Candle may have set South Boston fire

October 11, 2008

A candle may have started a fire that ripped through the third floor of a two-family house in South Boston last night, forcing two children and their father to flee. Steve Schallmo, 36, who lives at the house on Marine Road, was watching his children, ages 6 and 9, while their mother, Kelly McNeil, 33, went to visit a nearby friend. Schallmo said the lights went out and he went upstairs, where he discovered smoke. He said a candle had been burning there. A window was open nearby, and Schallmo said it is possible the candle tipped over. He scooped up the children and escaped safely.

Two of the state's most-wanted sex offenders were arrested yesterday, one after surrendering at a Massachusetts courthouse and the other after being captured by police in Lake Jackson, Texas, the State Police announced. Eric Conalty, 38, wanted in Essex County, was woken by Texas police as he slept on the couch of his parents' home in Lake Jackson. Shayne Sampson, 48, wanted in Worcester County, surrendered to police at Clinton District Courthouse. Both were classified as high-risk Level 3 sex offenders, were named on the State Police's Most Wanted Sex Offenders list released this week, and had failed to register as sex offenders. Sampson is being held without bail for probation violation in Worcester County House of Correction. He has a court date set for Nov. 7. Conalty is being held in Texas.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino was resting comfortably at home yesterday afternoon after surgeons successfully removed two pieces of torn cartilage from his right knee. Menino, who suffered the injury at a Red Sox rally last year, will begin physical therapy next week.

Police Chief John O'Brien announced yesterday that he will retire. O'Brien, 59, was sworn in as police chief in January 2005, but spent a total of 36 years as a police officer in town. As chief, he inherited the high-pressure responsibility of managing policing for a community dubbed the safest city in America. Jeremy Solomon, a spokesman for Mayor David Cohen, said O'Brien continued a level of excellence throughout his tenure as chief, including a second safest city award for the city. Newton has formed a search committee to find O'Brien's replacement. O'Brien's last day as chief has not yet been announced.

A Westfield man survived a car accident with a moose on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Brimfield early yesterday morning, State Police said. Alan Cook was driving a Ford pickup truck at around 4 a.m. when a moose walked into the highway, said Lieutenant David Wilson, a State Police spokesman. Cook hit the animal and killed it. Cook's truck was damaged, but he was not hurt Wilson said.

An Attleboro man pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that he tried to abduct a 13-year-old boy. Police say Mark Rantanen, 46, grabbed the boy near his home Thursday morning and dragged him into the woods. The teenager broke free and called his father, who then called police. The boy suffered minor injuries. Rantanen was arrested a short time later. He was arraigned in Attleboro District Court on kidnapping and assault and battery charges. He was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail. (AP)

Rhode Island's Roman Catholic bishop says federal lawmakers are taking a step in the right direction by proposing legislation that protects the rights of US citizens and legal residents who get caught up in immigration enforcement raids. The bill was proposed by Senators Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Bishop Thomas Tobin said yesterday that while he has not read the full bill, he supports efforts to address problems during raids. (AP)