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Sunday, may 4

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

West Springfield High Off Lockdown After Hoax Threat Made Against School: Police West Springfield High was momentarily put on lockdown Friday, March 3, after someone called in a fake threat about the Hampden County school, officials said. The hoax is the last in a worrying and growing trend called "swatting." West Springfield police said someone called the department's non-emergency line just after 8:20 a.m. to make the threat. Officers responded to the high school within a minute and worked with administrators to begin safety protocols, which included a lockdown. Police swept the school for threats but found nothing, and they determined the call was fake. School …

03/03/2023

Police & Fire

Violent Robberies: 20-Year-Old CT Man Admits To Role In String Of AT&T Store Heists A 20-year-old Connecticut man who pleaded guilty to several robberies of AT&T stores in the region where he and three others sometimes beat and pistol-whipped employees was the first of the crew to be sentenced this week. Hartford County resident Deshawn Baugh of Hartford was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. He must pay $124,842.45 in restitution, the prosecutor said. Baugh, along with three others, went on a robbery spr…

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

Burglar Picks Poor Hiding Spot, Quickly Arrested Inside Worcester Business: Police Talk about a flimsy hiding place. A 39-year-old man who police say was caught breaking into a business in Worcester County Thursday, March 2, tried to vanish behind a sheet of plywood but ended up in handcuffs anyway. Jorge Figueroa, 39, of Worcester, is the wannabe Houdini who Worcester police said they caught inside a store at 927 Main Street just before 7 a.m. Police were called to the business about a possible break-in and found a window smashed and the front door unlocked when they arrived. Officers searched the building a found Figueroa inside right away, authorities said.&…

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

Stolen Pistol: Springfield Teen Busted With Gun Taken From SC, Police Say Police in Hampden County arrested a Springfield man earlier this week with a loaded gun stolen from South Carolina, authorities said. Jaiden Langford-Andrews faces several charges following his arrest on Wednesday, March 1, outside his Layzon Brothers Road apartment, Springfield police said. Officers with the firearms investigation unit were surveilling Langford-Andrews and busted him as he pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex around 11:30 p.m. Police said they found a pistol loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition reported stolen from South Carolina, officials said. The…

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

Child Porn: Spencer Man Who Admitted To Having Videos Of Kids As Young As 2 Gets 2 Years A Worcester County man who admitted to having child porn that featured children as young as toddlers will spend the next 27 months behind bars, federal authorities said. Joseph Michael Smith, 60, of Spencer, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in November and was sentenced this week, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Police began investigating Smith in November 2021 after receiving several tips that a messenger account attached to his address had shared child pornography, the prosecutor said. Agents raided his home and found a driver that had 35 …

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

Western Mass Man Thought He Sent Nudes To Teen, But They Went To Police A 35-year-old Berkshire County man who thought he was talking to a 14-year-old girl online got a rude awakening after he sent her several naked videos of himself, federal authorities said. Paul J. Bruzzi, of Lenox, is now charged with attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. In September, Bruzzi started a conversation with what he believed was a teenage girl on a social media app but was an undercover federal agent, the prosecutor said. Bruzzi allegedly sent them nine photos and videos where he displayed his genitals and pr…

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

Manhunt: Police Searching For Man Linked To Malden Corpse Police in Middlesex County are on the lookout for a 33-year-old who is connected to a body found in an apartment in Malden. Officers found the body of 79-year-old Ronald Gilbert in his second-floor apartment on the afternoon of Feb. 22, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said. He had been dead for quite some time. The medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death. During their investigation, police said several things belonging to Gilbert had been taken. Officers later linked those stolen items to Dion Smith, 33, of Boston. Malden Police ask anyone with information o…

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

Watch: Western Mass Officer Hit, Injured By Car While Making Traffic Stop A police officer was injured and a driver may be facing charges after crashing their car into the officer's cruiser in Western Massachusetts this week, authorities said. Officer Limoges' was struck while he was sitting inside his patrol car and conducting a motor vehicle stop on Pleasant Street in Greenfield just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1. The Toyota Corolla crossed over the double yellow line and hit the cruiser as it turned onto Pleasant Street from Federal Street, Greenfield Police said on Facebook. On March 1, at approximately 6:55 pm, while in the process of conducting…

by David Cifarelli & Josh Lanier

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

(Updated) Police ID Man Killed In While Walking In Plainville Police in Norfolk County are investigating a fatal car crash Wednesday evening, March 1, involving a pedestrian. William Murray, 46, of Plainville, was hit as he walked along Taunton Street near the intersection of Shepherd Street around 7 p.m. in the town of Plainville, the Norfolk District Attorney's Office said. Responders gave Murray first aid until paramedics could rush him to Sturdy Memorial Hospital. Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe, and doctors could not save his life. The driver of the Honda Accord called 911 after the crash and remained on the sce…

03/02/2023

Police & Fire

Donations Pour In For Westborough Family Who Lost Home To Fire A GoFundMe for a Westborough family who lost their home in a fire last week has surpassed its goal of $25,000 in just a few days. Matthew Travis created the fundraiser after his parent's home at 65 Adams St. was destroyed in a February 24 fire. The fire marshal estimated the damage to the house at $500,000. It's unclear what sparked the blaze, but officials say it started in the living room. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Related: Westborough Firefighters Close Intersection To Battle House Fire Matthew wrote that his father, Paul Travis, wasn't home, but his quick-thinking…

03/01/2023

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