NORTH SHORE – Headlines for a sunny Thursday: Supporters and opponents argue sanctuary; City plans to build new high school; Historic building sold; High school gets new principal; North Shore lawyer appointed as judge by Governor. Below North Reading arrest story and a warning from the Saugus Police Department
North Shore Today with Rick Moore and Bill Newell
NORTH READING — Chief Michael P. Murphy reports that a suspect was arrested after fleeing on foot during a traffic stop on Lowell Road Wednesday afternoon.
MANUEL PINA, AGE 21, OF LAWRENCE was arrested by State Police in Lawrence after North Reading Police notified area law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for a suspect matching his description.
At 4:03 p.m., a North Reading Police Officer performed a traffic stop of a white Honda that had been observed running a red light at the intersection of Main Street and Lowell Road. Shortly afterward, the driver, identified as PINA fled on foot before being picked up by another man in a minivan. An investigation ensued, and Massachusetts State Police soon radioed that they had the suspect in custody in the City of Lawrence.
North Reading Police recovered a large plastic bag containing 22 smaller plastic bags filled with a powdery substance. That substance was determined to be 14 grams of Fentanyl, the dangerous synthetic opioid that is responsible for a sharp increase in overdose deaths around the commonwealth recently.
PINA was charged with:
• Trafficking in a Class A Substance (Fentanyl)
• Failure to Stop for Police
• Giving a False Name and Address to a Police Officers
• Failure to Stop for a Red Light
• Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License (Subsequent Offense)
PINA was being held last night at the North Reading Police Department pending his arraignment Thursday in Woburn District Court.
“Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance that has made the nationwide opioid epidemic even worse,” Chief Murphy said. “Thankfully, multiple police departments worked together to quickly locate an alleged drug trafficker and remove a quantity of drugs from circulation.”
The Wakefield Police Department assisted at the scene with its K-9 unit, and the Wilmington Police Department also assisted North Reading Police.
Saugus Police Warn Residents About New Telephone Scam
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SAUGUS — Chief Domenic DiMella and the Saugus Police Department are warning residents about a new telephone scam being used to target victims and facilitate fraudulent charges. The scam begins when a victim answers a call and the person at the end of the line asks, “Can you hear me?” The caller then records the consumer’s “yes” response and obtains a voice signature. This signature can later be used by scammers to authorize fraudulent charges via telephone acting as the victim. According to complaints made to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the fraudulent callers might impersonate representatives from organizations that may be familiar to the victim, such as a mortgage lender or utility, to establish a reason for trying to reach the person receiving the call. If you receive this type of call, immediately hang up. If you have already responded to this type of call, review all of your bank, credit card and telephone company statements for any unauthorized charges. “Scammers are always coming up with new ways to target people, and unfortunately this is the latest method they’re using to con victims,” Chief DiMella said. “The best thing to do if you get a call from a number you don’t recognize is to not answer it. If someone needs to get in touch with you they will leave a voicemail.” To avoid falling victim to these telephone scams, Saugus Police recommend that residents follow these tips outlined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): • Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them go to voicemail. • If you answer and the caller (often a recording) asks you to hit a button to stop receiving calls, hang up. Scammers often use these tricks to identify, and then target, live respondents. • If you receive a scam call, write down the number and file a complaint with the FCC. • Ask your phone service provider if it offers a robocall blocking service. You can also visit the FCC’s website for information and resources on available robocall blocking tools to help reduce unwanted calls. • Consider registering all of your telephone numbers in the National Do Not Call Registry. Access the registry online or by calling 1-888-382-1222. These scams can also be reported to the FTC at 877-382-4357. Anyone who has questions, concerns, or believes they are the victim of a scam is asked to contact the Saugus Police Department at 781-233-1740. |
