Police, Fire & Courts | Dartmouth

header_bg

Visit our partners:

Fire District receives grants for safety education

Dartmouth Fire District 1 was awarded two grants, one for Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) grant and a Senior S.A.F.E. grant from the Department of Fire…

Horseneck Road homicide suspect pleads guilty to racketeering in 2020 killing, two other murders

Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes in New Bedford District Court in July 2020

On Wednesday, April 15, an alleged La Mara Salvatrucha member pleaded guilty to racketeering for his alleged role in three murders, including a killing that occurred near…

Most Popular

Former Dartmouth man found not guilty for half sister's murder

frsc

Former Dartmouth resident David Reed, who was accused of killing his half sister with a conch shell in 2001, has been found not guilty. Reed's half sister Rose Marie Moniz had been found dead at her home on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford on March...

Bristol County Jail eliminates nearly $3 million

In an effort to prioritize jail operations, Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux has eliminated nearly $3 million in non-jail positions within the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department. The units that saw positions eliminated or left vacated are COVID...

Dartmouth Jail receives funding for correctional classes

The Healey-Driscoll administration announced they are awarding the Bristol County Sheriff’s office $63,208 for welding education and training as a part of a grant for career and technical education in correctional facilities. “These grants will...

Car caught fire on State Road, cause unknown

The car on fire. Source: Jaime Lyn Carvalho

Around 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2 a Hyundai Sedan caught fire on State Road near the Dartmouth Towne Center, and the cause is currently unknown. According to Fire District 3 Chief Richard Arruda, the driver heard a “bang” and noticed the engine...

Dartmouth teen charged in New Year's Day alleged hit-and-run that killed pedestrian in New Bedford

district court

A 16-year-old from Dartmouth faces five charges for an early New Year’s Day car crash that killed Nicolasa Ventura Colaj, 33, of New Bedford. The teen has been charged with motor vehicle homicide, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the...

New Bedford man arrested for lewd crimes in Dartmouth

Francisco Tavares. Source: Detective Lieutenant Keith R. DaCosta

Francisco Tavares, 61 of New Bedford, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 26 as a part of an undercover investigation into reports of people being flashed while at Harry Reynold’s Park. He is being charged with open and gross lewdness and lewd, wanton...

Two Dartmouth police employees awarded in state-wide awards

Captain Sam Raposa with his Supervisor of the Year award. Source: Bristol County Sheriff's Department

Two members of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department were awarded by the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association. They were two of 10 people awarded this year. Alyssa Perley of Fall River won Employee of the Year for her work at the Dartmouth House...

No one injured in Crossroad Apartments fire

The damage from the fire at Crossroads Apartments. Source: Dartmouth Fire District 3

The Dartmouth Fire Departments responded to a kitchen fire at the Crossroad Apartments at 7:29 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 1. District 3 responded to the fire following a box alarm and a 911 call. Chief Richard Arruda said the Department of Fire Services...

Dartmouth man arrested for multiple drug charges

drugs

A Dartmouth man was arrested on multiple drug charges following a weeks-long narcotics investigation on Friday, Nov. 14. Jeremiah Cowart, 34, was taken into custody by Dartmouth Police detectives after he fled from his home when detectives came...

Bristol County Sheriff settles $10 million ICE lawsuit for 2020 altercation

sheriff

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux settled a $10 million lawsuit that was brought against former Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and two federal agencies following an altercation that occurred at the now closed Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility...

Jail librarian indicted for allegedly smuggling $65,000 worth of synthetic marijuana

Paul Heroux

A former librarian at the Bristol County Jail and House of Correction was indicted on Monday, Oct. 20 for being part of what may be the largest alleged employee drug smuggling scheme in the jail’s history. On June 9, 2025, New Bedford resident and...