Woman reports assault in the North End

June 12, 2008

A woman was sexually assaulted in the North End early yesterday morning, police said. The victim told police that a man, who appeared to be in his late 20s, grabbed her from behind and sexually assaulted her near the corner of Richmond and Fulton streets around 3:15 a.m. After a short struggle, the suspect fled, the victim told police. The suspect was described as about 5-foot-8 with a medium-to-thin build and dark blond hair, wearing a navy or black baseball hat, a white tank top, and dark shorts and shoes.

A police officer was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing a Roslindale gas station in January. Prosecutors said Michael Jones, 44, who was off-duty at the time, ordered the owner of the gas station outside at gunpoint and then grabbed money after forcing the cashier to open the register. The station was located at the corner of Washington and Albano streets. Jones, a 20-year veteran of the force, was also accused of holding a gun to another person's stomach and demanding cash. He was arrested a short time later, after witnesses gave his license plate number to police. In addition to the two years in prison, a Suffolk Superior Court judge also sentenced Jones to four years of probation and mandatory drug, alcohol, and mental health treatment. (AP)

An explosion in a laboratory at MIT injured a graduate student working on a project early yesterday evening, officials said. The student, who was not identified, was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with a hand injury, said Frank Pasquarello, spokesman for the Cambridge Police Department. He said there did not appear to be any damage to the lab or the building, which an MIT spokeswoman identified as Building 16. The building was expected to reopen last night, said Pamela Dumas Surfes.

Merrimack College has named Ronald Champagne, president of Saint Xavier University in Chicago for 12 years, to be its next president. Champagne will take the helm at the private, Catholic college Aug. 1 and is expected to serve at least two years as the North Andover school searches for a long-term successor. The Rev. Joseph D. Calderone, who had served as Merrimack's interim president since January, will return to his former position at Villanova University Law School.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is giving away free bus tickets to people having trouble with the rising cost of gas. Bishop Thomas Tobin says the diocese has heard from people who cannot afford to drive to work, the grocery store, or doctor's appointments. The diocese bought 1,000 booklets from the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, each with 10 one-way tickets. The tickets will be available at diocesan satellite offices starting today to people who can prove they need them. (AP)

A Revere man pleaded not guilty yesterday to a charge of assault and battery on a person over 60, a Revere city councilor. Police say Councilor Ira Novoselsky, 61, was hit by Andrew Alves, 19, Tuesday as Novoselsky took pictures while investigating complaints about late-night construction noise at a Beach Street property. Police say Alves told Novoselsky to stop taking pictures, slapped the camera out of his hand, and then punched the councilor, who fell to the ground and cut his head on the concrete. He has been hospitalized with a fractured skull. (AP)

A man accused of slowly poisoning his wife with antifreeze is set to go on trial. Jury selection in the case of James Keown began yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court. Prosecutors allege Keown slowly poisoned his wife, Julie, to death in 2004 by lacing her Gatorade with antifreeze. (AP)