Use of police cameras will be curtailed

A teenager was in critical condition yesterday after falling 70 feet at an abandoned mill in Lowell, police said. Christopher O’Leary, 18, of Dracut was on the roof of the abandoned Abbey Shoe Corp. building with two friends, Nicholas Limberopoulos, 19, of Pelham, N.H., and David Sayer, 19, of Dracut. Police said O’Leary fell down a chimney shaft and was found in the basement. He was listed in critical condition with internal injuries at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Authorities have warned residents about a black bear seen in the city. Police posted a lighted sign Wednesday that said, “Black bear sighted in the area,’’ after a resident reported spotting a juvenile bear estimated at 200 pounds in his yard. Police told The Eagle-Tribune that officers saw the animal wander back into the woods. They are asking residents to take in bird feeders, garbage containers, and other food sources to minimize the chance of attracting the animal. (AP)

Two people were killed, and three were seriously injured in a crash on Interstate 495 Wednesday night, State Police said. A male passenger, Venkat Reddy Enukonda, 43, of India, was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger, Bhagya Lakshimi Beeram, 51, also of India, who was ejected from the car, was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Two passengers, Sankarsh Reddy, 28, of Ruston, La., and Sripal Enukonda of West Haven, Conn., and the driver, Ramkishor Sadu, 29, also of West Haven, had serious injuries. None of the five were wearing seatbelts, State Police said.

A teacher at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton was named Teacher of the Year by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Eric Nash, a 25-year veteran science teacher, is now the state’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year. The award is given annually to an exceptionally dedicated teacher who has the admiration of students, teachers, administrators, and the community. (AP)

A Chicago man accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl he met on the Internet has lost his bid for bail. A federal judge refused to release Mani Batchu, 29, Wednesday after prosecutors said he groomed an Amherst girl by sending romantic cards and gifts. Authorities say he lied about his age. The girl’s mother told the judge her daughter was brainwashed. Batchu’s lawyer said his client and the girl “genuinely care’’ for each other. Batchu is charged with transporting a minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity. (AP)

A Marine corporal from New Hampshire charged with killing his wife in North Carolina said in a 911 call that he had written a suicide note describing what happened. But news reports said Cody D. Richardson, 22, of Wolfeboro said in the call Monday that he could not bring himself to commit suicide. Police found him outside his apartment and his wife, Jessy, dead in the bedroom. A death certificate says she was strangled. (AP)