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The Plymouth County DARE camp is taking place at Whitman-Hanson High School this week, with education taking place in a fun setting.

The DARE (Drug & Alcohol Resistance Education) camp is a free summer program for kids in Plymouth County. It’s the 16th year that District Attorney Tim Cruz and his office have hosted the camp.

Barbara Faherty, the Executive Director of Community Programs at the DA’s Office, says the lessons range in all types.

“All the officers are here in T-shirts and shorts, so it kind of takes away that formality from the kids, and the kids aren’t afraid to approach the DARE Officer, the police officer,” said Faherty. “They see them in a different light, that they’re part of the community. They’re not just there upholding the law…and they’re not somebody these children should be afraid of.”

From tug of war, to dodgeball, to football games hundreds of kids are taking part in the camp.

“It’s awesome. I love being here,” said 10-year-old Samantha Baptiste of Wareham. “I just think this camp is amazing, I think everyone should come.”

“It’s great. There’s so many activities,” said Dylan Perault, an 11-year-old from Whitman. “There’s a lot of friends here, old friends that you see.”

Kids are split up into groups, but away from their towns. They’re shy early in the week, but make new friends as the camp comes to a close.

“It’s good to get to know the kids,” said Timothy Cleary, the Marshfield School Resource Officer. “They get to know us outside of the uniform, and they get to know us on a personal level.”  

On Tuesday, the kids got to check out a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter flown in from Otis Air Base on the Cape.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel MacSwain and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Patricia Lopresti answered questions and let the kids tour the aircraft.

Many of the students were all smiles as they got to learn outside of a classroom.

“I wanted to learn, experience new stuff, and meet new people,” said Raeghan Blake, a 10-year-old from Wareham. “It’s awesome, I love it here, and it’s great.”  

Hanson Police Officer Bill Frazier says the is great for everyone involved.

“We want to teach the kids that police are approachable. We’re here to help you, we’re here to help you make good decisions,” said Frazier. “We want to be positive role models for these kids as well.”

Kids flocked to the helicopter after it landed at the Whitman-Hanson High School. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

It was a tough pull in the semi-finals of the tug of war championship. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

The other side from the tug of war semi-finals. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

10-year-old Lincoln Smith of Plymouth evaded a tackle for this touchdown. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

This group was off to the races on the track. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Patricia Lopresti answered questions about her job as a pilot. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

Brady Waldron, 10, of West Bridgewater in the front seat of the Blackhawk helicopter. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel MacSwain and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Patricia Lopresti. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

Ethan Mcaloney, a 10-year-old from Hanson, smiles for the camera. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

Hundreds of kids from Plymouth County are attending the DARE camp. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.

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By
Cody Shepard
posted June 29, 2018

Detectives raided Max’s Blues Cafe, at 68 Field St., and seized a stolen gun and cocaine following an investigation throughout the month of June.

BROCKTON — Detectives raided a city bar and arrested three people after seizing a stolen gun and drugs Thursday afternoon, police said.

State police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County district attorney’s office executed a search warrant at Max’s Blues Cafe, also known as Max’s Hideout, at 68 Field St., about 4:45 p.m.

The raid was conducted following an investigation “into the illegal distribution of cocaine” from the bar throughout the month of June, said Beth Stone, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

When state police detectives, with assistance from Brockton police, executed the search warrant, they seized about 36 grams of suspected cocaine, a stolen .45-caliber Sig Sauer handgun, ammunition and cash, Stone said.

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By
Cody Shepard
Joe Pelletier

June 29, 2018

Thirteen of those arrests came in downtown, Legion Parkway area, mayor says. Those arrested had outstanding warrants on charges that ranged from child rape and cocaine trafficking to armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to a release from the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office.

BROCKTON — Police arrested more than two dozen people, including 20 on Thursday alone, in a two-day warrant sweep in the city.

The sweep included city, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and took 27 people into custody.

Those arrested had outstanding warrants on charges that ranged from child rape and cocaine trafficking to armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to a release from the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. They are expected to be arraigned in Brockton District Court.

D.A. Tim Cruz, WATD’s Kevin Tocci, Host of Monday Night Talk,  and Plymouth County Sheriff Joe McDonald

 – POSTED ON JUNE 26, 2018POSTED IN: LOCAL NEWS

A night out for recovery in Brockton on Monday night as part of a Brockton Rox event. WATD’s Kevin Tocci, host of Monday Night Talk, was there live talking with people on different sides of the addiction issue; law enforcement, those in recovery and those needing help.

