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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

Violent Kidnapping: 5 Busted In Central Mass Held Victims For Hours, Beat Them, DA Says Five people are expected to be arraigned Friday, Feb. 17, that they took part in a violent assault and kidnapping at an Athol home earlier this month, authorities said. The five were arrested in connection with a Feb. 1 kidnapping where two victims were held at a house for four hours against their will, robbed, and assaulted, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. One victim reported the incident to Athol police the following day. This week, investigators arrested multiple people in the case. They are: Franklin Payne, age 46, of Athol. He is charged with armed…

02/17/2023

Police & Fire

House Fire: 1 Person Hospitalized, Others Displaced After Central Mass Blaze One person was hospitalized, and others were displaced after a Brookfield house fire on Thursday, Feb. 16. But fast-working firefighters were able to rescue several pets from the inferno. The call came in just after 1:30 p.m. that a house near the intersection of Common Street and Post Road was in flames, the Brookfield Fire Department said. Putting it out became a group effort as fire crews from East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, and Spencer all helped stop the blaze before it consumed the home. Brookfield firefighters battled a blaze at this home on Thursday, Feb. 1…

02/17/2023

Obituaries

Support Floods In For Family Of 'Selfless' Mom, 'Playful' 3-Year-Old Son Slain In Connecticut Community support is flooding in for the grieving family of a 33-year-old Massachusetts mom and her 3-year-old son slain in Connecticut earlier this week. Worcester residents Lury M. Pizarro, age 33, and her son Emanual Pizarro were found killed in Windham County on Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the small town of Brooklyn, with a man whose identity has not yet been released. Police were trying to reach his next of kin on Thursday, Feb. 16, which delayed the public release of his name, authorities said. Related: IDs Released For 2 Of 3 Found Dead In Windham County Home Le…

02/16/2023

Police & Fire

Teen Missing For Week: Police Worry For Health Of Central Mass 15-Year-Old Northborough police on Thursday, Feb. 16, renewed their call for in finding a missing 15-year-old as they are worried about his safety. Michael Davis Jr. disappeared around 7 p.m. on Feb. 9, and hasn't been seen since, police said. He's described as 6 feet tall, weighing 150-170 pounds with a slim build, fair complexion, and short red hair. Michael suffers from health conditions that police say could impact his well-being. Officials said that he could be in the Boston or Worcester areas. Have you seen this child? Michael Davis https://t.co/oV6toAAjGE — Northborough Police (@Northbor…

02/16/2023

Police & Fire

Drugs, Welfare Cards: Western Mass Couple Busted After Traffic Stop Upends Conspiracy, Cops Say A Springfield couple was caught with drugs, a gun, and a stockpile of EBT and welfare assistance cards earlier this week after a routine traffic stop, authorities said. Mark Centeno, age 33, and Astrid Reyes, 29, face a litany of charges following the Valentine's Day arrest, the Springfield police said. An officer spotted Centeno and Reyes in a parking lot along State Street just before 5 p.m. Their car was missing its inspection sticker, which sparked the stop. Officers found 900 Oxycodone pills, 39 grams of cocaine, and marijuana in the car, Springfield police said. Cen…

02/16/2023

Police & Fire

Missing 2 Months: Police Renew Call For Help To Find Central Mass Man Ethan Freeman vanished in Fitchburg on Jan. 19, and nearly two months later, police are renewing their call for information on his disappearance. The 23-year-old was last seen in the Arlington Road area. Fitchburg police describe him as standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 210 pounds. He has black hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing a gray winter jacket, jeans, a black hat, and gray boots when he was last seen, police said. The Massachusetts State Police Air Wing recently joined the search for Freeman along with Fitchburg investigators, authorities said on Facebook. Officers warned residents t…

02/16/2023

Police & Fire

Fentanyl Pill Mill: Lawrence Man Gets 8 Years In Prison, Feds Say A 32-year-old who was accused of using multiple pill presses to crank out fentanyl pills that looked like legitimate prescription painkillers will spend the next eight years behind bars, authorities said. Miguel Angel Fajardo of Lawrence pleaded guilty in October to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Along with his prison sentence, Fajardo will serve two years of probation when he is released, the judge ruled this week. Investigators said they found at his home more than 15 pounds of fentanyl pills —…

02/16/2023

Police & Fire

Hate Crime: Feds Charge Quincy Man Accused Of Race-Based Attack A Quincy man accused of yelling "Go back to China" before driving into a man of Asian descent has been charged with a federal hate crime, authorities said. John Sullivan, 77, was charged on Wednesday, Feb. 15, with violating the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Police were called to 40 Washington Street in Quincy just before 11 a.m. on Dec. 2 after Sullivan allegedly drove into George Ngo, causing the man to fall onto the hood of his car, police said. After Ngo fell off, Sullivan is accused of yelling a racial slur before crashing …

02/15/2023

Police & Fire

'Pseudo-Narcotics': CT Store Busted For Selling THC Products, Police Say Police raided an Enfield convenience store this week and arrested the co-owners for selling "pseudo-narcotics," authorities said. Hartford County residents Tariq Mehmood, age 32, and Wagas Ali, age 30, both of Enfield, are charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, Enfield police said. Police said they went to the Smoke + Mark at 169 Elm Street on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and found between $25,000 to $30,000 worth of the THC products, authorities said. While recreational marijuana is legal in Connecticut, buyers must be at least 21, and products cannot be marketed to…

02/15/2023

Police & Fire

Sexual Assault: Springfield College Student Attacked In Dorm, Campus Police Say Springfield College police said they are increasing patrols at the campus after a student was sexually assaulted in their dorm room earlier this week. Campus police sent an email out to students and staff about the 1 a.m. attack on Monday, Feb. 13, at Gulick Hall. They asked residents to be vigilant and report anyone who matches the description of the suspect. “This afternoon, February 14, 2023, a sexual assault by an unknown male was reported to have occurred at approximately 1:00 AM on Monday, February 13, 2023, in Gulick Hall. Both the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Non-…

02/15/2023

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