Top stories: Multiple arrests, fire hazards, and a whale death

Faith Harrington, Standard-Times
·4 min read

As we head into the week, let's take a look at the news from this past week.

New Bedford has a newly appointed director of the New Bedford Health Department — Stephanie Sloan, MPH. While new to the position of director, Sloan has an extensive background in the department's various divisions, which started with her 2013 internship with its tobacco compliance program. She joined the department full-time in the nursing division, focusing on emergency preparedness. She then became the program manager for the Prevention Wellness Trust Fund grant, then the department’s grant auditor as well as the assistant director.

Bristol County DA announced an indictment in an unsolved New Bedford homicide. Gianni Carter-Joyner, who has ties to both New Bedford and Fall River, was indicted for the previously unsolved March 13, 2023 homicide of Derek Pires in New Bedford.

Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and player of the week voting at www.southcoasttoday.com/sports.

And now here are the most-read stories of the week on www.southcoasttoday.com:

New Bedford man arrested in connection with Monday morning homicide

Sterling Robinson,left, is taken from the courtroom following his arraignment Wednesday.
Sterling Robinson,left, is taken from the courtroom following his arraignment Wednesday.

A New Bedford man connected to the Monday morning homicide of 20-year-old Lorenzo Gomes has been arrested as the active investigation into the slaying continues. Sterling Robinson, 24, of New Bedford, was located and apprehended in Fall River.

Police were able to track the suspect in Monday's homicide through a GPS device he was wearing while on bail on an unrelated firearms charge. Robinson is charged with accessory to murder-after the fact.

Crime: New Bedford man arrested in connection with Monday morning homicide

More suspects were arrested in the days to follow

Wyllie Monteiro, 25, of New Bedford, was arrested early Thursday morning in Dartmouth in connection with the homicide and charged with accessory to murder after the fact. Xavier Luis Rodriguez, 20, of New Bedford was apprehended Thursday night and charged with murder and carrying an illegal firearm.

UPDATE: Third arrest made in Monday's New Bedford homicide, suspect to be arraigned this morning

New Bedford business owner must fix faulty fire alarm deemed neighborhood hazard

Walter Moniz, second from left, has until July 28 to fix the faulty fire-alarm system at 810-812 S. First St.
Walter Moniz, second from left, has until July 28 to fix the faulty fire-alarm system at 810-812 S. First St.

A city moving company has until July 28 to complete fire alarm system repairs at 810-812 S. First St. and remove a fire hazard in an abutting residential neighborhood.

The New Bedford Fire Dept. took Walter Moniz to housing court to address fire hazards to abutting neighborhoods posed by the building at 810-812 S. First St., as well as by the former Orpheum Theatre at 1005 S. Water St., which he also owns.

The fire danger to surrounding city residents posed by the buildings was described as "imminent," following a fire inspection in December 2021.

Neighborhood hazard: New Bedford business owner must fix faulty fire alarm

A female minke whale was found dead in New Bedford Harbor Sunday night

New Bedford and Fairhaven officials look on as a whale which was found dead in New Bedford harbor is taken away after it was placed on a truck at Union Wharf in New Bedford.
New Bedford and Fairhaven officials look on as a whale which was found dead in New Bedford harbor is taken away after it was placed on a truck at Union Wharf in New Bedford.

A small minke whale spotted swimming near the hurricane barrier in New Bedford on Friday is believed to be the same whale that was found dead in New Bedford Harbor Sunday night.

The whale appears to have made its way into the harbor over the weekend and was found floating in the water Sunday. Preliminary findings confirmed this to be a 22-foot female minke whale. Determining a cause of death may take weeks to months to complete.

New Bedford Harbor: A female minke whale was found dead on Sunday night

Brian Rose Baseball 15U wins the 2023 All American Lighthouse championship

Brian Rose 15U recently won the All American Lighthouse championship.
Brian Rose 15U recently won the All American Lighthouse championship.

The Brian Rose 15U baseball team recently won the All American Lighthouse Classic championship in Old Orchard Beach in Maine, going 6-0-1 during the four-day tournament and taking home first place out of 28 teams.

Brian Rose 15U (9-1-1) will compete at Baseball Heaven in Long Island, NY from July 7-10.

Sports: Brian Rose Baseball 15U wins the 2023 All American Lighthouse championship

Introducing Mattapoisett's new harbormaster: Isaac Perry

Isaac Perry long time Marion Harbormaster is the new Mattapoisett Harbormaster, a town he grew up in.
Isaac Perry long time Marion Harbormaster is the new Mattapoisett Harbormaster, a town he grew up in.

Mattapoisett’s new harbormaster has returned to his roots after stops in Dartmouth and Marion and a move to Rochester.

Harbormaster Isaac Perry grew up in Mattapoisett, and while he hasn’t moved that far away over the years, it’s a homecoming of sorts.

“I’ve been the harbormaster in Marion for the last 19 years, and when this opportunity came up here, I thought it was a good fit for me personally,” he said.

Mattapoisett's new harbormaster: Isaac Perry

All of these stories can be found in their entirety at Southcoasttoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top stories in New Bedford: homicide, multiple arrests and more.