The state’s bomb squad along with the FBI responded Wednesday to a suspicious package on Boston Common after graffiti was discovered defacing the iron and granite entrance gate to the State House.
Crime
Essex DA releases footage of the moments before death of Haverhill man
The Essex County District Attorney’s office has released a video compilation showing the moments just before a Haverhill man died following a struggle with police officers.
Courts seek more judges as legal deadline looms for unrepresented indigent defendants
BOSTON — Citing an ever-growing backlog of cases and the need to comply with a court-ordered deadline, Massachusetts trial courts have asked the Supreme Judicial Court to modify its July 3 order so they can assign more judges to preside over upcoming hearings for indigent defendants who have gone 45 days without legal representation.
Fitchburg man arrested for distributing child sexual abuse material
BOSTON — A Fitchburg man has been arrested and charged for allegedly distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via Kik Messenger. Sean Pettigrew, 50, was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography. Pettigrew was arrested today and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for July 18, 2025 in federal court in Worcester. […]
Judge begins releasing defendants amid legal representation crisis
LOWELL — Defendants facing charges including armed robbery and drug trafficking were released from custody on Wednesday at the Kiernan Judicial Center, as trial courts in Middlesex and Suffolk counties began holding emergency Lavallee Protocol hearings at the Lowell-based courthouse in response to a statewide shortage of court-appointed attorneys.
Four men held without bail after masked pre-Fourth jewelry store robbery
Four men from out of state were arraigned before a Essex County Judge on Tuesday and held without bail over allegations they robbed a North Andover jewelry store and led police on a high speed chase just ahead of Independence Day.
