Healey: Suit against feds over DACA will protect Mass. residents, economy

By Colin A. Young, State House News Service

After announcing her latest lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration, Attorney General Maura Healey today defended the use of her office's resources on federal issues to protect the state's residents and state's economy.

"Certainly, these lawsuits are not filed lightly ... every one of these lawsuits has been about protecting Massachusetts interests, protecting Massachusetts businesses, protecting Massachusetts residents," Healey said during a conference call she held to discuss the latest lawsuit with reporters.

Healey has sued the Trump administration numerous times on various issues, including environmental regulations for heavy trucks, accreditation of for-profit colleges, and to prevent the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from being dismantled.

Before Trump took office, Healey emailed political supporters, saying she "won't hesitate to take Donald Trump to court if he carries out his unconstitutional campaign promises." Asked what resources her state office is dedicating to these lawsuits against the president, Healey did not directly answer, but defended the work her office does in Massachusetts.

"Our office continues to work on a variety of issues and I'm pleased with the work that we've been able to do on behalf of the consumers, in this year alone obtaining record recoveries for consumers on any number of fronts," she said. 

On Wednesday, Healey joined 13 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a federal lawsuit  that seeks to prevent the Trump administration from winding down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which the White House announced Tuesday would end in six months and which currently covers about 800,000 people nationwide.

"Today's filing against the Trump administration and the decision to rescind DACA is another example" of how the suits against Trump are intended to protect Massachusetts residents, Healey said. "We are talking about thousands of people here in Massachusetts who are adversely affected by this decision, who are contributing to our economy, serving in our military, paying taxes, working, and attending school."

Hull Police arrest another person for vandalizing historic fort

The Hull Police Department arrested a Cohasset woman Friday for allegedly vandalizing Fort Revere. That arrest came less than 24 hours after police arrested a trio of East Bridgewater residents on the same charge.

Margaret St. Sauveur, 20, of Cohasset was arrested and charged with tagging property.

At 2:49 p.m. Friday, Hull Police responded to Fort Revere to investigate a report of graffiti in progress. Police were told that the suspect got into a black Ford Escape. An officer located the vehicle nearby and made a traffic stop.

The driver, identified as St. Sauveur, allegedly had blue paint on her hands. The officer saw paint and paintbrushes on the floor of the car in plain view. Police also found a can of blue paint at the site of the tagging, Hull Police Chief John Dunn said today.
St. Sauveur was arrested and released on personal recognizance pending arraignment at Hingham District Court.

At about 8 p.m. the night before, Jacob Looney, Emma Pimental, and Emily Rose, all 18 and all of West Bridgewater, were arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property after Hull police were called to Fort Revere for a tagging report.

The Hull Redevelopment Authority and the state Department of Conservation & Recreation paid for anti-graffiti paint that a corps of volunteers applied to the historic fort in June.

Since then, Hull Police have stepped up patrols in the area. The state police have also made multiple arrests for vandalism and trespassing over the last couple of weeks.

Chief Dunn said law enforcement will continue to closely monitor Fort Revere and will not hesitate to charge those who are found to be breaking the law.

"Fort Revere is a historic site and is hallowed ground, as it serves as a burial ground for French soldiers who died assisting our young nation in the American Revolution. We will not tolerate the desecration of this site," Dunn said. "If you tag or vandalize at Fort Revere, we will arrest you."

[This story has been updated to correct the hometown listed for the trio arrested on Aug. 24. The police statement listed it as East Bridgewater. The police log has the three as residents of West Bridgewater.] 

Hull Police arrest 3 for Fort Revere vandalism

Chief John E. Dunn reports that the Hull Police Department arrested three individuals Thursday evening for alleged vandalism at Fort Revere.

Jacob Looney, Emma Pimental, and Emily Rose, all 18 and all of West Bridgewater, were arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property. 

