Episode Transcript
[00:00:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Wednesday, December 3rd. A fire under a porch was quickly extinguished by Quincy firefighters last night. Police say the fire was reported that at 36 Winthrop street on Howes Neck just before 9:30 last night. Fire was under a rear porch of the single family home and was put out quickly. No one was hurt. The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office is issuing a scam warning after a quincy woman lost $10,000 to scammers who convinced her she had an issue reporting for jury duty. The scam came to light on Monday when the woman came to the sheriff's office in Dedham and reporting that she had a summons for jury duty. When she was informed that police in the sheriff's office would not make such a call demanding money, she told them she'd already deposited money in bitcoin machines at two separate locations. $5,000 each time. In these types of scams, callers will attempt to convince targets that they're at risk of arrest for things like missed jury duty or outstanding warrants and demand immediate payment to resolve the issue. Federal and state courts will never call and request this kind of information or payment over the phone. Communication typically comes by mail, nor for County Sheriff Pat McDermott, says his office will never call people demanding money and that anyone receiving such a call should hang up and report it to police or his office. This type of scam is is common, McDermott said. In the past few months, victims in Weymouth, Sharon and Dedham have lost more than $50,000. If you do receive this kind of call, do not give out any personal or financial information, do not send money, buy gift cards or transfer any kind of funds through a bitcoin kiosk.
[00:02:18] A Holbrook man arrested early Sunday after allegedly driving drunk and speeding with two small children in the car, 34 year old Milton Duarte was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, his third offense, operating under the influence of alcohol with a suspended license, child endangerment while operating under the influence and other motor vehicle infractions. According to Cohasset police, Duarte was traveling 61 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone just after 1am Sunday when he initially failed to stop for officers and crossed over the town line into Scituate. He eventually pulled over on Chief Justice Cushing highway near Booth Hill Road. Investigators say Duarte had an open bottle of tequila inside the car and Two children, ages 5 and 9, who were not properly restrained in a car seat. According to police, Duarte showed clear signs of impairment and failed a field sobriety test. He was taken to custody, Bail said at $5,000. He was held until Monday morning. The children were safely taken to the Cohasset Police Department. Their mother later took them into custody. A mandated report was filed with the Department of Children and Families.
[00:03:41] A Rhode island man is charged in a Duxbury armed robbery that took place on Sunday after police tracked him via the Apple watch he allegedly stole. A woman who was with him, also from Rhode island, was also arrested. Happened Sunday about 2:30pm Duxbury police got a report of suspicious activity at a disturbance on Arrowhead Road right near the town's Holidays Trolley tour event. The male victim told police he was walking down the street when he was approached by a male brandishing a box cutter who had exited a tan sedan with Rhode island plates. Suspect allegedly pressed the box cutter against the victim and demanded everything. The victim, who was not hurt, gave the suspect his apple watch and red jacket. Suspect reportedly fled the scene in the sedan, which was being driven by a woman. The vehicle, which police later learned had been reported stolen out of Rhode island and the suspects match the description of those involved in similar crimes that occurred earlier Sunday in Plymouth and Kingston. Through the victim's Find My app, police were able to track the suspect's location to a gas station in Pembroke where both suspects were arrested. Police also said they recovered numerous stolen items from the vehicle, although the details of the items were not released. 37 year old Fernando Torres of Providence pleading not guilty to armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and other charges and 29 year old Victoria Lambert from Warwick is also charged with being an accessory. Torres remains in custody. It is due back in Plymouth District Court for a detention hearing tomorrow.
[00:05:33] Jurors in the Brian Walsh murder trial were presented with electronic evidence yesterday in the first full day of testimony following opening statements earlier this week. 50 year old Walsh is accused of killing his wife. Anna was last seen in early 2023. Prosecutors displayed never before seen photos of Anna's boots, jacket and a COVID 19 vaccination card that police found in a trash bag in a dumpster. Jurors were also shown pictures of what Cohasset Police Sgt. Harrison Schmidt said was a cut on Brian Walsh's thumb. The jury heard audio of police interviews recorded in January 2020, three days after Anna's disappearance, in which Walsh denied hurting his wife and said that they were, quote, always going to be together. In his testimony he described a series of searches he said were found on Walsh's computer from the day they believe Anna was killed, which included six ways to dispose of a body, best way to dispose of body parts after murder and can you be charged with murder without a body?
[00:06:43] The sergeant said the last searches before New Year's Day were about divorce and a cheating wife. Prosecutors believe Anna was romantically involved with a man in Washington, D.C. where she worked. Defense attorney Larry Tipton pushed back on the alleged motive, saying the words cheating wife or in the title of a pornographic video Walsh was watching at the time. Testimony is set to continue this morning at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham.
[00:07:13] Well after months of speculation, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley said this week that she would not run for Senate but instead seek re election to the House next year. Presley broke the news in an interview with the Boston Globe, saying that she could potentially run for Senate in the future.
[00:07:31] Presley represents much of Boston and is one of the more notable progressive voices in Congress. Senator Ed Markey will be 80 on election day and is seeking another six year term. Representative Seth Moulton, the center left Democrat who represents multiple North Shore communities, seized the opening and announced his challenge to Markey in October. Moulton's arguing that Markey's age is a disqualifying factor and and that the party needs to break up with its, quote, status quo. Presley is a former Boston City Council member who was first elected to the house in 2018.
[00:08:08] Since then she's advocated for a number of progressive causes like abortion rights, student debt cancellation and climate resilience.
[00:08:18] The North Quincy High School Photo Sale fundraiser for Boston Children's Hospital is today.
[00:08:26] The 15th annual celebration of the Arts features original framed works of art for sale along with raffle tickets for gift cards and gift baskets donated by local restaurants and businesses. The sale runs from 5:30 to 7pm today at North Quincy High School and all proceeds go to Boston Children's Hospital.
[00:08:48] Poor weather delayed the opening of Quincy's free skating rink this week. The rink was set to open for the season on Monday, but was delayed Monday and yesterday due to the rain. The rink is now scheduled to open today at noon. It will be open daily from noon to 8pm through Feb. 22 across from the Quincy District Courthouse. It will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Free skate rentals are also available.
[00:09:20] A check of business news this morning. Stocks rebounded. The dow is up 185 points. The Nasdaq rose 137.
[00:09:28] The S&P added 16.
[00:09:30] European and Asian stocks were mixed. The dollar was down. The euro rose oil at $59 a barrel in sports, the Celtics beat the Knicks 123 to 117. They'll be in Washington to play the Wizards tomorrow night at 7. Bruins lose to the Red Wings in Detroit last night, 5 to 4. They'll take on St. Louis at the Garden tomorrow night at 7.
[00:09:59] Today's forecast from the National Weather Service calls for a partly cloudy day with a high of 38 degrees. Cloudy tonight, lows in the mid 20s tomorrow. Could see some scattered snow showers. The high of 38 Friday, mostly sunny and a high only 27.
[00:10:17] Mostly cloudy on Saturday with a high 37, but the boater waves about 2ft. Northwesterly winds at 15 to 20 knots will be decreasing 5 to 10 knots throughout the day. High tide 9:09am There is a possibility of some minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide this morning. Sunrise 6:55, sets at 4:11.
[00:10:42] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Wednesday, December 3rd.
