Vehicle crashes into Four Seasons lobby

October 29, 2006

A maroon Range Rover crashed through the front window and into the lobby of The Four Seasons Hotel about 11:30 last night. The driver was a hotel employee retrieving the vehicle for a guest who was attending a function, according to spokeswoman Regan Dillon. Witnesses said a male driver was taken out of the vehicle and away from the hotel on a stretcher. Hotel General Manager Bill Taylor said in a statement that two people were taken to a hospital, but they were not identified. The injuries were not life-threatening, according to Dillon. Shattered glass, loose bricks, and debris littered the hotel valet area where bystanders gathered, some taking photos with cellphones.

Two men who allegedly passed themselves off as Massachusetts state troopers will be arraigned tomorrow on charges of conning money from 62 people under the pretenses of raising money for a slain Manchester, N.H., police officer. Police arrested Richard Acevedo, 40, and Ralph Gaskell, 54, of East Boston Friday after a Havre Street resident informed police about the pair, who were found with cash and checks made out to the Massachusetts State Police, as well as a ledger that detailed the names, addresses, and "donation" amounts for each victim. According to the Police Department, Acevedo and Gaskell used a fake State Police business card in their scam. Charges include impersonation of a police officer, larceny by false pretenses, and entry by false pretenses. Area residents who believe they may have been victimized are urged to contact the Boston Police Department District 7 at 617-343-4220.

Police arrested three men early yesterday in connection with the stabbing of a 23 -year-old Hyde Park man, who was found near the Foggy Goggle on Boylston Street. The victim, who was not identified, was stabbed in the stomach just before 1 a.m., police said. Jose Ramos , 31 , of Framingham was charged with assault with intent to murder, assault and battery, and two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. Fernando Mendez , 20 , of Framingham, and Jermaine White , 26 , of Roxbury, face assault charges. The victim was in serious condition at Brigham's and Women's Hospital, police said.

A Dorchester mother was arrested Friday after she allegedly assaulted school police officers. After officers at the Frederick Middle School attempted to break up a fight between a group of students, police say, Beverly Sostre , 30 , verbally and physically abused officers and accused them of harassing her children. She was charged with disorderly conduct, threats, and assault and battery.

WAKEFIELD

A four-alarm blaze at a Yale Avenue house Friday night claimed the life of Phillip Freethy, an 88-year-old former radio repairman. Fire Chief David Parr said emergency calls from neighbors were received at 8:59 p.m., but the "fire had quite a head start" by the time firefighters arrived at Freethy's three-story home. Parr said he believed the fire started on the first floor and spread to the second floor. Firefighters located Freethy on the first floor in a hallway, Parr said. He was transported to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital , where he was pronounced dead. Parr said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but he believes it was accidental. He said there were working smoke detectors in the home.

MASSACHUSETTS

Episcopal clergy in Massachusetts will continue to marry couples -- for now at least. At a convention yesterday, delegates voted 324 to 43 to embark on a comprehensive study of both Christian and civil marriages. No time period has been set for the study, diocese spokeswoman Maria Plati said. The delegates voted to table an earlier proposal that called upon the clergy to stop signing marriage licenses. Although gays and lesbians have been able to marry in Massachusetts since May 2004, the Episcopal Church does not permit same-sex marriage, so only heterosexual couples have been able to take part in the church's marriage rites. Several weeks ago, some church leaders suggested that clergy should stop signing marriage licenses.

More than 63 years after their B-25 bomber was shot down over New Guinea in World War II, Joseph Berube and Robert Hale were properly laid to rest. The plane was struck by Japanese gunfire and crashed into a tree-lined beach that was occupied by the Japanese Army at the time. In 2001, government officials told Normand Berube that his brother's remains might have been found, but it was not until last month that Joseph Berube's remains were positively identified by DNA testing. Joseph Berube, who was born in 1918, was buried yesterday at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Natick. Hale was buried in Rowley.