Top Medford Stories in 2011 Countdown: Carroll's Plans Return, Cop Faces Assault Charge, Cyber Predator Arrest

We're ringing in the new year this week by counting down the top 20 stories from Medford Patch in 2011. This list is ranked according to page views. Today, we're taking at look at 15 to 11 (Find ):

A 15-year-old Medford girl was blackmailed into having sex with a man she met on the internet, and investigators believe she may not be the only victim, prosecutors said. Thomas Hutchinson, 19, allegedly connected with the victim through the website MyYearbook.com, an online dating and social networking site, according to a press release from District Attorney Gerry Leone at the time. Using three different aliases, Hutchinson coerced the victim to send him nude photos, then used them to blackmail her into having sex with him, prosecutors said. Hutchinson was arrested in July and eventually indicted on eight charges stemming from the allegations.

An off-duty Woburn Police officer was arrested in late September after allegedly repeatedly punched a woman in the face during an argument in Medford Square. Charles Stock, 44, of Woburn was charged with assault and battery. An officer with the Woburn Police Department, Stock was  placed on administrative leave while the charge pends, according to a statement from Woburn Police at the time.

Carroll's was once a diner on Main Street, just south of Medford Square. Now there are plans for a new Carroll's at 21 Main St. The family-owned and operated business is in the early stages of demolition work inside the new location, where Il Faro restaurant once was, and hopes to open before Christmas, Owner Maury Carroll said. "We think it will be something special," Carroll said in October. "We know the Square is getting rejuvenated and we’re pleased to be a piece of the puzzle." The restaurant aims to open sometime in early 2012.

A Medford man was killed in a car accident in a morning accident in Tewksbury in April. Stephen Allder, 41, of Medford died as result of injuries in a two-car accident on a curve in the road on Route 38 in Tewksbury about 7:30 a.m. on April 11.

An evening and early morning search for a 13-year-old Medford boy ended at about 3 a.m. April 12 when he walked into Melrose Police Department, police said. Massimo Cugno left his home in in the Wellington area after becoming upset over a personal family matter around 5 p.m. on April 11. Police issued a statement at about 11 p.m., asking the public for help finding him He walked into the Melrose Police Department at about 3 a.m. April 12 in good health.