Girl, 11, Fights Off Would-Be Kidnappers | Patch PM
Today is Monday, Oct. 19. Here are some of the top stories we are covering today.
An 11-year-old girl escaped from two men who pulled her off a Worcester street on Sunday night, police are reporting.
The attempted kidnapping happened just before 8 p.m., when 51-year-old Andrew Merriam and another man walked up to the girl asked if she wanted to see their dog, according to police
Merriam then grabbed the girl, police said. She was able to escape by kicking him. She then ran into a nearby business to call 911.
Merriam was arrested and charged with enticing a child, attempting to commit a crime and assault and battery. He also recently lived in Marlborough.
Other top stories
Woman Charged With Attacking Vietnam Vet Trump Supporter
A woman charged with assaulting a Vietnam veteran because he supports President Trump is due in court Monday. Kiara Dudley, 34, was arrested after the weekend incident in Douglas.
The 73-year-old veteran and another person were at the intersection of Main and Webster streets just after noon Saturday with Trump flags and signs. Police said Dudley went up to the couple and “began to berate them with insults” and told them to leave.
As the couple tried to move away, police said Dudley bumped the veteran with her body and then stepped on his “Veterans for Trump” sign. As he bent over to pick it up, investigators said Dudley “knocked him to the ground causing an injury to his finger.”
Man Accused Of Leaving Needles At Gov. Baker's Swampscott Home
A civil stay-away order against a Hyde Park man accused of being part of a protest group that left used needles near the front lawn of Gov. Charlie Baker's Swampscott home last month was upheld in Lynn District Court on Monday.
First Lady Lauren Baker told the court it was "incredibly frightening" when the protest — which activist Domingos DaRosa said in court was meant to draw attention to the addiction crisis in Boston — pushed to the edge of the lawn and the needles were discarded.
"Obviously, I'm afraid it's going to cause some sort of physical harm to me and my family," Lauren Baker told the court.
DeRosa, a community activist with the South End/Roxbury Community Partnership 2.0 group, told reporters he intends to appeal the ruling and that the protest was aimed at the governor and not the family.
More Than 550K Ballots Cast In Massachusetts Mail-In, Early Voting
Secretary of State William Galvin said more than 550,000 ballots are already in – either by mail or at early voting locations across Massachusetts so far.
For a second straight day, Boston voters cast ballots at Fenway Park Sunday. More than 4,000 people voted there this weekend.
Lines were long due to social distancing, but voters said the process was quick and easy.
Also
MA Lays Out 3-Phase Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution Plan
Massachusetts detailed preliminary plans on how to distribute a coronavirus vaccine and who would be first in line to receive it.
First-Of-Its-Kind Program Gets Some Chelsea Families 'No Strings Attached'
More than 2,000 families chosen by a lottery system will be able to use this money for food and other necessities.
Quincy Preservation Committee Approves Beachcomber Sale: Report
Under the $5 million plan, the city would purchase the former nightclub and another parcel of land for the development of a passive park.
Fire Destroys Fuller Field Concessions Stand, $5K Reward Offered
The fire was reported Saturday night at the home of the Falmouth Commodores and the cause of the fire
Boat Into Bridge In Beverly Causes Commuter Rail Backup
Commuter rail users on the North Shore had some long waits Sunday due to a boat that was pushed into the bridge during rising tides.
50-Pound Cocaine Package Sent To Wilmington Business, 1 Arrested
A Lawrence man was arrested Wednesday and charged with cocaine distribution conspiracy.
Malden School Remote Again After Multiple Staffers Test Positive
The school is rolling back its reopening plan until testing shows that in-person instruction is safe. That could be as long as two weeks.
Man Trafficked Cocaine Through His Mother's Medford Home: Feds
A Utah man was convicted of shipping more than 400 grams of cocaine to his mother's home in Medford.
This article originally appeared on the Boston Patch
