MA Pours Money into Worcester to Combat Crime and Provide Treatment

Thursday, February 18, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Gang Violence has been one of the biggest concerns in Worcester

In the past few weeks, Commonwealth Official have targeted Worcester region with more than $800,000 in funding to fight gang violence and combat and treat opioid epidemic. A total of three six figure grants are providing funds for two issues that have plagued Worcester over the past two years.

The problems have been so serious that City Council members have called for changed strategies and even State Police intervention. After a two-year old was founded in a shooting,

Council members weighed in, “I know that the public doesn’t want to hear about data. They don’t want to hear about statistics. They want a resolution and an immediate response to what appears to be an escalated problem," said City Councilor Konnie Lukes in August. "We can’t go day after day hearing about gun violence and gang rivalries without there being a dramatic and visible response. And so far, we haven’t done that.”

City Councilor Morris Bergman said after the shooting, “I think it’s more of an impatience, then it is that the strategy isn’t correct. We can live with the strategy, but we need to see the results quicker.”

The Impact of State Funding

“Monitoring the activity of gang-involved youth and other high impact players by police, prosecutors, probation officers, and other officers of the court can result in significant disruption of criminal activity,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety Dan Bennett.

Governor Baker. “By using a multidimensional approach that employs a full range of diverse and effective techniques these communities have empowered themselves to make a serious impact on youth violence and gang activity.”

Narcan Treatment

Opioid Treatment

In the effort to combat crime related to opioid usage and to provide greater resources for emergency treatment, two Worcester area agencies received six figure grants. A GoLocal series of article unveiled that the City of Worcester trailed other Commonwealth cities in adopting best policies for porviding Narcan to first responders.

“These grant awards are great news for families across the state that have been negatively affected by drug use in their communities,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “The Massachusetts State Police and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office will now be able to purchase an additional 1,100 doses of Naloxone (Narcan), which will help to reduce the number of overdose deaths associated with prescription opioid and heroin abuse.”

Worcester County - Middle District Attorney’s Office received $105,981 and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department another $189,968. Nearly $300,000 targeted for treatment in the region and Worcester County received the second most amount of dollars — only Essex County receive more in total dollars or per capita.

Both the Commonwealth and the White House are joining in the effort to combat the overdose epidemic. Two week's ago, Congressman Jim McGovern gave words of strong support to the announcement that President Obama's FY 2017 budget includes $1.1 billion in funding to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting families in Massachusetts and all over the country.

President Obama has proposed $1.1 billion in funding to combat opiod abuse

“(the) announcement that President Obama’s budget will dedicate more than $1 billion to address the opioid epidemic is a critical step in this fight. In the past year, I have worked tirelessly to make sure the voices of Massachusetts families are heard in Washington, co-sponsoring three different bills and joining my House Colleagues to call on Administration officials to ensure all of our communities are receiving the federal funds needed to address this crisis," said Congressman McGovern.

This winter, Massachusetts Medical Society President Dennis Dimitri, M.D. has stated that the opioid Crisis is the society's number one issue.

Dimitri said, “it's not just an addiction crisis, it’s also a pain medicine issue. In trying to end the overdose epidemic, we cannot forget our patients who suffer from acute or chronic pain every day, and depend on opioid medications to manage it.”

Related Slideshow: See the List: The Where, When and Why of 12 Gang Member Arrests

GoLocalWorcester was unable to obtain arrest records for the following gang members and associates:

George Russell, 18, of 12 Ashton Street, Apartment 1, Worcester
Patrice Bennet, 26, of 7 Russell Street, Apartment 1, Worcester
Tamra Nicacio, 20, of 43 Franklin Terrace, Southbridge
Juvenile of Worcester

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Christian Martinez

Age: 20

Address: 98 Piedmont Street, Apartment 802 Worcester

Jennings and Martinez were involved in a large fight with weapons on Canterbury Street. WPD officers caught the pair along with three others, including a 15-year-old male, that were charged with trespassing.

During the arrests, officers were able to obtain two firearms.

Date of Arrest: April 27, 2015

Charges: Possession of Firearm without an FID Card, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace and Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License.

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Lewis Jennings

Age: 24

Address: 1 Avalon Drive, Northborough

During the arrests, officers were able to obtain two firearms.

