slides: Worcester Get Hits With Another Crime Filled Week

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The culture of crime that has been plaguing Worcester may have hit an all-time high (or low) this past week. Shootings, home invasions, major drug crimes and prostitution all bubbled up in Worcester in the past five days.

This is another week of disturbing acts of violence in Worcester. This article is another in a an ongoing series on the issue of crime. In 2014, Worcester had more than 1,700 violent crimes according to FBI crime data.

Per capita, Worcester is the 8th most violent community in the Commonwealth finishing ahead of Boston, Revere, Lynn and Fitchburg - all communities that have a reputation for crime.

For the past six month Worcester has been rocked by episodes of everything from property crimes, to murder.

In 2014, there were six murders reported in Worcester, and this year the number has jumped to eight.

Gemme's Approach

The Police Chief Gary Gemme now issues press releases in response to press questions. After the 8th muder, he wrote in a Department press release, “The area in and around today's homicide is one of the most highly patrolled areas of the city. Any comments to the contrary or that we have not been responsive to the request for police services in the Main South area are absolutely untrue.”

This was his second recent press release of this type recently issued by Gemme.

Range of Crimes in Less than a Week

Below outlines the range of significant crimes that were reported by the Worcester Police Department since last Wednesday.

Related Slideshow: Crimes in Less than a Week in Worcester - December 2015

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Shooting

On Sunday December 6, Worcester Police responded to the area of Gates and Gardner Street.

Police were notified after receiving an "activation from the city’s Shotspotter gun detection system. Based on data presented from Shotspotter there were numerous rounds fired in that area."

Officers looked for potential victims and found two vehicles that were struck.

No injuries were reported at the scene. Investigators contacted local hospitals which had no gunshot victims to report.

The preliminary investigation indicated that a group of males on Gates Street had fired into a passing motor vehicle.

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Robbery and Stabbing

On December 5, Worcester Police were called to Shelby Street for a reported robbery and stabbing. Worcester Police observed a 50-year-old male victim suffering from a stab wound to the chest area. The victim was conscious and alert.

"The victim informed the officers that he was making a food delivery to an address on Shelby Street. When the victim completed his delivery a male suspect approached him as he walked back to his vehicle and tried to grab his money. The victim refused to comply and was stabbed in the chest area. After the stabbing the suspect ran from the scene, last seen on Eastern Avenue heading in the direction of Belmont Street."

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Home Invasion

Also on December 5, Worcester police were called to Tainter Street for a report of a break in progress. Police found two female victims ages 46 and 12. There were no injuries reported.

During the investigation, police learned that two male suspects entered the home through a window.

The males encounter the 12-year-old female and told her to keep quiet. The suspects then proceeded to a bedroom where they found the 46-year-old female sleeping. They held the female down and demanded money. The suspects continued to threaten the female.

The suspects then looked through other rooms in the house. They took some personal items in the home and then fled.

The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, possibly between 20-30 years old, short, skinny and wearing dark clothing and a mask.

The second suspect is described as a Hispanic male, wearing dark clothing with a mask, short, skinny and has dark brown eyes.

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Prostitution

On Wednesday, December 3, members of the Worcester Police Vice Squad conducted a prostitution sting operation.

According to the police report: the operation involved undercover male officers and female decoy officers. The focus of this operation was to target the demand side of the sex trade industry, specifically the men which are more commonly known as “Johns.”

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Drugs and Cash

As GoLocalWorcester reported, on Friday, Miguel Serrano, 36, of 32 Cedar Street in Worcester and Ramon Valerio, 42, of 3 Chrome Street Apt 1 in Worcester have been arrested after Worcester police, with a search warrant, found approximately 175 grams or 1.6 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of $128,000, approximately 175 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of $17,500 and approximately $77,000 in cash on the second floor of 17 Watson Avenue.

Police also seized a 2006 BMW which was operated by Serrano.

The Charges

Serrano was charged with conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws, trafficking in heroin 100-199 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, furnishing a false name, and fugitive from justice warrant.

Valerio has been charged with trafficking in heroin 100-199 grams and trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams.