield Recorder, the district attorney's office asked for a sentence of 18 to 24 years. Testimony during the trial revealed Fleury allegedly abused the girl for two years wh…

by Josh Lanier

11/14/2022

Police & Fire

Brookfield Felon Accused Of Making, Selling Ghost Gun Faces 10 Years In Prison: Feds A grand jury in Worcester indicted a 31-year-old Brookfield man with a criminal record on a series of firearms charges that could send him back to jail for ten years. Mickie Simmons faces charges of conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, dealing firearms without a license, and two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Simmons was convicted of breaking and entering and theft in 2014, which bars him from owning firearms and ammunition, authorities said. However, federal agents said that in March and M…

by Josh Lanier

11/14/2022

Business

Popular Worcester Restaurant To Close; Second Canal District Eatery To End This Week Maddi's Cookery and Taphouse, a staple in Worcester's Canal District, announced on Facebook this week that it would close its doors for good after this weekend. Maddi's owner Adam Hicks posted that it was because of "circumstances beyond our control, we will be ceasing operations as of next weekend. It’s been a great 4+ years and we can thank our guests and staff enough." The restaurant will open for a final time on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maddi’s Cookery And TapHouse (@maddis_cookery)…

by Josh Lanier

11/14/2022

Police & Fire

Waltham Teen With Stolen Pistol Arrested Running Away From Gunfire: Police Police arrested an 18-year-old running with a stolen handgun as he ran away from an area in Boston where shots were fired moments before, authorities said. Timothy Taylor of Waltham was arrested near 925 Parker Street in Jamaica Plain, where several neighbors had called about the gunshots, Boston police said. Officers nearby stopped Taylor as he ran away from the scene and found a loaded .357 magnum revolver shoved into the waistband of his pants, police said. Investigators later learned the gun was stolen, authorities said. Authorities charged Taylor with unlawful posses…

by Josh Lanier

11/14/2022

Police & Fire

Routine Traffic Stop In Boston Nets Officers Illegal Gun, Ammo: Police A routine traffic stop for an illegal right turn on a red light landed one Boston man in prison with several illegal weapons and ammunition charges, authorities said. Michael Espejo, 24, of Charlestown, faces charges of possession of a large-capacity firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and possession of large capacity feeding device, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said. Espejo was driving his car around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, with several friends when police…

by Josh Lanier

11/10/2022

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