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By SAM LOCK and GAVIN BUTLER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

PUBLISHED: 10:59 EDT, 25 June 2018 | UPDATED: 12:13 EDT, 25 June 2018

'I took someone's life. I know what I did - but I've changed': Killers defiantly ask for forgiveness over crimes they committed as young men after being condemned to life behind bars

• Controversial documentary examines two juvenile offenders with life in prison
• Questions of punishment and rehabilitation served to young violent offenders
• Anthony Rolon and Joshua Dohan both 17 when sent to maximum security prison
• 'I've changed and I'm not the same individual,' Rolon claims. 'But I feel ashamed'

The question of how we balance appropriate law, order and punishment to some of the nation's youngest and most violent offenders has arisen again in a controversial documentary program. 

Amid demands for tougher sentencing are the more challenging questions of how we also uphold the possibility of rehabilitation for offenders who were children at the time of their crimes. 

Following the story of two separate and now adult juvenile offenders, the program asks: How much punishment is enough? And do criminals deserve a second chance after decades behind bars? 

Anthony Rolon was sent to a maximum prison at the age of 17.

Rolon, a small-time drug-dealer, murdered a 20-year-old man by stabbing him to death with a knife from his pocket over an argument.

His lawyer described the attack as a 'spur of the moment' decision.

Juvenile advocate Joshua Dohan argued it was an example of 'hot cognition', or an unplanned and out of control attack.

’I killed Bobby Botelho,’ Mr. Roland tells the PBS Frontline program which aired on ABC’s Four Corners program on Monday night.

’I took someone’s life.  I do not back down from that and take full responsibility for my actions at all. I know what I did,’ Roland said.

‘I’ve changed and I’m not the same individual’.

Joe Donovan was also 17 at the time.  He was convicted for holding criminal resonsibility over punching an MIT college student who later died from a stab wound inflicted by another offender.

Both prisoners were sentenced to life behind bars in U.S. prisons for crimes they committed when they were teenagers. 

The program follows the pair as they beg for forgivenes, asking the courts and the victim’s family to give him a second chance.

’There has been the recognition that kids should have the opportunity at some time to demonstrate growth and maturity,’ Marsha Levick from the Juvenile Law Center explained.

But simultaneously she acknowledges the fear within a community when a violent offender is released into a neighborhood.

’There are some people who should never be released,’ argues District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

’There are some crimes, in my opinion, that are deleterious to our community that individuals deserve to go to jail for life.’

Cruz argues that such individuals, no matter their age, made a choice to commit violent crimes.

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By Cody Shepard
The Enterprise

Posted Jun 22, 2018

Police seized two handguns, ammunition and cocaine from the Christy’s Drive apartment.

BROCKTON — A city man was arrested Thursday afternoon when detectives seized two guns, dozens of rounds of ammunition and cocaine from his apartment, police said.

During the month of June, state police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County district attorney’s office conducted an investigation into narcotics distribution in the city.

Police say they identified Brandon Keon Miller as a suspect who was selling cocaine out of a second-floor apartment at 7 Christy’s Drive.

On Wednesday, state police sought and obtained a search warrant for the apartment, which was executed about 1 p.m. on Thursday.

During a search of the apartment, detectives seized a .40-caliber handgun, 9mm handgun, “large amounts of ammunition,” several twists of suspected cocaine, packaging materials consistent with drug distribution and $4,000 in cash, said Beth Stone, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

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Posted Jun 20, 2018 at 4:46 PM

Grad Nite Live would like to thank Scott & Sheila Borstel, District Attorney Tim Cruz and The Molly Fund for years of non-wavering support and generosity, as well as Stephne Haddad, Katheryn Hahn, Julie Snow, Kimberly McMahon & Family, Lizanne Moffatt, and Rusty Apgar for their years of hard work, time, and talent designing GNL! Every year these people are there financially and creatively to help make Grad Nite Live a wondrous, safe and exciting event for our MHS Senior Class.

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June 15, 2018

The Massachusetts Appeals Court upholds a judge’s decision to commit a defendant to the Massachusetts Treatment Center as a sexually dangerous person. Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, spoke with WATD’s Christine James about Lucas Ortiz, the former Duxbury man, who was previously known as Michael P. Nickerson. Ortiz was convicted of multiple sexual assaults on boys between the ages of 11 and 13-years-old starting back in 1992

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Court cites error rate in test used to evaluate offender