Date of Arrest: April 27, 2015

Charges: Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card, Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Possession of a Large Capacity Weapon or Feeding Device, Resisting Arrest, Receiving Stolen Property over $250 and Trespassing.

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Steven Price

Age: 19

Address: 39 Gibbs Street, Worcester

In response to a Shotspotter alert, a Worcester police officer found Price on Standish Street. Price was arrested and a 9 MM handgun was confiscated. See full details here: Steven Price

Date of Arrest: April 27, 2015

Charges: Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling, Possession of Large Capacity Firearm, Possession of a Firearm without and FID Card, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card and Possession of a Firearm with Defaced Serial Numbers.

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Devonte Barnes

Age: 19

Address: 2 Turner Avenue, Apartment 1, Worcester

Barnes was with a 15-year-old student from Burncoat High when he was arrested by WPD School Liaison officers.

The liaison officers were able to obtain loaded .22 caliber high capacity firearm from Barnes. See full details here: Devonte Barnes

Date of Arrest: April 29, 2015

Charges: 4 counts of Armed Assault with Intent to Murder, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling, Unlawfully Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm, Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device and Possession of Ammunition without an FID.

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Michael Ruiz

Age: 26

Address: 14 Ellis Drive, Apartment 2, Worcester

Ruiz was arrested following a fight in the middle of Water Street. Officers found a loaded semi-automatic firearm and five rounds. See full details here: Michael Ruiz

Date of Arrest: August 9, 2015

Charges: Seven (7) counts of Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

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Jonathan Luciano

Age: 21

Address: 155 Mill Street, Apartment 2, Worcester

During a traffic stop due failure to use a turn signal, both Luciano and a second member on this list were pulled over. When the driver of the car reached for his registration, a firearm fell out. WPD seized then gun and both men were arrested. See full details here: Jonathan Luciano

Date of Arrest: August 11, 2015

Charges: Defacing the Serial Number of a Firearm and Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License.

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Justin Hammond

Age: 18

Address: 47 Grosvenor Street, Apartment 3R, Worcester

Hammond, along with two other known gang members on this list, were arrested following a Gang Unit investigation. WPD officers seized a handgun, pellet gun and large knife following a vehicle stop. Full full details, click here: Justin Hammond

Date of Arrest: August 25, 2015

Charges: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card and Carrying a Firearm without a License.

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Terrence Kenol

Age: 18

Address: 22 Washburn Street, Apartment 1, Worcester

Date of Arrest: August 25, 2015

For full details, see Justin Hammond above.

Charges: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card and Carrying a Firearm without a License.

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Jeremiah Perez

Age: Jeremiah Perez

Address: 8 Henshaw Street, Apartment 3, Worcester

For full details, see Justin Hammond above.

Date of Arrest: August 25, 2015

Charges: Possession of Firearm/Ammunition without an FID Card and Carrying a Firearm without a License.

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Daniel Grajales

Age: 26

Address: 7 S Buffum Street, Worcester

Grajales crashed his motorcycle trying to flee from police. He was found to have a handgun on his person. See full details here: Daniel Grajales

Date of Arrest: August 30, 2015

Charges: Four counts of Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Failing to Keep Safe Distance when Passing, Motorcycle Passing Vehicle in Same Lane, Failure to Stop for Emergency Vehicle, Speeding, Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License (3rd offense), Operating Negligently so as to Endanger and Illegally Attaching Stolen License Plates. Mr. Grajales will also be charged with being an Armed Career Criminal.

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Joshua Castro

Age: 19

Address: 47 Park Terrace Road, Apartment 2, Worcester

Castro and Carasquillo were arrested and found responsible for a home invasion on Plum Street off of Shrewsbury Street that occurred on August 31. The pair robbed in the people living in the home and assaulted them. See full details here: Joshua Castro

Date of Arrest: September 4, 2015

Charges: 2 counts of Home Invasion, 2 counts of Armed Robbery, Carrying a Firearm Unlawfully, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Unlawfully, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Dwelling, Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (firearm), 2 counts of Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (firearm), Carrying a Firearm Unlawfully, Carrying a Loaded Firearm Unlawfully, Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (firearm), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Improper Storage of a Firearm and Resisting Arrest.