At 7:47 p.m Thursday, a Hull Police officer and a Massachusetts state trooper responded to a report that people were seen tagging at Fort Revere Park. Upon arrival, the police officers located the teens, who allegedly were holding cans of spray paint. As the officers walked down the stairs to interview the three suspects, Looney dropped his paint can. 

All three were taken into custody as a result of the investigation; each was later released on $40 cash bail pending his or her arraignment in Hingham District Court.

[This story has been updated to correct the hometown listed for those who were arrested. The police statement listed the addresses as East Bridgewater. The police log has the three as residents of West Bridgewater.] 

Delivery snafu delays this week's Times

Due to a problem with its new distribution system, our printer failed to deliver the papers to the Hingham Post Office in time for today's delivery.

As we understand it, local subscribers should get their Hull Times tomorrow. The newsstand copies went out on time and are at local vendors today. The e-edition is also up, as is usual.

This is just the second time in nearly 40 years that the paper's delivery has been delayed. We sincerely regret the inconvenience.

– Susan Ovans, publisher

Dorchester man arrested on drug, firearms charges

The Hull Police Department arrested a Dorchester man for trafficking cocaine and illegal possession of a firearm following a routine traffic stop Sunday night.

According to a police statement, Dominic J. Duret, 26, of Dorchester, was arrested after a traffic stop and charged with:

• Attempt to commit a crime (murder)

• Trafficking in cocaine

• Carrying a firearm without a license

• Improper storage of a firearm

• Possession of a firearm with a defaced number involved in a felony

• Possession of ammunition

• Resisting arrest

• Receiving stolen property over $250

At approximately 11:40 p.m. Sunday, a Hull police officer on patrol at Kenberma Street and Samoset Avenue witnessed a black SUV traveling at a high rate of speed on Samoset Avenue.

The officer conducted a motor vehicle stop. After obtaining the driver’s license and registration, the officer returned to his cruiser to relay the information to dispatch. At that time, he noticed the driver, identified as Duret, throwing drugs and drug paraphernalia out of the passenger side window. The officer then placed Duret under arrest.

While retrieving the items that the suspect had thrown on the ground, the officer noticed him edging toward his vehicle and allegedly reaching for a .22 caliber handgun.

Additionally, police located multiple packages containing a white substance, which was later determined to be cocaine, inside the vehicle.

Duret was booked at the Hull Police Department and held on $20,000 cash bail pending his arraignment at Hingham District Court.

Officials seeking seaweed strategy

The Hull Board of Health posted the following message on its Facebook page today:

"Residents of Gunrock Beach area and T St.- Bradford Ave., we are aware of the large accumulation of seaweed in those areas. We are working with the DPW and Conservation on a plan and to resolve it. Thank you for your patience."

Times photographer Roger Jackson took the photo at an almost deserted Crescent Beach this afternoon.

Fundraising page set up to benefit Judeth Van Hamm

The Times received a letter from Judeth Van Hamm's son yesterday that we want to share with our readers.

Longtime residents know how much the town owes to Van Hamm's long efforts to preserve Hull's resources, natural and historic. It is not too much to say that we would not have the lifesaving museum, the carousel, the Weir River Woods, and many other town treasures, without her.

Van Hamm last week lost her longtime partner, Michael Connelly, who died unexpectedly. So she is faced with financial hardship to compound her grief. We know that her many friends and admirers will want to help. Here's one mechanism to do so:

To the Editor:

Readers of The Hull Times might like to know about a fundraiser set up for Judeth Van Hamm in memory of her late parter, Michael Connelly. Michael passed away July 21st after sharing three decades of sunsets over Hull Bay with my mother. His unexpected departure has come with additional financial pressures for Judeth. If any readers would like to contribute to her wellbeing through this difficult time, the link is https://www.gofundme.com/picture-judeth-a-millionaire. Thoughts on peace, love, light, joy, health, and abundance also welcome!

Thank you, Blake Wiers