Middlesex

*Joint Release* Man Identified in Fatal Chelmsford Crash

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Chelmsford Police Department
Chief James M. Spinney
2 Olde North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

*Joint Release* Man Identified in Fatal Chelmsford Crash

CHELMSFORD —  Chief of Police James Spinney and Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan have confirmed that Sidiclei Cleber Schmidt, 39, of Lowell, has died following a two-car motor vehicle collision that occurred yesterday in Chelmsford.

At approximately 3:08 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, Chelmsford Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash on Westford Street in Chelmsford. Upon arrival, authorities located the driver of the Subaru, Schmidt, who had sustained life-threatening injuries, and the driver of an SUV, who had sustained non-life-threatening injuries on scene. Both drivers were transported to area hospitals, where Schmidt later died.

This is an open and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Chelmsford Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. No charges have been filed.

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Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan, Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian participate in SAMHSA/BJA Expert Panel on Medication-Assisted Treatment Implementation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    CONTACT

January 29, 2018                                                                                                         Kevin Maccioli

                                                                                                            PIO (MSO)

                                                                                                            781-960-2805

 

                                                                                                            John Guilfoil

                                                                                                            PIO (APD)

                                                                                                            617-993-0003

 

Sheriff Koutoujian, Chief Ryan participate in SAMHSA/BJA

Expert Panel on Medication-Assisted Treatment Implementation

 

ROCKVILLE, Md. – Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian and Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan were among the national experts to participate in a discussion on implementation of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs today.

Sheriff Koutoujian and Chief Ryan were invited to participate in the dialogue convened by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) due to their leadership in implementing programs to assist individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs).  The goal of the convening was to develop guidance for implementing MAT programs across the criminal justice system to assist individuals with SUDs.

Sheriff Koutoujian and Chief Ryan are nationally recognized leaders for their efforts to address the opioid crisis in Massachusetts.   In addition to participating in today’s convening, Sheriff Koutoujian has previously presented on the MSO’s Medication Assisted Treatment and Opioid Recovery (MATADOR) program at the White House, while Chief Ryan has testified before the United States Senate regarding the Arlington Opiate Outreach Initiative.

“I want to thank SAMHSA and the BJA for the invitation to participate today,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “As we all seek to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic, nothing could be more important than learning from one another and sharing best practices.  This convening provided an opportunity to do both.”

“Those with Substance Use Disorders are our neighbors, friends, and loved ones, and law enforcement stands on the front lines of the battle against this epidemic,” Chief Ryan said.  “I am grateful to participate in a dialog with other leaders on this subject, including my friend and colleague Sheriff Koutoujian.”

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*Joint Press Release* Victims Identified in Ashby Murder-Suicide

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Ashby Police Department
Fred Alden, Chief of Police
893 Main Street
Ashby, MA 01431

For Immediate Release

Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-841-9948
Email: [email protected]

Victims Identified in Ashby Murder-Suicide

ASHBY – Police Chief Fred Alden and Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan have confirmed that at approximately 1:37 p.m. Friday, August 26, Ashby Police officers responded to a report of a death on Watatic Mountain Road in Ashby. Upon arrival they observed an adult male and female to be deceased.

The individuals have been identified as Rebecca Griffin, 51, of Fitchburg, and John Griffin, 55, the resident of the home on Watatic Mountain Road. The two deceased were previously married but divorced in approximately 1990. Rebecca Griffin would come by her ex husband’s home to help him with errands.

On Friday, the two deceased were discovered on the front lawn of John Griffin’s home. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner both individuals died from multiple sharp-force wounds indicative of the use of a knife.  The investigation revealed that John Griffin inflicted sharp-force injuries to Rebecca Griffin outside of the home. Afterwards John Griffin then died from self-inflicted sharp-force wounds.

“This is a senseless and tragic crime,” stated District Attorney Ryan. “Rebecca Griffin would come to her ex husband’s home to assist him with day-to-day errands such as grocery shopping and bringing him to doctor’s appointments and sadly, she lost her life in the interest of helping him.”

“Ashby is a small, quiet town where incidents like these are not common,” Chief Alden said. “This was an isolated situation and at no time was the public ever in danger. Thank you to our residents for their patience and understanding during our investigation.”

Next of kin have been notified and this is an open and active investigation being conducted by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Ashby Police Department

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Middlesex Sheriff’s Office: Regional lockup bill passes key legislative hurdle

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A message from the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.

BOSTON – A bill that would allow police departments in Middlesex County to place pre-arraignment detainees in a regional lockup facility operated by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office was reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security last week.  The bill was filed by State Senator Ken Donnelly (D – Arlington) and has been supported by Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian and the Middlesex County Chiefs of Police Association.

The bill, An Act establishing regional lockup facilities, now moves to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for review.

“I would like to thank Senator Donnelly, our law enforcement colleagues who advocated for this legislation, and the committee for advancing it to the crucial next stage,” Sheriff Koutoujian said.  “We believe a regional lockup facility would bring significant benefit to the county because it will allow corrections officers – specifically trained to work in a jail setting – to ensure the custody of detainees.”

The bill would allow any sheriff in the Commonwealth to establish a regional lockup facility for their county. Local police departments could then transfer responsibility for the care and maintenance of detainees to the sheriff from the time of arrest, rather than the time of arraignment.

“This is an important piece of legislation for my community and communities across the Commonwealth,” said Sen. Donnelly.  “This bill will also provide better and more efficient access to important services for those in our communities who may need them.”

“The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is specially-equipped to house and care for inmates safely and with dignity, and it makes sense that they take custody, freeing up our officers to spend more time in the community instead of inside the station, watching a prisoner,” Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno said.  “The Sheriff has the extensive training to handle the care of those arrested in the county.”

“Middlesex Regional Lockup is a win-win for everyone in the community.  This will build trust and improve safety while freeing up municipal police resources, which are often stretched,” said Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan.  “I very much appreciate the leadership shown by Senator Donnelly and Sheriff Koutoujian on this important public safety issue.”

Because many detainees that are arrested over the weekend cannot be arraigned until the next business day, local police departments struggle over weekends and holidays to properly house these individuals.  The delays create a strain on the departments’ budgets and officers’ time, according to Chief Bongiorno.

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CONTACT:

Kevin Maccioli
Public Information Officer
Middlesex Sheriff’s Office
P: 781-960-2805
E: [email protected]

 

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