October 16, 2007
Swansea Man Arrested on Cocaine Trafficking Charges
On Monday October 15, 2007 Swansea Police working with Attleboro Police and the Bristol County Sheriffs Department concluded a five month drug investigation targeting 29 year old Efrain Diaz of 440 Oak St. Swansea. Police developed information that Diaz was selling cocaine in the Attleboro area. He was taken into custody by Attleboro Police at around 2:30 p.m. in Attleboro. He was found to be in possession of approximately 14 grams of cocaine. He was held on $25,000 cash bail to be arraigned on cocaine trafficking charges in Attleboro District Court on Tuesday morning. Police subsequently obtained a search warrant and searched his Swansea home. Recovered from the home was marijuana, anabolic steroids, vicodens and $6000 in cash believed to be drug proceeds. Diaz will face additional charges in Fall River District Court. The investigation was led by Attleboro Detective James Cote and Swansea Detective Marc Haslam.
September 18, 2007
Police Investigate Stolen Chainsaw
On
Surveillance cameras were able to capture the images of the suspect, who is seen inspecting and then walking out the side door with the equipment. Anyone who may know the identity of this individual are encouraged to contact Ptlm John Donley or Det. Marc Haslam, Detective Division at 508-674-8464.
Click here to see photo's of suspect.UPDATE
After airing the suspects photo's the department received several tips. As a result a warrant was requested for Robert Cosineau age 50 of Swansea on the charge of larceny over $250. He subsequently turned himself into the court.
September 7, 2007
Slades Ferry Bank Robbed
On Thursday, September 6th 2007 at approximately
2:25 PM, a white male in his mid 40’s to early 50’s wearing a white T-shirt,
blue sweat pants, white baseball cap and large brown sunglasses entered Slade’s
Bank, located at 2388 G.A.R. Hwy in Swansea, and held a brown paper bag in front
of the teller demanding money.
The suspect, described as having a thin build and raspy
voice, left the bank on a light blue bicycle, last known direction of travel
being south on Rte. 136 towards Warren, RI.
He left with an undisclosed amount of money.
Anyone having any information regarding this incident is urged to please contact Ptlm John Donley or Detective Marc Haslam at the Swansea Police Department by calling 508-674-8464.
On September 12, 2007 Somerset Police Officer Scott Comfrey stopped a vehicle matching the description of the truck. This truck was being operated by a white male identified as Neil Anderson, age 53 of 116 Willis St. New Bedford, MA. He was subsequently taken into custody by Swansea Police and charged with unarmed robbery and use of a vehicle during the commission of a felony.
The accomplice was identified as 22 year old Heather Padgett of New Bedford. A warrant was requested and she was arrested in Worcester on September 22, 2007. She appeared in Fall River District Court on September 25 and faces unarmed robbery and conspiracy charges.
August 21, 2007
Police make arrests in heroin trafficking case.
On Tuesday August 14, 2007 Swansea Police working with the Southcoast Ant-Crime Team (SCAT) concluded a 2 week investigation looking into the increase in heroin sales and availability in the Swansea/Somerset/Rehoboth area. Det. Marc Haslam who lead the investigation identified Swansea resident Matthew K. Langevin age 25 of 226 Swansom Rd. as a distributor of heroin in the area. At around 5:15 p.m. Langevin sold an undisclosed amount of heroin to an undercover police officer. When officers attempted to stop him to take him into custody he fled. Det. Haslam along with Somerset Det. Tracey Costa and Sheriffs Office Lt. Michael Nunes pursued Langevin up Rt. 6, through a residential neighborhood off Maple Ave. where he eventually blew out a tire and fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit he was taken into custody by Haslam, Nunes and Costa. A search of his vehicle turned up 2,442 bags of heroin which has a street value of nearly $10,000. Also seized from the vehicle was over $110,000 cash, a small amount of marijuana, suspected drug ledgers and two double edged knives. This cash was seized as suspected drug proceeds. Langevins vehicle and cell phone was also seized for asset forfeiture. Langevin was held overnight on $100,000 cash bail which was reduced to $5,000 cash at arraignment. He is being charged with:
1. Trafficking in heroin
2. Heroin possession
3. Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
4. Resisting arrest
5. Possession of a dangerous weapon
6. Using a motor vehicle during the commission of a felony
7. Failing to stop for police
8. Possession of Class D substance (marijuana)
July 19, 2007
Items Stolen from Holiday Inn Construction Site
On July 16, 2007 Off. John Donley responded to the Holiday Inn Construction site located on Rt. 6 after workers arrived to find computer equipment had been stolen sometime overnight. According to the construction foreman the suspect entered the hotel then kicked a hole in the wall to gain access to a room where computer equipment was being stored. This is the second theft from the Holiday Inn site since construction began. In February nearly $100,000 worth of tools and materials was stolen from the site. This case remains under investigation by Off. Donley and Det. Marc Haslam.
