Police arrest suspect in robbery at shrine

Police in Rhode Island yesterday arrested the 38-year-old Hopedale man who they believe robbed a 77-year-old priest at the Our Lady of Fatima shrine in Holliston last Sunday, the MetroWest Daily News reported on its website. Police in Woonsocket, R.I., arrested Juan C. Cruz after recognizing him from an alert issued by Holliston police, who plan to charge him with unarmed robbery of an elderly person. Police say Cruz swiped a donation box containing $500 from the Rev. Gerard Furlan, and then sprinted through the woods to a waiting van. Furlan was unavailable last night, but a fellow priest at the shrine told the Globe that he hopes Cruz's arrest will discourage anything similar from happening at Our Lady of Fatima. The Rev. Joseph Matteucig also said the priests favor forgiveness and hope that conviction could be a "teaching experience" that will spur a change in the alleged robber. "Maybe God is touching them," he said.

A man was struck by a car and seriously injured yesterday afternoon as he tried to run across busy Route 128, State Police said. The man, who was not identified, was hit about 3 p.m. by a car driven by Nancy Tripp, 49, of Westford, as he attempted to cross the northbound lanes of the highway, police said. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital. Police were investigating, and no charges were filed yesterday, police said.

Two men charged with beating a Worcester man to death during a burglary attempt at his apartment have been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. George Franceshi was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, while Joseph Stewart was sentenced to up to 12 years. They were among six people indicted on murder charges after the July 2006 killing of Billy Lindell, 24. Prosecutors said Randy Jordan, 24, Lindell's former roommate, enlisted the others to help him steal money from Lindell's apartment. Lindell wasn't expected to be home, but he woke up during the burglary and was beaten to death in a struggle. A jury found Jordan innocent of murder in February, but convicted him of unarmed robbery. He was sentenced to up to nine years in prison. (AP)

A tree-destroying beetle that was discovered in Worcester early this month may have been in the city at least five years earlier than federal officials estimated. A local pest control owner, Geoff Ford, says a sample of the Asian longhorned beetle has been in his insect collection since 1997, when someone brought it to him to identify. Federal officials estimated the beetle was in Worcester since 2002 after a scientist examined what appeared to be the most infested tree. If the beetle was in the city five years earlier, the infestation could be further along than thought. Ford's sample looks like the shiny black beetle, which is native to China. But the US Department of Agriculture won't confirm that it is the Asian beetle until it's tested in a Maryland lab. That's expected to happen within a week. (AP)

Authorities are investigating the suspected homicide of a Dover, N.H., man. The attorney general's office says David King of Dover was killed Friday evening. No other details have been released, and authorities say an autopsy has been scheduled for this morning. They are asking anyone who has information about the death to call Dover police. (AP)

New Hampshire Roman Catholic Bishop John McCormack is recovering from heart bypass surgery. The bishop was operated on Friday, and the diocese says he is doing well. Auxiliary Bishop Francis Christian says McCormack experienced some discomfort while exercising, and after an evaluation, underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at Catholic Medical Center. The bishop is expected to be released from the hospital within the next few days. He turned 73 this month. "I know that Bishop McCormack has great confidence in the physicians, nurses, and staff at Catholic Medical Center," Christian said. "I ask that we all join in praying for a speedy recovery for the bishop and that the Lord will guide those who are caring for him." The diocese says McCormack cannot see visitors while in the hospital. It is posting updates on his recovery at www.catholicnh.org. (AP)