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Thursday, may 8

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

Man Charged With 2021 Killing Of Central Mass Mother At Their Home: DA The Worcester County District Attorney's Office announced on Friday, March 24, that prosecutors had obtained an indictment in the murder of a 29-year-old mother of two at her home in 2021. Kyle Curley, 32, is charged with murder, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, and intimidation of a witness, the prosecutor said. He'll be arraigned at a later date. Worcester police found the body of Erica Lara on June 29, 2021, at her Kelley Square apartment. She had been beaten to death, the prosecutor said. Her sister, who created a GoFundMe to raise money for Lara,…

03/24/2023

Police & Fire

Unfriendly Skies: California Man Admits To Groping 2 Women On Boston-Bound Flight A bad seatmate can make a flight difficult, but two women said one of their fellow passengers made their red-eye trip from Los Angeles to Boston a nightmare. After he admitted to groping the women this week, the 43-year-old faces up to a year behind bars. Jairaj Singh Dhillon, of Modesto, Cal., pleaded guilty on Monday, March 24, to two counts of assault while aboard a flight from Los Angeles to Boston on May 31, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. His first victim said Dhillon was sitting in the aisle next to her on the flight. When she got up to tend to her baby, she said …

03/24/2023

Police & Fire

(Updated) Fatal Shooting: Cops Bust 2 In Western Mass Killing Less than a week after a man was fatally shot in Hampden County, police say they've found his killers. Christina Guzman, 32, was captured near the intersection of Bloomfield and Oakland streets in Springfield on Friday, March 24, just before 8:45 a.m., authorities said. Simultaneously, in another part of the city, Springfield police followed Rafael Calo as he left his Woodside Terrace home, authorities continued. They arrested him soon after near the intersection of Leyfred Terrace and Dickinson Street. Officers said Calo had a large-capacity pistol with him when they put t…

03/24/2023

Police & Fire

Suspicious Package Leads To Evacuation In Western Mass A suspicious package in Hampden County forced officials to order an evacuation late Thursday night, March 23, authorities said. Firefighters were called to the area near Main and James streets in Holyoke when someone found the package around 11 p.m., the Holyoke Fire Department said. Residents in that area were asked to leave until police could figure out if it was dangerous. Massachusetts State troopers were called to investigate and later determined it posed no threat. Residents were allowed to return home just after midnight, the fire department said.

03/24/2023

Police & Fire

Drugs And Ammo: Suspected Trafficker Busted After Police Raid Boston Home, DA Says A 53-year-old Boston man was arrested earlier this week after police raided his home and found crack, cocaine, fentanyl, and drug-selling paraphernalia, authorities said on Thursday, March 23. Ralph Gradozzi was charged with trafficking with intent to distribute and possession of ammunition without an FID card, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said. A judge set his bail at $7,500 and ordered him held on home confinement if he is released. Boston police raided Gradozzi's Faywood Avenue home in East Boston on Monday, March 20, and seized 21.34 grams of fentanyl, …

03/23/2023

News

Police To Reroute Traffic In Central Mass For Officer's Funeral Worcester police are warning drivers that they can expect detours on Friday, March 24, for the funeral of Sgt. Derrick Leto, who died unexpectedly last week while off duty. Officers will reroute drivers on Graton Street to Dorchester Street and Hamilton streets beginning at 9:15 a.m. Drivers should avoid these areas if possible, Worcester police said. Traffic will resume like normal around 11:45 a.m. Related: Worcester Mourns Loss Of 18-Year Police Veteran Police will also ban parking near St. Stephen Catholic Church at 357 Grafton St. Leto left behind a wife and t…

03/23/2023

Police & Fire

Ex-Mass Officer Who Admitted To Bank Fraud, Gun Charges Gets Year Behind Bars: Feds A former Tyngsborough police officer who admitted to hiding millions of dollars in cash from a Chinese backer to secure a bank loan and violating the National Firearms Act was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday, March 22, authorities said. Daniel Whitman, 39, of Salisbury, will spend a year and a day in prison and must pay a $20,000 fine, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Police arrested Whitman in January 2021, and he copped to charges in October. Whitman, who owns Hitman Firearms, in Tynsborough created Freedom Alley Shooting Sports to build a build a larg…

03/23/2023

Police & Fire

Two Busted After Pulling Pistols During Street Brawl In Central Mass: Police Authorities in Worcester arrested two men earlier this week after they pulled out pistols during a street fight. The men were part of a large brawl in the area of Beacon and Sycamore streets on Wednesday, March 22, Worcester police said. Officers broke it up after someone called 911. There were no reported injuries. Ramon Vega-Rosario, 31, of Worcester, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, use of a firearm while committing a felony, and two counts of carrying a firearm without a license, police said. Luis Ayala, 34, of Worces…

03/23/2023

Police & Fire

Found: Gardner Police Find Missing Teen Who Disappeared Days Ago UPDATE: Gardner Police report that Yariana Rivera has been located. Police in Worcester County have asked for the public's help to locate a missing teenager who vanished earlier this week. Yariana Rivera, born in 2007, vanished from her home on Stephanie Drive in Gardner on Monday, March 20, Gardner police said. Investigators believe she may be in the Templeton area or Olde English Village. She was last seen wearing green checkered pajama pants and a black hoodie. Officials ask anyone with information on her disappearance or who sees her to contact Gardner pol…

03/23/2023

Obituaries

Fundraiser For Family Of Central Mass Cop Who Died Off Duty Nears Its Goal Friends of Worcester police Sgt. Derrick Leto created a fundraiser to help support his wife and two children to help them after his unexpected death last week. The GoFundMe called "Help Support Derrick Leto's Family" has raised nearly $7,000 in less than two days, more than half of its goal of $10,000. There is also a memorial fund for the family of the 18-year veteran and former US Marine at the Worcester Police Department Federal Credit Union. Checks can be made to the Worcester Police Officials IBPO Local 504 c/o Sgt. Derrick Leto, according to fundraiser organizers. L…

03/23/2023

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