July 19, 2007
Suspect arrested in Housebreak
On July 10, 2007 Off. Joe Martin responded a Burning Tree Rd. after a resident returned home to find their home had been broken into during the daytime. The thief allegedly stole jewelry, cash and a check book. The following day the homeowner learned that a check had been written from the stolen bank book. The check was written out to Leanne Vieira of 220 Bushee Rd. Swansea, and chased at a Fall Riverbank. Det. Marc Haslam was able to locate Vieira and question her regarding the break. After questioning she was taken into custody. While being booked the victims stolen checkbook was located in her purse. Leanne Vieira age 25 lka of 220 Bushee Rd. is being charged with B&E Daytime Intent Felony and larceny over $250.
June 16, 2007
Bank Five Robbed
On this date at approximately 11:13 am the Bankfive in Swansea, located at the corner of Swansea Mall Drive (rte.118) and Milford Road was robbed. No weapon was shown. The suspect fled on a bicycle with a yet undetermined amount of cash.
The suspect is described as being between 5’6” and 5’8”, medium fit build, white male in his mid 30’s to mid 40’s. The suspect appears to be wearing a light blue LA Dodger’s hat, sunglasses, a dark short sleeve shirt, jogging pants and white sneakers.
Rehoboth, Somerset, Mass State police K9 and air wing, and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office K9 assisted in the area search for the suspect.
Bank surveillance photographs are available on the Swansea Police Web Site, www.swanseapolice.com. Any person having information as a witness of suspect information is requested to contact the Swansea Police Department, Officer Marc Soares or Detective Marc Haslam.
June 4, 2007
Wayne Smith Changes Plea to Guilty
Wayne Smith the man accused of Motor Vehicle Homicide in connection with the death of Lt. Robert Cabral changed his plea in New Bedford Superior Court today. Victim impact statements were given by Dep. Chief Robert Furtado and Lt. Cabral's sister Josephine Lapre and his brother Tom Cabral. Smith's bail was revoked and he was taken into custody. A sentencing hearing has been set for June 26 at New Bedford Superior Court.
May 29, 2007
Police Investigate Ocean Grove Shooting
On Sunday March 27, 2007 at around 7:15 p.m. Officers responded to Ocean Grove Ave. for a report of a fight involving shots fired. When officers arrived they found a male later identified as Jean Roy age 54 of 28 Sherbourn Ave. Swansea, MA lying in the roadway on Bayview Ave. He was bleeding from the head. Witnesses reported Mr. Roy was in a confrontation with Christopher White age 46, also of Swansea. During the altercation Mr. Roy brandished a .357 magnum revolver which was discharged. The revolver was located in a yard on Ocean Grove Ave. with one spent casing. No one was apparently injured by the projectile. Mr. Roy was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. He was charged with Assault with intent to murder, discharging a firearm within 500' of a building and carrying a firearm while intoxicated. He was held on $10,000 cash bail at the Bristol County House of Correction. He is facing a dangerousness hearing on Wednesday morning in District Court. The case is being investigated by Off. John Donley
April 4, 2007
Operation Crossover Continues
In the continuing effort to target the flow of heroin from Providence to the south coast area, additional arrests have been made by the Southcoast Anti-Crime Team (SCAT).
