Man In Crisis Tries To Get Police To Shoot Him, Twice: Patch PM

MASSACHUSETTS — It's Wednesday, March 10. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency one year ago tomorrow and the state is loosening some of its coronavirus-related restrictions.
• Gunshot sensors in select parts of Worcester will be a main data source for a new crime forecast tool, underscoring fears about imbalance.
• Some towns are lobbying for Baker to let their boards of health go back to rolling out the vaccine.

Wednesday's Top Story

Newton Police were called twice Saturday to help with an armed man threatening to harm himself by way of "suicide by cop."

The term "suicide by cop" is used to describe a method in which someone in a mental crisis, sometimes armed, tries to provoke a police officer into shooting them. A police think tank estimates that of the nearly 1,000 fatal police shootings each year, about 100 of those are suicide.

The first time they were called to help, they sent the 20-year-old to a hospital for a mental health evaluation and didn't arrest him. The second time, they said he managed to deactivate an officer's gun safety in a struggle.

Read the full story.

Nearby News

• Newton Man In Crisis Threatens Suicide By Cop, Twice: Police
• Brookline Fire Department Awarded $10K Grant
• Waltham Wow: Most Expensive Single Family Home This Week
• Westford Eyes Four Finalists To Lead School District
• Chelmsford May Ask State To Reconsider Vaccine Rollout

Other Top Stories

Travel tweak — Fully vaccinated people who do not show symptoms of the virus no longer have to quarantine or show a negative test upon arriving in Massachusetts. A fully vaccinated person is one who has gotten their second shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or their Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than 14 days ago and shows no COVID-19 symptoms. Those people may be expected to show proof of their vaccinations. People who are not fully vaccinated and travel or return to Massachusetts from most states must produce a recent negative test or quarantine for 10 days. Violations could mean $500 fines each day. Hawaii, Missouri, Oregon and Washington are the only states exempt from the travel order.

Detecting some inequity — Sentient gunshot sensors in select Worcester neighborhoods will provide key data for a new crime forecasting tool called ShotSpotter Connect, which was approved for use by the City Council on Tuesday. The gunshot detectors highlight a concern by groups opposed to adopting it: the software will concentrate police in neighborhoods where more people of color live. The gunshot detectors, which are made by the same company, only cover about 8 of Worcester's 38 square miles, creating a potential data gap between neighborhoods without sensors.

They had a thing for bling — A man and woman are accused of committing an afternoon crime spree that stretched from Cambridge to Pawtucket. Although police said the two suspects have been identified, their names and any charges have not been publicly announced. The string of thefts happened at jewelry stores in three cities across the two states late last month.

They Said It

"I'm also grateful to be able to eat food and drink water — I couldn't have water or food for six weeks."

— Newton resident Ann Langenfeld, who a year after first feeling COVID-19 symptoms is finally able to shower again without any help from others.

Around Town

• Peabody Public Schools Pushes Back Full-Day Return 2 Weeks
• Tewksbury Man Arrested, Charged With 5th Drunken Driving Offense
• Melrose Lays Out Free Cash Plan, Some Councilors Eye New Focus