Northeastern building briefly evacuated

October 12, 2008

An apparent false alarm called in last night at Northeastern University's Egan Research Center prompted the city police and fire departments to shut down Forsyth Street, which runs through Northeastern's campus, from the Ruggles MBTA Station to Huntington Avenue. The Egan building and neighboring Snell Engineering Center were evacuated, said university spokesman James Chiavelli. Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said the department's hazardous materials squad responded to a report of an explosion and chemical spill at 7:30 p.m. An hour later, inspectors determined there had been no explosion or spill, but there had been a non-threatening leak from a compressed air tank, he said. No injuries were reported.

A teenager caught trying to sneak through a turnstile at Ashmont Station in Dorchester was arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a firearm and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon after officers found a loaded pistol on him, the MBTA said yesterday. Cristobal Garcia, 19, of Roxbury, was stopped by MBTA police officers Andrew Galonzka and Amanda Barouk about 8 p.m. Friday after they saw him follow another person through the fare gates when his CharlieCard was not read successfully, said T spokesman Joe Pesaturo. He said Galonzka asked Garcia whether he was carrying any weapons and Garcia admitted to carrying a knife. The officers then found a black semiautomatic handgun, loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, tucked in his waistband in a pat-down, said Pesaturo.

The mayors of Boston and three Florida cities have more on the line in the American League Championship Series than a trip to the World Series for their home teams. Mayor Rick Baker of St. Petersburg and Mayor Thomas M. Menino each issued friendly challenges in the best-of-seven series. Menino wagered a New England lobster bake with clam chowder, corn on the cob, and Boston cream pie. Baker, Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater, and Mayor Pam Iorio of Tampa have offered a Florida beach picnic that includes key lime pie and Florida orange juice. (AP)

More than a dozen people were displaced after a three-alarm fire tore through a three-family home in Salem yesterday, authorities said. No injuries were reported. The second and third floors of the Boston Street residence were heavily damaged, Salem Fire Captain John Payne said, adding that the fire also damaged the side of an adjacent house. The cause of the fire, which began at about 12:30 a.m., was being investigated.

The effort to find every tree in Worcester and surrounding towns infested with a destructive Asian beetle is expected to accelerate next week. Thirty-two tree climbers and 16 ground surveyors will cover Worcester and surrounding towns - Holden, Boylston, West Boylston, and Shrewsbury - looking for the Asian longhorned beetle. Inspectors have found 1,500 infested trees in Worcester. All infested trees must be cut down and chipped up. The beetle bores dime-size holes in hardwood trees, eventually killing them. (AP)

Four people have been charged in a home invasion in which intruders smashed their way into a house, terrorized a resident, and destroyed property. Police say more arrests are expected in Concord and in Lynn, Mass., where detectives arrested two people Friday. Justin Pinchinat, 19, of Lynn, and a 16-year-old are being held on fugitive from justice charges. Also on Friday, police in Concord arrested Shane Liane, 17, of Concord. A fourth person, Andrew Greene, 17, of Concord, was arrested in August. Police say that about 2 a.m. on April 5, intruders smashed through sliding glass doors to get into the home, intending to assault someone they believed might be there. The person was not home. Police say the intruders smashed property, broke into a locked bedroom, and terrorized another resident before stealing items and running off. (AP)