Billerica EMS is sporting a borrowed ambulance this week after one of our primary ambulances went in for warranty work and developed an oil leak. Our back up ambulance is also out of service with an alternator failure. This left us with one Billerica ambulance. Bedford FD is graciously lending us their backup ambulance until we get one of ours back in service.
Man Arrested Again For Weapons Violations
On October 10th BPD Officers again arrested Anthony A. Paolini, this time for carrying a shotgun in the parking area of the Billerica Public Library. Mr. Paolini was arrested on 8/31/11 by BPD for threatening another man with a knife.
On Monday, October 10th the Police Department received a call from one of Paolini’s relatives claiming he entered their home, grabbed a shotgun and ammunition and fled up River St. towards Billerica Center. At the time of the call the relative told police that the shotgun in question had a trigger lock installed.
Within a few minutes Detective George Galinos spotted Paolini walking behind the Billerica Public Library. Paolini was carrying the shotgun in a canvas gun bag over his shoulder. Mr. Paolini was arrested at gun point by Galinos and Patrolman Cogswell. At the time of the arrest Paolini was in possession of a Browning 12 gauge shotgun, five boxes of ammunition and a knife. The shotgun in question did not have a trigger lock on it as Paolini smashed it prior to leaving the residence, causing it to break off the weapon.
Mr. Paolini was charged with larceny of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a license and improper possession of ammunition. Mr. Paolini was held overnight without bail and was arraigned at Lowell District Court on 10/11/11. Paolini is currently being held until his next hearing date on October 31st.
Two More Nighttime Burglaries Over The Weekend – CodeRED Call To Follow
There have been two more nighttime burglaries over the weekend, both on Tercentennial Dr.
The Police Department is investigating five residential burglaries since August that involve the entry of occupied homes during the night. These burglaries have been focused in East Billerica. In all of these cases the suspect has entered the home, usually after 2AM and has stolen cash from purses or wallets usually left in the kitchen area. Entry is gained through an unsecured window by pushing or prying a screen open. In almost all of these breaks the residence heard noises in the home but did not attribute the noises to a burglar and did not call police until later in the morning. Please take appropriate precautions by locking your doors and windows, using your alarm system, keeping outside areas lighted and by calling police immediately with anything suspicious. The police department is placing every available resource on this issue.
Driver Of Passenger Van Crash Arrested In Billerica
Melissa Rich, 21, of 21 F St. Dracut MA
On Friday, October 07, 2011, at approximately 6:30 PM, Billerica Police arrested Melissa Rich, 21 years old, of #21 F Street, Dracut MA for numerous motor vehicle related charges, including Operating under the Influence of Alcohol causing Serious Bodily Injury. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at approximately 3:40 PM. At that time the Billerica police were responding to the area of Treble Cove Road and River Street for a report a white passenger van driving erratically. While en route to the area, Officer William Connors, who was driving a marked Billerica Police Cruiser, observed a white van matching the description headed east bound on River Street approaching that area of Bridle Road. The vehicle was observed to be traveling at a high rate of speed while operating on the wrong side of the road. The vehicle made a sudden turn across the roadway, crashing through two mailboxes, a telephone pole and various properties before coming to rest after it struck a home located at 186 River Street. The van was occupied by three adult special needs passengers, all of whom were transported to Lahey Clinic in Burlington. One of these passengers sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. A follow up investigation of the operator, Melissa Rich, determined that she was under the influence of alcohol at the time she was operating the van. Ms. Rich will be arraigned in Lowell District Court on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.
Any further inquiries should be directed to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Public Information Officer, Jessica Venezia Pastore at 781-897-8325.
Pictures of the accident
Car Break Suspect Arrested
Joshua Menezes, 17, 405 River St. Dunstable
Patrol Officer Robert Heffernan was working a construction detail with Verizon Telephone in the area of 476 Boston Rd on Friday, 10/7/11. Both Officer Heffernan and the Verizon workers noted a male walking around the area of O’Connor Plaza and the Billerica Mall. He was then observed entering a parked vehicle. Officer Heffernan confirmed with the vehicle owner that a GPS unit had been taken from the vehicle. A short time later the suspect, Joshua Menezes,17, was arrested at the Billerica Public Library and the GPS unit was recovered and returned to the owner. Menezes charged with B&E for felony and an active arrest warrant.
Two More Residential Breaks To Occupied Homes
BPD is investigating two more incidents of breaks to occupied homes during early morning hours. The first of these incidents occurred on 8/27/11 on George Brown St. Info here.
Early this morning there were two more of these incidents reported, one on Tercentennial Dr and the other on Arakelian Dr. Both incidents occurred between 3am and 4am. The residents from Tercentennial Dr reported hearing some noise downstairs which they originally thought was their dog. It was later discovered that cash was stolen from a wallet and a purse. The suspect gained access to the home through a kitchen window.
The second incident occurred on Arakelian Dr around the same time frame. The resident was woken up by their barking dog. The resident went to investigate and discovered a window screen in the kitchen had been partially opened and items on the sill were disturbed. It appears the dogs in the home scared the suspect off.
All three of these breaks occurred in East Billerica. At this time we are recommending that residents follow some simple recommendations:
- If you have an Alarm System, be sure to use it! They are very effective if they are activated. Do NOT override motion sensors, alarm the entire house.
- KEEP YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS LOCKED! Don’t give a thief an opportunity to make you a victim.
- Communicate with neighbors. Look out for each other and each other’s property.
- The last thing a Burglar wants is attention. A barking dog is a great deterrent.
- Don’t advertise that you are not home. When vacationing, leave a
light and TV or radio on, have friends or family pick up your mail. Let us know if your house will be vacant for an extended period of time by submitting the information here.
If you have been burglarized:
- DO NOT ENTER, go to another location and call police.
- Do not touch items in the home that may have been knocked over or moved.
- Let police know if you find anything in the home that is NOT yours and may have been left by the burglar.
- Be prepared to provide police with descriptions and serial numbers of items that have been stolen.