ATTLEBORO CITYWIDE NEWS

Lost Boy Located After Short Search

ATTLEBORO- A 10 year old boy was located by Attleboro Police officers this afternoon, after a short search, when he became lost in the woods at the end of Curtis Avenue in the South End of the City. The incident happened around 1:15pm and the boy was tracked down approximately 15 minutes later. Using the boys cell phone the Attleboro Police dispatchers, including Skip Rogers, coordinated the search with on scene patrolmen using loud voice commands and visual markings. Those patrolmen, including Joseph Enegren and Karl Williams, found the South Attleboro boy in the woods near a pond between Baltic Street and Route 95.

The boy had initially called 911 on his cell phone when he became lost. The boy was returned uninjured to his parents. Photo below is the area of search.

Sex Offender Surrenders

NORTH ATTLEBORO- A man, who had been listed on the states 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender's list, turned himself in at the Attleboro District Court today. John Freitas, a Level 3 sex offender, was subsequently taken into custody by North Attleboro Police detectives. He was wanted on a warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. He was booked and being held on $25,000 bail at the North Attleboro police station.

Freitas, formerly of Attleboro and North Attleboro, has been homeless and staying in Rhode Island. The capture of Freitas caps a week long search by state and local police. He has twice been convicted of rape of a child in the 70's and 80's. He will be arraigned in Attleboro District court on Friday to face the new charges.

John Freitas

Live Feed

If you've tried to log onto the live Attleboro Fire and Police feed, with the link in the left and column, and haven't been able to, I now know why. The last 2 days I had some tech issues that I was unaware of and which now have been permanently resolved. So please enjoy the feed, its up and running, and pass it along.

(The ACN Info Center. With the neccesary rehab chair on right.)

Fire in Commercial Building in North

NORTH ATTLEBORO- The North Attleboro Fire Department responded to the Right Touch Spa at 171 East Washington Street for a commercial fire alarm that had been transmitted to the fire department at 2:20am this morning. Upon arrival fire crews started an investigation and a short time later they found smoke coming from the roof line of the 20' x 75' foot building. On the orders of Capt. Jack White the box was filled in and a working fire signal was transmitted.

When firefighters opened the first floor laundry room in the spa they encountered smoke and discovered a fire in the room which was located in the back of the building. Two hose lines were brought into the building and the fire was brought under control within 15 minutes with the use of one line. Fire damage was confined to the laundry room with smoke and water damage to an adjacent room.

Cumberland RI provide mutual aid for a Rapid Intervention Team on scene, with their Truck 5, and Plainville covered North Attleboro Headquarters. Firefighters were on scene for 60 minutes . The cause of fire was determined to be a malfunctioning clothes dryer and damage was estimated at $30,000 to $50,000, according to Fire Chief Peter Lamb. (Story and photos by Scott Langille for ACN).

Jeep Rollover in Attleboro

ATTLEBORO- Just before 5:30 this afternoon the quiet neighborhood of Lonicut was disrupted by the noise of a rollover accident. A jeep that was being operated by a Franklin resident blew a tire and rolled over on its side at the intersection of Alder and Fisher Streets. The occupant was trapped under the vehicle after it rolled over him and was freed by the crews of Engine 5 and Rescue 1 without the use of the hydraulic tool. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Center in Providence. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation by Attleboro Police. Click below for audio and video. Audio by Matt Pillsbury. Photos by Marty Pyne. Video courtesy of Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle.

Attleboro Fire Dispatch and On Scene Audio

Video From the Scene

Route 95 Rollover in North Attleboro

NORTH ATTLEBORO-  North Attleboro firefighters responded to Route 95 northbound, in the area north of exit 5 (Rt 152) before the Kelley Boulevard bridge, for a vehicle rollover accident. Upon arrival crews found a SUV on its roof and the pasenger out of the vehicle. Firefighters stretched a hose line for a small fuel leak and the victim was transported to Rhode Island Hospital. The victims injuries were believed to be minor but due to the nature of the crash she was taken to the Trauma Center. The accident is under investigation by Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Foxboro barracks. Click below to listen to initial on scene audio.

Listen to Audio from the Scene

(Photo by Mike George/The Sun Chronicle)

Car Crashes Into House

ATTLEBORO- Attleboro Fire and Police responded to a call for a car that crashed into a house at 103 Maple Street this morning. The accident, which happened just before 7:30, required Rescue 1 to transport one person to Sturdy Hospital. It is beleived that the driver may have suffered a medical condition prior to the crash, although roads in the area were slick. The house sustained moderate damage and the building inspector was called to the scene. It was the 10th time a car has struck the house according to the owner. The protective posts installed by the owner are visable in the lower right of photo below. They did no good at this accident.Fire crews remained at the crash for 45 minutes. The accident is under investigation by Attleboro police officer Dawn Gemme.

State Police Cruiser Struck on 495 in Norton

NORTON-  A Massachusetts State Police cruiser was struck by an erratic driver while providing emergency lighting and cover to Norton fire crews at the scene of a motor vehicle fire Sunday night. The accident happen around 10:30 pm in the northbound lanes of Route 495. The firefighters had been on the highway extinguishing a car fire when they radioed to dispatch that there had been an accident at the scene.

Neither the firefighters nor the state trooper were injured but the driver of the vehicle that struck the cruiser was transported to Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Center with serious injuries. There was a large gasoline spill, of approximately 15 to 20 gallons, resulting from the crash which was contained by the firefighters with foam and booms. A Mansfield engine was called for mutual aid and several additional units from Norton Fire responded, including Fire Chief Richard Gomes.

The accident is under investigation by Trooper Roy of the Accident Reconstruction Unit of the Massachusetts State Police. MassHighway responded to the scene and Massachusetts DEM was notified about the fuel spill. Also Clean Harbors responded to clean up the gasoline spill and foam.

Update 3/18/08: Norton Engine 2, which was extinguishing the car fire, did sustain minor damage in the crash when the cruiser struck the rear bumper after being pushed 125 feet.

New York City Crane Collapse Audio

NEW YORK CITY-  On Saturday March 15 a tower crane collapsed onto a occuppied residential building In Manhattan killing and injuring several people, including construction workers on the scene. The accident took place on East 50th Street in Midtown between 1st and 2nd Avenues. There are still 3 individuals unaccounted for and presumed dead.

As with any type of building collapse in Manhattan there were some tense moments early on in the incident. The severity of the job is evident in the voices on the audio. Click on and listen to the FDNY Manhattan Borough audio from the scene below. Thanks to New York Fire Wire and New York Post/Robert Miller.

FDNY Manhattan Audio from Crane Collapse

Wrentham Fire Chief's Post Offered to Providence Assistant Chief

WRENTHAM-  Wrentham selectmen voted, in a special meeting on Friday, to offer the fire chief's job to Mark Pare, Deputy Assistant Chief with the Providence Fire Department. The selectman's vote was 3-2, with 2 votes being cast for longtime Wrentham Deputy and current Acting Chief, Jay McMorrow.The third finalist, Bellingham Deputy Chief Steve Garon, did not receive any votes from selectmen.

Pare brings many years of experience as a Providence firefighter. lieutenant, captain and battalion chief in addition to his many years of training firefighters. He is currently serving as assistant chief of administration. Pare was a finalist during the search for a fire chief in Plainville, which eventually went to North Attleboro Fire Captain Ted Joubert.

Pare would be replacing retired chief Bob Morrill who stepped down last May after leading the Wrentham Fire Department for 8 years. Pare, of Cranston RI., was said to be on vacation and contract discussions with the town manager would take place when he returns.