Medford man convicted of fatal beating

State Police have announced they will help Springfield police stem an increase in violent crime in the city. David Procopio, State Police spokesman, said yesterday that eight members of the Community Action Team will begin two weeks of joint patrols with local officers to combat shootings, firebombings, and other violent crimes that have residents on edge. The team will reinforce the State Police gang and fugitive apprehension units that are already working to arrest people on outstanding warrants and identify gang members. (AP)

Police searched yesterday for a man accused of briefly kidnapping a woman at a supermarket in Fairhaven last week. They said Eugene Fernandes, 45, of Wareham entered the car of a 43-year-old woman in a supermarket parking lot and forced her to drive him around. During the ride of about 30 minutes, he suggested he was armed, police said. “He had her drive by a few locations, but they never stopped,’’ said Police Chief Michael Myers. At one point, the suspect forced the vehicle into park, removed the ignition key, and took the victim’s cellphone. Eventually she snatched her phone back and ran across the street for help as the suspect fled. Fernandes is charged with kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, breaking and entering into a motor vehicle, threats to commit a crime, and destruction of property. He has a lengthy criminal history in Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Wareham, according to police.

Former state Representative Patrick Natale, 41, of Woburn was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery Oct. 12, said Ralph Coakley, Woburn police public information officer. Natale’s wife, Joyce, 39, filed the charges, Coakley said. Natale represented the 30th Middlesex district from 2004 to 2008. Police did not have further details, and Natale could not be reached for comment.

A judge has sentenced a 72-year-old Bourne man to serve nine to 12 years in state prison for stabbing his wife to death in 2006. Barnstable Superior Court Judge Richard Connon also sentenced William Romero to serve 20 years of probation yesterday, a month after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Prosecutors said Romero killed his wife, Elaine, by stabbing her 45 times in October 2006. Romero was initially charged with murder. In court Tuesday, Romero admitted he stabbed his wife, but said he was defending himself. (AP)

A Winthrop man pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges of making a false distress call and false statements to the US Coast Guard, said acting US Attorney Michael K. Loucks. John Michael D’Addieco, 21, called 911 from his cellphone in September 2007 while on a cruise ship in Boston Harbor, according to a statement from Loucks’s office. He claimed his name was Tim, that he was on a 27-foot boat called the Nothing But Trouble near the Boston Light lighthouse, and that it was sinking with four passengers aboard. After a four-hour search, Coast Guard officials determined no boat was sinking. D’Addieco told investigators that someone had borrowed his phone and placed the call.