Massachusetts
2 Mass. Men Arrested After Cocaine Shipment From Puerto Rico Intercepted in Quincy
Two men were taken into custody this weekend in connection with a “large-scale Massachusetts drug trafficking enterprise” after authorities confiscated three kilograms of suspected cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico to an apartment in Quincy.
Massachusetts State Police said Stephen Marsden, 35, of Quincy, and Evans Klimavhich, 41, of Worcester, were arrested Friday following a “lengthy investigation” by their department and United States Postal Inspectors.
According to state police, the cocaine was discovered when they executed a search warrant on the parcel after it was delivered to Marsden’s Cove Way apartment Friday morning.
Authorities also searched Marsden’s apartment, his Infiniti Q50 sedan, and a home in Worcester that belongs to Klimavich, who police name as a co-conspirator of Marsden’s in the drug operation.
At Marsden’s Quincy apartment, authorities allegedly found five firearms, 143 loose rounds of ammunition, dozens of THC edible packages, approximately 80 Xanax pills, a money counting device, and materials used in the packaging of narcotics. Police said a check revealed that one of the guns had been stolen during a housebreak in Oxford, North Carolina.
A discovery in the Quincy apartment led troopers to also search an office space rented by Marsden on Oregon Street in Fall River. There, authorities found four ghost guns – firearms without serial numbers, making them untraceable, assembled privately from unfinished and unregulated parts purchased separately or in kits – and large-capacity magazines. Investigators also seized several pounds of THC edibles and an ATM machine from the rented space and observed other apparent uncompleted ghost firearms in the process of being manufactured from unregulated parts, police said.
Marsden, who police say does not have a license to carry firearms, was placed under arrest and charged with numerous drug and gun charges, including trafficking in cocaine; possession of a Class C narcotic (THC edibles) with intent to distribute; possession of a Class E narcotic (Xanax) with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm in commission of a felony; unlawful possession of ammunition; and improper storage of a firearm.
While at Klimavhich’s Worcester home on Allison Circle, investigators found another kilogram of suspected cocaine, approximately 50 pounds of marijuana, hundreds of vape cartridges, a quantity of psilocybin mushrooms, and approximately $52,000, police said.
Klimavich arrived home while authorities were conducting their search warrant, at which point he was taken into custody and charged with trafficking in cocaine; trafficking in marijuana; and trafficking in Class C narcotics (vape cartridges and mushrooms.)
State police say Marsden was being held on $50,000 cash bail pending his arraignment in Quincy District Court next week. Bail information for Klimavich was not immediately available; he’s expected to be arraigned in Worcester District Court next week. It was not known if either man had obtained an attorney.
A joint investigation by state police and the US Postal Service is ongoing.
Massachusetts
Marion Police Department Earns Re-Accreditation from Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission
MARION — Police Chief Richard Nighelli is proud to report that the Marion Police Department earned re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).
On Wednesday, June 26, MPAC unanimously re-accredited the Marion Police Department.
“I am honored our department has once again earned re-accreditation from MPAC,” said Chief Nighelli. “As we celebrate this achievement, I would like to recognize all of our department members for their dedication and commitment to upholding the values of this department. I would also like to thank our community for their ongoing support and partnership.”
The department received State Certification in June 2014, full State Accreditation in June 2015 and re-accreditation in 2018 and 2021. Accreditation must be renewed every three years and, following this year’s renewal, the department will be up for re-accreditation again in 2027.
Accreditation is a self-initiated, lengthy and comprehensive evaluation process. Participating departments complete an internal self-review and an external assessment by MPAC experts. The process is a voluntary evaluation by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the top standards of law enforcement. It is considered the best measure for a police department to compare itself against the established best practices around the country and region.
The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the department was required to meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 55% of the optional standards.
These carefully selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operations and technical support activities. They cover areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, prisoner transportation and holding facilities.
The Commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with the latter being the higher of the two.
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Massachusetts
Man saved by Massachusetts’ first ever whole blood transfusion from car crash site
It took 45 minutes for firefighters to get a 35-year-old man out of a “heavily damaged” car following a car crash on Saturday, officials said. The man’s injuries were extensive, with low blood pressure, shock and internal bleeding.
Quickly, firefighters and paramedics decided to try a new lifesaving method starting at the crash site: whole blood transfusion.
The method had never been done in Massachusetts before, according to the Canton Fire Department. However, in March, the Canton Fire Department and 25 other cities and towns in Massachusetts worked with Boston Medical Center to launch the first pilot program in Massachusetts history for administering whole blood before a patient reaches the hospital, the press release stated.
On Saturday, the fire department put it into action.
The crash happened in Braintree during the early morning hours, officials said. The Braintree Fire Department and Brewster Ambulance paramedics “swiftly” put in a request to the Canton Fire Department for the whole blood transfusion.
Paramedics put the 35-year-old in the ambulance where Canton Fire Field Transfusion Paramedic Michael White and EMT Jonathan Buckley started the transfusion. On his way to Boston Medical Center, the man’s vital signs improved, according to officials. Once at the hospital, he was taken to surgery.
“This groundbreaking program represents a significant advancement in prehospital care and has already proven its worth in it first use,” said Fire Chief Wendell Robery. “The successful administration of whole blood in the field is a testament to our paramedics’ and EMTs’ training, preparedness and dedication. We are grateful for the collaboration with Boston Medical Center and the support of our neighboring communities.”
Transfusions with specific blood components are common in hospital settings and are often used for trauma but whole blood might be becoming more common.
The leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. is massive bleeding caused by a traumatic injury, U.S. News and World Report wrote. Most of the deaths occur within six hours.
In an article by the Boston University School of Medicine, it pointed to a new study that suggested a person who receives whole blood transfusion for severe traumatic bleeding earlier has a greater chance of survival.
“However, if this transfusion is delayed by as little as 14 minutes after arriving at the hospital, the survival benefit is significantly reduced,” the university wrote.
Crisanto Torres, assistant professor of surgery at the school, said in the article that there was a “decrease in survival probability for each minute delay in whole blood transfusion.”
She said she hopes this encourages more hospitals to use whole blood as a standard emergency transfusion product and more consideration for it to be used at the scene of an injury or during transport to the hospital.
Massachusetts
Retired Massachusetts judge discusses next steps after Karen Read mistrial
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