Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Court decision pending in NYPD stop-and-frisk case

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:45:22 -0400

NEW YORK — A federal judge must now decide whether the nation's largest police force has been unjustly stopping black and Hispanic men under a polarizing tactic known as stop, question and frisk, and whether changes are needed to department policy, training and supervision.

During a 10-week civil rights trial that ended Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Shira Schiendlin heard testimony from 12 witnesses, all minorities, who said they were stopped by New York City police chiefly because of their race. She also heard from police who made the stops and from policy experts.

Conn. lawmakers to seek hearings on derailment

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:27:25 -0400

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Commuters navigated a patchwork of cars, trains and buses along Connecticut's shoreline Monday, encountering lengthy delays as authorities probed the cause of a train collision that disrupted one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.

Rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak between Boston and New York, was expected to resume by Wednesday morning rush hour, five days after the derailment and crash injured scores of passengers.

Questions linger in shooting of NY college student

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:16:42 -0400

MINEOLA, N.Y. — As a grieving family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra University junior killed by a police officer's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, some on Monday questioned whether police should have waited for help, including a hostage negotiating team.

"I think the police is not very professional," the dead woman's godfather said outside the family home in Westchester County, north of New York City. "If he's professional, he should have tried negotiation," Henrique Santos said.

NYPD to increase presence after bias killing

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:22:14 -0400

NEW YORK — A spate of anti-gay attacks in New York City is prompting police to increase their presence in some gay-friendly neighborhoods heading into what's usually a time for celebration.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said Monday that the NYPD has pledged to station command vehicles in Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen through the end of June, which is Gay Pride Month.

The decision comes after a man walking with a companion was shot dead Saturday. Police say the gunman made homophobic remarks.

RI trooper who aided after bombs says he's no hero

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:18:45 -0400

SCITUATE, R.I. — A Rhode Island state trooper who ran to the aid of the injured immediately after the Boston Marathon bombings prays for those he helped and hopes to meet them someday, he said Monday.

Autopsy: Maine man died of self-inflicted gunshot

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:12:49 -0400

SACO, Maine — The Maine medical examiner has determined that a Saco man who was in a police standoff before setting his house on fire died of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The body of 58-year-old Charles Scontras was found in the rubble of his home Saturday night after he set fire to it during a standoff with police. The standoff occurred after his estranged wife and a police officer went to the home that afternoon so she could retrieve belongings.

NYPD messages to Muslim informant: 'Get pictures'

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:02:34 -0400

NEW YORK — A New York Police Department detective told a federal judge that he's seen no evidence that one of his informants brought up the subject of jihad as a way to bait Muslims into making incriminating remarks. But text messages obtained by The Associated Press show otherwise.

Campaign targets seat belt violators in Maine

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:36:20 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine State Police and 83 other law enforcement agencies in Maine have kicked off their annual campaign to crack down on seat belt violators.

The two-week "Buckle Up-No Excuses" campaign began Monday and runs through June 2, coinciding with the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign involving police agencies across the country.

In Maine, the state Bureau of Highway Safety has distributed $178,000 in federal highway safety funds to assist in the effort by paying officers' overtime.

More than 300 attend fundraiser for RI bomb victim

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:13:15 -0400

NEWPORT, R.I. — More than 300 people have attended a fundraiser for Heather Abbott, a Newport woman who lost part of her left leg in the Boston Marathon bombings.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee (CHAY'-fee), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Rep. David Cicilline (sis-ihl-LEE'-nee) were among those who attended Sunday's event at Newport's Rosecliff mansion. Newport officials declared Sunday "Heather Abbott Day" in the city.

Abbott was waiting in line to get into a crowded restaurant when the bombs went off at the marathon. Doctors amputated her left leg below the knee.

NY town eyes limit on use of Plum Island

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:23:15 -0400

MINEOLA, N.Y. — Selling an island where scientists have experimented with infectious animal diseases since the dawn of the Cold War was going to be difficult enough. But it now appears any prospective buyer won't be able to do much with Plum Island anyway.

