Ex-Stoughton Cop Guilty Of Killing Pregnant Woman He Groomed As Teen, Faces Life In Prison
A former Massachusetts police officer accused of grooming a young girl, sexually abusing her for years, and killing her after she became pregnant with his child has been found guilty of murder, federal authorities said.
A federal jury in Boston convicted Matthew Farwell, 41, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, of killing Sandra Birchmore, 23, and her unborn child.
The former Stoughton officer was found guilty of killing a witness, victim, or informant and causing the death of an unborn child during a federal crime, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Farwell fac…
Wanted Man Gives Fake ID During Rye Traffic Stop, Busted As Fugitive: Police
A Georgia man who police said gave them a false identity during a traffic stop in Westchester County was arrested after officers discovered he was wanted on a felony larceny warrant out of Connecticut.
Troy Sanders Passmore, of Statham, Georgia, was arrested following a traffic stop near the intersection of Boston Post Road and Peck Avenue in Rye on Saturday, Nov. 7, the City of Rye Police Department said on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
During the stop, Passmore provided officers with false identifying information, the department said.
However, police eventually determined his actual iden…
Delaware County Deputy Sheriff Joe Piechule, 31, Mourned 'As Kind And Gentle Soul'
A Delaware County deputy sheriff who served on his department’s Honor Guard is being remembered for his gentle spirit, love of music, and lasting impact on fellow officers.
Joseph Connor “Joe” Piechule, 31, died in Upper Chichester on Friday, Oct. 30, according to his obituary published by Cavanagh Family Funeral Home.
Piechule previously worked alongside Upland Borough police before joining the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the police department said in a tribute issued Friday, Nov. 6.
“Although Deputy Piechule's time with our department was brief, his impact on our law enforcement fa…
Task Force Tips Leads To Child Porn Arrest In Altamont, Police Say
Child porn was discovered in a Capital Region man’s possession, leading to his arrest Monday, Nov. 2, state police said.
Matthew D. Smith, 41, of Altamont, was charged with possession and promotion of child pornography, New York State Police announced Friday, Nov. 6.
A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led police to investigate Smith, according to authorities.
Smith was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court, then locked up in Albany County jail on $10,000 cash bail, $20,000 bond, or $40,000 partially secured bond, police said. He remained in jail Friday, accordi…
Florida Firebombing Fugitive Caught In Saddle Brook With Machete: Police
A Florida fugitive wanted in a firebombing that left a teenage girl with severe burns was arrested during a traffic stop in Bergen County after giving police multiple false names and trying to run, authorities said.
Yang L. Chiong, 37, of Homestead, FL, was arrested around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, on North Midland Avenue in Saddle Brook, Police Chief John A. Zotollo Jr. said.
Chiong was wanted by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office on a full-extradition warrant for second-degree attempted murder and first-degree arson, Zotollo said.
The Florida Firebombing
The charges stem from a March 25,…
Maryland Law Enforcement Legend Known As 'Tank' Dies After 38 Years Of Service
For 38 years, William “Tank” Tankersley wore a badge in Maryland, but those who knew him best will remember the bear hugs and booming laughter that came with his larger-than-life personality.
Tankersley, 79, a former chief deputy major with the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office and longtime law enforcement veteran, died peacefully at home on Friday, Oct. 30, surrounded by his family following a five-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Known simply as “Tank” to friends, colleagues, and family, he spent 30 years with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, retiring as a lieutenant bef…
16-Year-Old Girl Robbed While Walking Home From School In Lakeview, Cops Say
A 16-year-old girl was attacked and robbed while walking home from school on Long Island, police said.
The victim was walking in Lakeview around 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 when a different 16-year-old girl sprayed her in the face with an “unknown substance,” the Nassau County Police Department said.
Whatever the substance was, it caused the 16-year-old victim to suffer pain and drop the bag she was carrying, police said.
The attacker then picked up the bag — which held a laptop, headphones, a handbag, and other personal items — and fled the scene with the victim’s things, cops said.
However, …
Florida Man Attacks Troopers, EMS Worker After Saddle Brook Crash On Route 80 Crash: Njsp
A 32-year-old Florida man who crashed into a divider on Route 80 repeatedly tried to punch state troopers and assaulted an EMS worker who responded to help him, authorities said.
Shamek Maynard, of Ocala, FL, was behind the wheel of a vehicle that crashed on Route 80 west near milepost 62.3 in Saddle Brook around 1:02 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, New Jersey State Police Trooper II Christopher Postorino said.
When troopers arrived, Maynard was sitting in the driver's seat and ignoring their commands, Postorino said. Troopers tried to remove him from the vehicle to get him medical attention, but…
Havertown Trooper Pleads Guilty To AI Porn, State Databases, Secret Recordings (Update)
A Pennsylvania State Police corporal who used government computers to create AI-generated pornography, secretly recorded women, and possessed child sexual abuse material has been sentenced to prison and designated a sexually violent predator, authorities announced on Monday, Nov. 2.
Stephen M. Kamnik, 40, of Havertown, was sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison, followed by seven years of probation, by a Montgomery County judge, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced.
The judge also designated Kamnik a sexually violent predator, requiring him to register as a sex offende…
Same Date, Same Jail, Same Inmate: Fairfax Man Attacked Two Female Deputies One Year Apart
A Virginia inmate attacked two female jail deputies exactly one year apart, on the same date, inside the same detention center, prosecutors say.
Shane David Lucas, 23, of Fairfax, has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for the violent encounters at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, where he was being held on unrelated charges.
The first attack happened on May 16, 2025, when Deputy Hayden was conducting a security check in one of the jail's housing pods.
According to the Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, Lucas was using an inmate telephone when he ap…
Spotsy Driver Doing Donuts Leads Deputies On Chase Before Crashing Into Ditch: Sheriff
A driver doing donuts on a Northern Virginia roadway wound up behind bars after a hit-and-run, a police pursuit, a crash into a ditch, and one last unsuccessful attempt to escape on foot, authorities said.
Stephon Wilkins-Booker, 36, of Spotsylvania, was arrested following the incident, which began around 9:40 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, when deputies from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office were called to the area of Patriot Highway and Orchard Ridge Drive.
According to the sheriff's office, callers reported that two Dodge Chargers were driving recklessly and performing donuts in the roa…
Explosives Found In Colchester Man's Home After Knife Attack With Child Nearby: Police
Police found explosives inside a Connecticut man's home after he allegedly held a knife to another person's throat while a 4-year-old was nearby, authorities said.
Christian Eric Fricker, of Colchester, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 31, and charged with possession of explosives, possession of exploding fireworks, risk of injury to a child, assault with serious injury, and breach of the peace, Connecticut State Police said.
Troopers responded to a Colchester home shortly after 10 p.m. following a report that Fricker had held a knife to the throat of a 44-year-old household member, causing an u…
