Update Arrest 5/3/12 – William Meehan, 45, of 98 Central St. Peabody
The man below entered Billerica Coin & Collectibles on February 14th and made off with a large amount of jewelry. The image shows a male approximately 35-45 years old, approximately 230 lbs. The suspect was operating an early 2000’s Hyundai Elantra. Anyone who can identify the suspect below is encouraged to contact Billerica Police Detectives at 978-667-1212.
Some residents may have noticed the large trailer parked in the Billerica High School parking lot this week. The trailer, owned by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department, is on loan to BPD.
The trailer is a completely self contained live firing range that is transportable to different locations. The range allows officers to complete their annual firearm recertifications in their own city or town and use real ammunition in video simulations. For more information on the mobile range please visit the manufacturer’s website here.
Story by Evan Lips elips@lowellsun.com
Lowell Sun News – Imagine a town center where you didn’t have to turn south on Concord Road to head north on Boston Road.
A town center with two-way traffic on Boston Road, a sidewalk linking the common to the Shops at Billerica and a traffic pattern with three sets of signals instead of seven.
Selectmen asked a Rhode Island engineering firm to come up with a few new concepts for the future of the town center, and last night they got a good look.
The board voted unanimously to send one of the two conceptual designs to the Traffic Management Committee, which will begin hosting public discussion forums later this winter. The Historic Districts Commission will also have a say.
The concept calls for turning the section of Concord Road between Blanchard Avenue and Andover Road into a one-way, northbound road with about 25 parking spaces abutting the common and a raised crosswalk in front of the library. Andover Road would have a dedicated left-turn lane for traffic to head south on Boston Road.
Kien Ho, a Beta Group traffic engineer, said the proposal “simplifies the volume of traffic into one main line,” Boston Road.
Beta Group Associate Darshan Jhaveri said the changes would make the common as accessible as it is during the Christmas-tree lighting while also improving traffic. But the plan would also reduce the number of parking spaces on Boston Road from about 15 to about seven.
Turning the concept into reality won’t be cheap. Town Manager John Curran said last night that initial estimates call for about $14 million. But he added that these are the types of projects that can be completed by towns with level debt. Last fall, Town Meeting voted to transfer $1.4 million in free cash to the town’s debt stabilization fund.
Curran said the fund “helps preserve the tax rate the way it is” and noted that between $2 and $4 million could be available from the state’s MassWorks Infrastructure Program. Improving the town center, he added, will also “add value to the whole area.”
The Traffic Management Committee will meet Monday at 7 p.m. to review the design, but public hearings have not yet been scheduled.
Beginning February 4th, 2012, in accordance with a contract between Griggs Farm and the Billerica Police Department, there will be goose hunting at the farm located at 599 Boston Rd. Signs have been posted at the perimeter of the property informing residents about the hunting. The hunting will be on Grigg’s land only in compliance with Massachusetts hunting and gun laws. The hunting will be done by paid hunters for the purpose of controlling the loss of crops. Both Billerica Police and the Massachusetts Environmental Police will be ensuring the laws are being followed. If you are interested in reviewing the contract in question it is available on our website here.
Billerica Police are investigating a breaking and entering of the Vining School on 1/28/12. A custodian responded to the school as a result of an alarm. While checking the school he observed a white male, early 30’s, 5’8”, approx. 170 lbs, short brown hair, clean shaven, wearing a red winter coat, khaki pants and red backpack. The suspect claimed that he worked for Comcast.
It was later discovered that two HP laptop computers were missing. The suspect may have been operating a plum colored Jeep Cherokee. Below are some pictures of the suspect. If you think you recognize the suspect based on the clothing, etc, please call BPD detectives at 978-667-1212.
At approximately 11:05 AM Billerica Police received a 911 call reporting an armed home invasion at 1 Tremlett Rd. one adult male resident was injured and transported to Lahey Clinic with no obvious life threatening injuries. The suspects were described as three white males, late teens or early 20’s, wearing dark clothing seen leaving the area driving an older dark blue or black GMC/Chevrolet 1500 extended cab pickup truck.
2/2/12 – BPD detectives made an arrest yesterday in connection to this weeks home invasion on Tremlett Rd. Billerica and lowell detectives arrested Matthew J. Fitzgerald, 19, of 9 Oceola Rd. Billerica. He was taken into custody at a Concord St residence in Lowell last night.
Mr. Fitzgerald was booked at BPD and charged with home invasion and armed assault to murder for the home invasion and assault that occurred on January 30th on Tremlett Rd.
This investigation is still active. As more information becomes available we will provide an update to this release.
