ludlow police

Ludlow Police Department Shares Federal Warning Regarding Circulation of Fake Prescription Pills

June 17, 2022 by jgprstaff

LUDLOW — Chief Daniel Valadas wishes to share a warning from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about the availability and lethality of fake prescription pills as part of the agency’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign.

The DEA reports that fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine are being mass-produced by criminal drug networks, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills and killing unsuspecting people at an unprecedented rate.

According to the DEA, counterfeit pills are illegally manufactured by criminal drug networks and are made to look like real prescription opioid medications. The counterfeit pills are often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, making them widely available to people of all ages who have a smartphone or computer. Because the pills can be sold online and through social media, parents/guardians are also urged to discuss with their children the dangers associated with misusing prescription drugs.

The DEA and the Ludlow Police Department urge community members to be vigilant and aware of the dangers of counterfeit pills, and to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. Pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous and potentially lethal.

As of December 2021, the DEA seized 20 million counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl during the year, and 4 out of 10 pills with fentanyl contained a potentially lethal dose. Counterfeit pills were identified in every U.S. state in unprecedented quantities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100,000 people died of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending in April 2021. The DEA reports that fentanyl, the synthetic opioid most commonly found in counterfeit pills, is the primary driver of this increase in overdose deaths. Drug poisonings involving methamphetamine, increasingly found to be pressed into counterfeit pills, also continue to rise as illegal pills containing methamphetamine become more widespread. Drug trafficking is also inextricably linked to violence in communities across the country.

For more information on the public safety alert and awareness campaign, including how to spot counterfeit pills, see the DEA fact sheet here.

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Ludlow Police Arrest Two Individuals After Locating Stolen Motor Vehicle

July 18, 2021 by jgprstaff

HERBERT SMITH, AGE 46, OF WORCESTER was arrested and charged after Ludlow Police recovered a stolen motor vehicle on Friday night. (Photo courtesy Ludlow Police Department)

RACHEL KEATING, AGE 34, whose last known address was in SPRINGFIELD, was also wanted on an arrest warrant. (Photo courtesy Ludlow Police Department)

Chief Daniel Valadas reports that the Ludlow Police Department arrested two individuals after recovering a stolen motor vehicle on Friday night.

HERBERT SMITH, AGE 46, OF WORCESTER, was charged with:

Receiving Stolen Property
Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License
Assault and Battery on a Police Officer
Threats to Commit a Crime To Wit Murder
Possession of a Class A Substance
Possession of a Class B Substance
Vandalism of Property (Two Counts)

RACHEL KEATING, AGE 34, whose last known address was in SPRINGFIELD, was charged with:

Possession of a Class A Substance
Possession of a Class B Substance

KEATING was also wanted on an arrest warrant issued from Springfield District Court.

On Friday, July 16, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Ludlow Police responded to the Big Y Plaza, 433 Center St., for a report of a GPS location on a stolen motor vehicle. The owner of the vehicle reported it stolen earlier that day.

Upon their arrival, responding officers located the stolen motor vehicle parked at the Big Y Plaza and two suspects, later identified as SMITH and KEATING, inside the car.

Through the subsequent investigation, both suspects were placed under arrest. Throughout the process, SMITH was combative and made threats towards officers while being transported and booked. During the booking process, SMITH allegedly spat at officers and urinated in the cell block.

KEATING was transported to the Hampden County Women’s Facility and is being held without bail. SMITH is currently being held at the Hampden County Correctional Center in lieu of $10,000 bail. Both are expected to be arraigned in Palmer District Court tomorrow, July 19.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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Ludlow Police Respond to Fatal Motorcycle Crash Saturday Night

April 11, 2021 by jgprstaff

Chief Daniel Valadas reports that the Ludlow Police Department responded to a fatal motorcycle crash on Miller Street Saturday night.

On Saturday, April 10, at approximately 10:20 p.m., Ludlow Police responded to Miller Street by Maria’s Way for numerous reports of a single motorcycle crash, with the motorcycle on fire.

Upon their arrival, Ludlow Police observed that the motorcycle had collided with a telephone pole and was engulfed in flames. Ludlow Police immediately began to extinguish the fire while they assisted the operator.