Man falls from NYC theater window onto marquee

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:20:03 -0400

NEW YORK — Officials in New York City say a man suffered minor injuries after falling out of a window onto the marquee of a Broadway theater.

The incident occurred at the Lyceum Theater just before the Sunday matinee performance of "The Nance" starring Nathan Lane.

Officials say the man was leaning on the second-floor window when it gave way.

Maine Turnpike toll increase paying off

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:31:57 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine — The unpopular decision to raise tolls on the Maine Turnpike appears to be paying off.

The Turnpike Authority reports that in the six months since it increased tolls at some spots along the 106-mile highway, revenue has increased by 16 percent even as the number of cars using the turnpike dropped by 4 percent.

The agency has also signed up more than 17,000 new E-ZPass customers, bringing the total to 209,000.

Officer who shot NY student faced harrowing choice

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:43:09 -0400

NEW YORK — The police officer who accidentally killed a Long Island college student along with an armed intruder faced perhaps the most harrowing decision in law enforcement: choosing the split-second moment when the risk is so high that you must pull the trigger.

That's the moment authorities say a Nassau County police officer experienced early Friday morning when a masked man holding 21-year-old Andrea Rebello in a headlock pointed a loaded handgun at him.

Weeklong traffic mess possible after CT derailment

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:31:00 -0400

HARTFORD, Conn. — Traffic in southwest Connecticut could be a mess for as much as a week until service is restored to the commuter rail line affected by a derailment that injured scores of passengers, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy warned Sunday.

Malloy used dire language to describe traffic troubles for the work week ahead in an area that even in normal times is a pain for motorists. And the governor warned that the weather will not cooperate as rainy weather forecast will make driving a bit more treacherous.

Malloy even urged commuters to stay out of the state if possible.

NY 'frisk' judge calls criticism 'below-the-belt'

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:43:34 -0400

NEW YORK — The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.

"I know I'm not their favorite judge," U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin said during an Associated Press interview Friday. It was another moment of candor for a judge known for her call-it-as-she-sees-it manner and willingness to confront government lawyers in a courthouse where many judges — former federal prosecutors themselves — seem less inclined.

'Laboratory in a can' monitors red tide off Maine

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:43:29 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine — Red tide monitoring is going high-tech with a robotic "laboratory in a can."

A garbage can-size canister was deployed in late April in the ocean waters off southern Maine to collect and transmit data about toxin-producing algae blooms, known as red tides, that show up in the Gulf of Maine each spring.

No discipline for trooper whose gun discharged

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:34:14 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine — There will be no punishment for a Maine state police lieutenant whose gun accidentally discharged during a training class.

Lt. Shaun Currie was adjusting his holster when the gun went off Wednesday morning during a computer training session in Augusta. An officer was hit in the back of the leg after the bullet ricocheted, but it didn't penetrate the officer's skin.

Maine Turnpike traffic falls after toll increases

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:40:45 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine — Traffic on the Maine Turnpike fell by 4 percent in the first six months after tolls went up, but toll revenues increased by 16 percent during the same period.

From November 2012 when the toll hikes went into place through April, the turnpike took in $51.7 million, or $7.2 million more than the same period the previous year.

Maine Turnpike Authority Executive Director Peter Mills says enough money is now being collected — but not much more — to pay the turnpike's operating budget, maintenance and long-term debt service.

York man killed in single-vehicle accident

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:26:42 -0400

YORK, Maine — Police are investigating a single-vehicle fatal accident in York.

Officials say 48-year-old Timothy Gerald of York died Saturday afternoon after his pickup truck veered off Route 91 and crashed into a tree.

Gerald was pronounced dead at the scene. His dog, which was riding in the passenger seat, was taken to a local veterinarian hospital.

Maine comic festival features writers, artists

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:14:16 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine — Comic books are being celebrated in Maine's largest city.

More than 100 comic book writers, artists, publishers and cartoonists will be on hand at the fifth annual Maine Comics Arts Festival. The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Ocean Gateway on the Portland waterfront.

The festival was started in 2009 to promote comic books and give the public an opportunity to meet the creative talent behind them. Many of the artists will have their original work on display and available for sale.