Man is stabbed to death; arrest made

A man said to be in his 30s was stabbed to death yesterday during a fight on Dale Street in Roxbury, police said. The man, who was not identified, was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to police. Shortly after, police arrested a suspect, David Copeland, 29, of Roxbury. He will be arraigned today in Roxbury District Court. Police said Copeland was arrested based on a witness's description. Police are looking for other witnesses to come forward. The first 911 calls were made at about 2:20 p.m.

Six months after the Globe reported that the disability applications of dozens of Boston firefighters had languished for years before the Boston Retirement Board, while firefighters waited out the process on injury leave, Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser is asking the board why it has not finished the process. Fraser sent a letter to the board last week asking for the status on 51 applications filed more than six months ago and 20 filed more than 18 months ago. The Globe reported in January that a sampling of disability applications between 2001 and 2007 lingered an average of 23 months before being approved or denied, costing the city millions of dollars each year. Boston pays firefighters their full salaries, tax-free, while awaiting results of their applications. State law requires applications to be processed within six months.

Divers discovered the body of a teenager who went missing while swimming in the Westfield River, State Police Lieutenant Eric Anderson said yesterday. The youth, whose name was not released, was reported missing while swimming near the Woronoco Mill dam Monday. Authorities in Russell said friends called for help around 7 p.m. Police said teenagers often swim in the area, although it is considered private property and off-limits to swimming.

Police are investigating whether a lethal batch of heroin was responsible for three suspected fatal overdoses in New Bedford within a one-week period. Toxicology results to determine the exact cause of death are still pending. A 39-year-old New Bedford woman was found dead in a home on July 19. Five days later, the body of a 24-year-old Swampscott man was found in a wooded area at Riverside Park. The following day, a 31-year-old New Bedford woman was found dead in a hotel room. Lieutenant Jeffrey Silva, a police spokesman, said investigators are trying to determine whether there are any connections between the deaths. (AP)

Amtrak said a woman was struck and killed on the tracks in New Haven, temporarily halting train service along the Connecticut shoreline. The woman's identity has not been released, but Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said she was not a rail worker or other person authorized to be on the tracks. The woman died when she was hit by a Shore Line East commuter train carrying 12 to 15 passengers around 2:30 p.m. yesterday. No other injuries were reported. The accident was under investigation. (AP)

A Pawtucket man faces animal cruelty charges after a Chihuahua puppy was thrown from a third-story window. Israel Gomez was arraigned Monday in Providence District Court on charges of disorderly conduct and unnecessary cruelty to animals. He pleaded not guilty. The dog is now at the city's animal shelter and is expected to recover. Neighbors told WJAR-TV that the dog, Honey, belongs to Gomez's girlfriend. (AP)

A cleaning company whose workers were caught up in a federal immigration raid has lost its bid to keep more than two dozen state contracts. The Providence Journal reports that Tri-State Enterprises asked a Superior Court judge for a temporary restraining order blocking the administration of Governor Donald L. Carcieri from canceling the contracts. Judge Patricia Hurst said she could not order the state to open its doors to workers whose immigration status cannot be verified. The Department of Administration terminated contracts with Tri-State and Falcon Maintenance after authorities arrested 31 suspected illegal immigrants. (AP)