On April 3, 2007 members of the Swansea Police Department, Bristol County Sheriff’s Office and East Providence Police Dept. arrested Michael Beland age, 40 of 670 Plymouth Ave. Fall River, MA.
The arrest was a result of information received by the task force that Beland and his female companion were obtaining heroin in Providence and selling it in the southcoast area. At approximately 5:00 p.m. he was stopped on Rt. 195 eastbound after allegedly returning from Providence where it is believed he had just purchased heroin. Seized were over 300 bags of heroin, $1650 in cash believed to be drug proceeds and three cell phones.
Beland was held on $5000 cash bail and will be arraigned in Fall River District Court this morning. He is being charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin.
This investigation continues and more charges may be filed.
On April 2, 2007 Swansea Police and members of the SCAT team assisted Seekonk Police in the arrest of George Akins age 23 of Providence, RI. Akins is alleged to have been delivering heroin for sale to Seekonk. Over 100 bags of heroin were seized during the arrest.
Operation Crossover continues and more arrests are expected.
Police Make Arrest on Child Porn/Rape Charges
March 28, 2007
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Joseph Michael Silva, age 31, who currently resides in Swansea and works as an equestrian trainer, was arrested this morning and will be arraigned today in Fall River District Court and in Taunton District Court on a number of charges including statutory rape of a child.
For the incidents stemming out of Swansea, Silva will be charged with possession of child pornography, posing a child in the nude, and four counts of statutory rape of a child. For incidents stemming out of Berkley, Silva will be charged with posing a child in the nude and statutory rape of a child.
These incidents remain under investigation. Any one with information regarding Mr. Silva please contact the Swansea Police Department Patrolman Joseph Martin or Sgt. Gregory Ryan or the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
February 6, 2007
Alleged Gang Member Arrested for Gun Possession
On Saturday night February 3, 2007 police were called to the Venus DeMilo restaurant for a group of “unwanted parties”. Officer Michael Pavao was working a paid detail at the restaurant and was informed that this group of several males were Fall River gang members and not wanted at the fundraiser. Officer John Donley arrived and located these males in the parking lot. He was assisted on the scene by Officer Joseph Martin and Officer Patrick Mooney. After a subsequent interview and investigation a loaded 9mm weapon was located in the suspects vehicle by Officer Mooney. Sophana Throng age 25 of 57 Oak St. Fall River was taken into custody and charged with carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition.
February 6, 2007
Officer Uses Taser to take Combative Suspect into Custody
On February 4, 2007 at approximately 5:30 a.m. Officers were called to the Dunkin Donuts in the North Swansea Shell station on Rt. 136 for a “male who was out of control”. When Officers John Donley, John Soares and Jaime Owens arrived they learned that this was a domestic dispute between a male and female. The male suspect initially gave police a false name. He was disrupting other patrons in the store and causing a disturbance. After a brief initial investigation Officers advised the suspect that he was under arrest for disorderly conduct and threats to commit a crime. When officers learned of his real name they learned that he had three active warrants for his arrest. The suspect now identified as Calvin Finch age 25 of 164 Cottage St. Boston, MA, fled on foot north on Rt. 136. Officers chased Finch down Rt. 136 eventually bringing him to the ground in a ditch where a subsequent struggle ensued. Officer Jamie Owens utilized his department issued Taser on Finch after he refused to comply with officers commands. Officers were then able to handcuff the suspect. Finch continued to struggle with officers. He was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital as a precaution and returned to the Swansea Police station where he was booked and charged with Disorderly conduct, threats to commit a crime, resisting arrest, and additionally possession of crack cocaine which was found in his possession after the struggle. Officer John Donley suffered a minor injury to his hand during the struggle.
Finch was the first subject the Swansea Police Department deployed a Taser on since issuing them to officers in August. Deputy Chief Robert Furtado stated the use of the Taser in this incident brought the suspect under control quickly preventing serious injury to him or officers attempting to take him into custody.