“I would like to commend all responding officers for their efforts at the scene of the crash, especially the off-duty Pelham Police Officer who assisted us,” Chief Valadas said. “The first responding officers performed exemplary service by desperately trying to aid the operator. This was an extremely delicate situation as our officers had the added danger of working around potentially live wires and they did a great job in their response efforts.”

Ludlow Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene and lifesaving measures were initiated. The motorcycle operator was pronounced dead at the scene.

Miller Street was closed during the incident. The road has since been reopened.

Ludlow Police remained on-scene until 8:30 a.m. this morning while Eversource worked to repair the damaged pole.

The Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit, State Police Detective Unit and State Police Crime Scene Unit also responded to the scene.

At this time, the incident remains under investigation by the Ludlow Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Hampden County District Attorney’s Office.

All further inquiries about this incident should be referred to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office.

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Ludlow Police Remind Residents of Recent Updates to the State’s Gatherings Order

November 17, 2020 by jgprstaff

LUDLOW — Chief Daniel Valadas and the Ludlow Police Department wish to remind residents of the recent changes Gov. Charlie Baker made to the state’s gatherings order.

On Nov. 2, Gov. Charlie Baker announced updated measures to address a rise in positive COVID-19 cases statewide. The new statewide order went into effect on Nov. 6.

“Recently, the state’s expectations of everyone changed slightly due to the rise we’re seeing across Massachusetts of cases of COVID-19, and we wanted to remind residents of the new measures that have been put in place,” Chief Valadas said. “It’s absolutely essential that everyone does their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep themselves, their loved ones and their community healthy. Please, wear your mask at all times in public, and if you’re having any social gatherings at home, keep them small.”

The order includes several updated expectations of residents throughout the Commonwealth, including:

Indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 25 people.
- All gatherings must also end by 9:30 p.m.
Everyone is required to wear a face-covering in public at all times, even if they are able to maintain six feet of distance from others. Those who cannot wear a face covering due to a medical or disabling condition are exempt.
- For more information about how to properly wear a mask and the state’s #MaskUpMA campaign, click here.
A stay at home advisory has been issued for 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night. Residents are asked to only leave home during these hours to go to work or school, or for essential needs like seeking emergency medical care, or going to the grocery store or pharmacy.
Certain businesses and activities must close nightly by 9:30 p.m. to support the stay at home advisory. Affected businesses include restaurants, liquor stores, adult-use marijuana sales, indoor and outdoor events, theaters and movie theaters (including drive-in movie theaters), performance venues, youth and adult amateur sports activities, golf facilities, recreational boating and boating businesses, outdoor recreational experiences, casinos and horse tracks/simulcast facilities, driving and flight schools, zoos, botanical gardens, wildlife reserves, nature centers, close contact personal services, gyms, fitness centers, health clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, museums, cultural and historical facilities and guided tours.

Local health and police departments are authorized under the order to fine organizers of gatherings $500 per person above the gatherings limit.

For more information about the updated measures implemented by the state to reduce the spread of COVID-19, click here. For more information about the latest stay at home advisory, click here.

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Ludlow Police Announce Updates to Business Phone Line

August 20, 2019 by jgprstaff

LUDLOW — Chief Paul Madera reports that the Ludlow Police and Fire Department’s phone answering system will be updated next week.

Beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 28, callers to the Ludlow Police Department’s business line, 413-583-8305, and the Fire Department’s business line, 413-583-8332, will reach an automated phone attendant instead of a live person. The automated attendant will then lead callers through a verbal directory of the department, and connect the caller to the individual he or she is looking to contact.

Rotary phones, however, will continue to default to a live person when calling either department’s business line. Neither department’s business phone number will change as a result of the upgrade.

Residents are reminded to always call 911 in the event of an emergency.

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Ludlow Police Department Shares Federal Warning Regarding Circulation of Fake Prescription Pills

Ludlow Police Arrest Two Individuals After Locating Stolen Motor Vehicle

Ludlow Police Respond to Fatal Motorcycle Crash Saturday Night

Ludlow Police Remind Residents of Recent Updates to the State’s Gatherings Order

Ludlow Police Announce Updates to Business Phone Line

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