Police try to identify dead body

Boston police homicide detectives are investigating the discovery of a body found yesterday afternoon in a backyard of a home on Dewey Street in Dorchester. The victim, who authorities described as a black male in his 20s, appeared to have been shot. Police said there was no positive identification of the victim, but said they are investigating whether the body was of a 21-year-old Roxbury man reported missing on Jan. 24. Detectives asked that anyone with information call 617-343-4470 or leave an anonymous tip at 800-494-TIPS.

LEXINGTON

A passenger was killed and the driver was seriously injured in a crash Friday night on Route 2 westbound in Lexington. State Police said a 17-year-old male was driving a 2000 Audi sedan in the left lane when he lost control . The vehicle veered off the right shoulder, rolling over and striking a tree. The passenger, Andrew Stone , 18, of Lexington, died from his injuries. The name of the driver wasn't released.

UXBRIDGE

A 41-year-old Uxbridge man was arrested Friday after an Internet sex sting. Police said Fred C. Newhall III posted an advertisement seeking a high school junior or senior to clean his house. Auburn police, along with State Police and Worcester County detectives, responded to the ad, posing as an underage girl . Newhall allegedly drove to Auburn with condoms and alcohol, and was taken into custody where he had arranged the meeting. Newhall faces a variety of charges, including attempted rape of a child, enticing a minor under 16 for sex, inducing a minor into prostitution, delivering liquor to a person under 21, and resisting arrest. He is being held on $5,000 cash bail, and will be arraigned tomorrow in Worcester.

REHOBOTH

A police chase ended in a confrontation in Rehoboth , authorities said. Officers pursued Charles T. Lane , 36, of Taunton, at about 3 a.m. yesterday on Route 44 in East Providence, R.I. A "stop stick" disabled the front tires, causing Lane to pull into a shopping plaza parking lot. Lane then allegedly drove his car into police cruisers and toward several officers. Rehoboth police Lieutenant Bruce Dube fired his gun, striking the suspect's vehicle. Lane then fled west on Route 44. Lane 's vehicle was stopped nearby and he was apprehended after a struggle. Lane faces numerous charges, including several counts of assault with intent to murder and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. He is being held in Bristol County jail on $75,000 bail.

LAS VEGAS

A Massachusetts man accused of bilking elderly residents out of $2 million and spending it on cars and gambling was ordered Friday to return to Massachusetts for a federal court appearance. John A. Baldo, 38, of Andover, was released without bond. He's scheduled to appear in US District Court in Boston tomorrow. Baldo was arrested at the Las Vegas airport on Thursday. He faces wire fraud charges. Prosecutors allege Baldo cheated several elderly people in Massachusetts and Connecticut out of $2 million that he spent on luxury cars, jewels, $5,000-a-day visits to a local strip club, and gambling trips to Las Vegas. (AP)

CANTON

The Blue Hills Ski Area reopened yesterday after the private operator of the state-owned facility found new liability insurance coverage. A lawsuit by an injured skier required the ski area's former insurer to put aside $200,000 to meet a possible claim. When a new insurer took over the policy, it opted not to renew the liability insurance earlier this month. Al Endriunas, who co-owns Ragged Mountain Resort, the company that operates Blue Hills, said he spent three days talking to insurers. "It was a huge break," he said, after finding another carrier . "There was a lot of people who tried to come out and help us here." (AP)

HARTFORD

Connecticut lawmakers are considering joining several other states in requiring health clubs to have defibrillators , a measure that advocates say could save lives. A bill pending before a legislative committee would require fitness centers to have at least one of the devices on site in case a visitor or employee goes into cardiac arrest and needs immediate help. The devices, which cost between $1,000 and $3,000 each, read a patient's vital signs when pads are placed on the person's chest. Many models speak to the rescuer, telling the person when to push a button that delivers a shock to revive or regulate the heart rate. (AP)