Police and Fire News

Stormy weather; Ptown jewelry theft; DJ guilty in Ptown incident

Storms deluge parts of Cape
CAPE COD - (Updated 1 a.m. Thursday) Another strong line of storms passed over the Cape around midnight putting on quite a light show. Possible lightning strikes were reported from Sandwich to Yarmouth. An entertainment center may have been "fried" in a Hyannis home. NSTAR was checking scattered outages.

Lines of strong storms have been dumping buckets of rain on parts of the Cape. The system that was responsible for earlier tornado warnings in parts of Bristol and Plymouth counties turned skies very dark over the Outer Cape. Lightning and torrential downpours forced motorists to slow down as they navigated large puddles. One possible lightning strike was reported in Bourne. A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for all of Massachusetts except the Cape until 5 a.m. Unsettled weather will persist into Thursday evening. Cape Wide News will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
Photo by Tim Caldwell.

State trooper killed in crash remembered for Cape rescue
BOURNE - A Massachusets State Trooper killed in an off-duty crash is being remembered for heroic efforts in Bourne. 33-year-old Trooper Gregory K. Porter was killed when his Hyundai Elantra struck a tree in Hingham, MA early Wednesday morning. Back on February 7, 2006 Porter and several other troopers assisted in the rescue of an off-duty Bourne officer from her crashed, burning vehicle. They pulled Wendy Noyes to safety just before flames engulfed the interior of the car. Porter and the other troopers were given Medals of Life Saving. Trooper Porter leaves a wife and two children behind. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Police seek pair after jewelry theft in Provincetown
PROVINCETOWN - Police are looking for two men wanted for an alleged theft of jewelry from a local store. The two reportedly entered Christof's Jewelry on Commercial Street Wednesday afternoon. Sources say one of them distracted the clerk while the other grabbed an unknown amount of jewelry. Police are reportedly reviewing surveillance video to try to identify the suspects.

Pair of teens injured in crash
HYANNIS - Tragedy compounded in Hyannis Wednesday evening. Two teens were injured in a bizarre crash by Blanchard's Liquors. This as they were leaving after a candlelight vigil for their friend Crystal Manchuk who was struck and killed by a car last Saturday night. Police say 17-year-old Tara Tobin was leaving the parking lot and allegedly accelerated up to 60 MPH when her pickup truck struck three parked cars. The impact sending a tire into a fourth car heavily damaging all of them. Tobin and her passenger, 19-year-old Heather Briggs, were taken to Cape Cod Hospital but were likely saved from serious injury by the truck's airbags. Tobin was cited for operating to endanger.

DJ found guilty in Ptown incident
PROVINCETOWN - It took a jury in Orleans District Court less than half an hour to find Boston radio DJ Barry Scott Turkowitz guilty of resisting arrest and disturbing the peace. The charges stem from an incident just over a year ago. Turkowitz, who has an oldies show on WODS and owns property in Provincetown, was hired to DJ a private birthday party at a house on Holway Avenue in Provincetown. After police responded to a third noise complaint Turkowitz allegedly tried to incite the crowd by yelling anti-police remarks. He then allegedly struggled with police and sustained a facial injury. The incident prompted claims of excessive force against police. Turkowitz will not have to serve and time in jail or on probation but will have to pay court costs. His lawyer says they will appeal the verdict.

Trio accused of shoplifting over $1,000 of meat in Sandwich
SANDWICH - Three people were arrested Wednesday, charged with shoplifting over $1,000 worth of meat from the Super Stop & Shop on Route 6A in Sandwich.  Lt. Lynne Gourley was passing the store and noticed a suspicious vehicle on the side of the store just as a call came over the radio saying the store had caught shoplifters. Arrested were 30-year-old Nicole Waidner of Bourne, 37-year-old Stephen Babbin and 27-year-old Jamie Lynne Neto both of Carver. They are scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Barnstable District Court.