Hyde Park teen shot, in serious condition

October 2, 2008

A 17-year-old Hyde Park man was in serious condition last night after he was shot on Hyde Park Avenue, police said. The teenager was shot in the back and the bullet exited through the front of his body, police Superintendent Rafael Ruiz said. Police responded to the scene at 10:30 p.m. and found the victim on the ground between two cars. He was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital, where he was being operated on last night. Police would not release the victim's identity last night. They were searching for a suspect last night.

Federal agents arrested 114 immigrants in Massachusetts in the past four months amid a nationwide crackdown on street gangs. Most of them were here legally. All but one had a criminal record, federal officials said, and most had been convicted of crimes. Their records include arrests for assault and battery on a police officer, armed carjacking, and drug-related offenses, but not necessarily convictions. "Bottom line is that they're a threat to public safety," said Bruce Foucart, of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Boston. Nationwide, a total of 1,759 people were arrested in 28 states under Operation Community Shield, launched in 2005 and pairing federal agents with state and local authorities.

City health authorities have added a second public hearing on their efforts to eliminate cigarette sales at drugstores and on college campuses, a measure that would also extend smoking bans in restaurants and bars to their outdoor patios. A hearing is planned from 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 8, in addition to the originally scheduled hearing from 5 to 7 that evening. The morning session was added to accommodate people who will observe the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur starting at sundown. Both hearings will be in the city's Carter Auditorium at 35 Northampton St. The Boston Public Health Commission also is soliciting written comments on the rules, which received preliminary approval last week. They can be sent by e-mail to boardofhealth@bphc.org or by postal mail to Boston Public Health Commission, Board Office, Attention: Julie Webster, 1010 Massachusetts Ave., Sixth Floor, Boston, 02118. Comments are due by Nov. 3.

The MBTA said it has fired the operator of a Green Line trolley who brought his son and his nephew to work with him on Labor Day. The 45-year-old operator, a seven-year veteran of the authority, had broken several rules relating to passenger safety, said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo. "Primarily, there's a rule called 'attention to duty.' If you're being distracted, then you're not giving the operation of the trolley your full attention," said Pesaturo. Photos taken by a T rider that were publicized by local media showed the boys at the front of the train near the driver about 6:30 p.m. that day. Pesaturo noted that the driver, whose name wasn't released, was suspended three days last year for using his cellphone while operating a trolley.

A Lawrence police officer charged with rape, kidnapping, and indecent assault and battery while on duty and in uniform pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday, the Essex district attorney's office said. Kevin Sledge, 26, of Salem, N.H., was ordered to surrender all firearms and to have no contact with the alleged victim. Judge Thomas Brennan set bail at $10,000 - $90,000 less than prosecutors requested - and imposed a bail warning, meaning that if Sledge gets into further legal trouble while his case is pending, he could be held without bail for up to 60 days. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Oct. 31.

A former Chelsea High School football coach who is now a Chelsea police sergeant was indicted yesterday on charges he looted $10,000 from his football team's Boosters Club. James Atkins, 43, of Revere, is to be arraigned Oct. 22 in Suffolk Superior Court on five counts of larceny in the theft of funds that were raised for the team's activities. He had access to the account as head coach. Atkins has been on administrative leave from the Police Department since the investigation began in 2006. The high school did not renew its coaching contract with Atkins last year. He has since been coaching at Medford.