Published: 04/28/2007 Gang attacks teen in Peabody, cops say By Alan Burke Staff writer
PEABODY - Police say a caravan of six to seven vehicles with suspected gang members descended on a South Peabody neighborhood late Thursday night to single out and attack a 17-year-old resident. Two weapons were found discarded near the scene of the assault, a machete and meat tenderizer, according to police. "It is gang activity," Mayor Michael Bonfanti said yesterday. The victim's name is being withheld. Police said his injury, a reported laceration above his eye, was not serious. "It's more of an isolated incident," Bonfanti said. "It's not like the city of Peabody is being overrun by gangs. And we are taking steps to beef up the area by assigning a dedicated officer to be there in the early morning hours." Peabody police spokesman Lt. Dennis Bonaiuto described a chaotic scene after a large fight developed on Veterans Memorial Drive, a neighborhood of public housing near the Lynn line. According to the log, police received several calls about a "large fight with multiple weapons" at 10:50 p.m. "It appears some people showed up at the location looking for a resident," Bonaiuto said. "It's obvious they were looking to commit an assault and battery." By the time police reached the scene, the victim had been taken to Salem Hospital by a friend. But the drama didn't end there. Arriving at the hospital to interview him, Peabody police then responded to a report that someone with a gun was stalking the parking lot. "Officer (Richard) Rose found a suspect in the waiting room," Bonaiuto said. "He confronted him, frisked him, but found no weapon." Bonaiuto said witnesses at the scene said that some of the (assailants) were from a gang in Lynn called the Amtrack gang. Cars at the scene were also traced to Lynn, he said. A caller to police had reported hearing a gunshot. However, "No one who was interviewed (at the scene) mentioned hearing gunshots," Bonaiuto said. Ward 1 Councilor Barry Osborne described Veterans Memorial Drive as an "area of concern ... it's mostly Section 8 housing." Administered by the city, the properties were once veterans housing. Rumblings about gangs in Peabody have been ongoing for months, with some noticing an increase in "tagging," graffiti meant to mark gang territories. Meanwhile, Bonfanti has joined with surrounding communities to urge more funding for the Shannon Initiative, a state program aimed at targeting gang activity.
On the other hand, officials haven't pointed out any specific evidence of gangs operating in Peabody. At Thursday's City Council subcommittee on drugs, school athletic director Phil Sheridan was asked about gangs at the high school. "I haven't seen them," Sheridan replied. "There are wannabes." "We're still a relatively quiet suburb compared to Boston and even compared to Lynn," Bonfanti said. "But Lynn does abut Peabody. You can't put a fence up." Meanwhile, gangs in places like Lynn and Lawrence are seeking to expand their influence, reaching out to places like Peabody, Bonfanti said. "And we have our professionals taking a good hard look at stopping that kind of activity," said the mayor.
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops