END OF JANUARY HEAT WAVE?
On Sunday, Jan. 31, a photo was captured at 3 p.m. showing the TD Bank temperature gauge in Bellingham Square. While a 60-degree reading in late January seems unusual, the area has experienced several such days over the past week, with the warmth expected to persist through the weekend.
TOY GUN FOR A ‘SKIT’ AT CHS
On Wednesday, Jan. 13, Chelsea Police took a Chelsea High School student into custody after discovering a replica firearm on school grounds. The student stated the weapon was intended for use in a school play “skit.”
At approximately 11:40 a.m., police received a report that a CHS student possessed a firearm. Upon investigation, officers determined the weapon was a toy replica gun. The student claimed it was for a school-sponsored skit. Despite this explanation, the 17-year-old was arrested based on statements made by the reporting party.
JUVENILE WITH KNIFE
On Monday, Jan. 11, a 17-year-old from Lynn was arrested after attempting to flee a motor vehicle while carrying a knife. Chelsea Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop around 10 a.m. on Pearl Street. As officers approached, the rear passenger fled the vehicle. Police apprehended him following a search of the area and placed him in custody. He faced charges for a warrant and knife possession.
SWORD AND GUN
Two Chelsea juveniles were arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 13, after police discovered a sword and a loaded firearm in their vehicle on Highland Street. Around 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 13, officers stopped a vehicle near the Highland and Grove Street areas containing five individuals. All five appeared nervous and made suspicious movements to conceal items as police approached.
The vehicle search revealed a loaded firearm and a sword. A 17-year-old was arrested for a warrant, carrying a dangerous weapon (sword) and carrying a dangerous weapon. A second Chelsea 17-year-old faced charges for carrying a firearm without a permit, possessing a large capacity firearm or feeding device and possession of ammunition without a permit.
ARMED ROBBER NABBED A FEW DAYS LATER
A taxi driver in Bellingham Square reported being robbed at gunpoint around 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 11. Several days later, the same driver identified and helped apprehend the robber. Police initially searched the area following the Jan. 11 report based on the cabbie’s description, but the search proved unsuccessful. On Jan. 14 around noon, the taxi driver informed Chelsea Police officers that he had spotted the robber entering a cab at Bellingham Square. Officers located and stopped the cab on Webster Court, where the suspect was apprehended and positively identified by the driver.
Cesar Alicea, 20, of 53 Broadway, was charged with armed robbery with a firearm and assault and battery.
2010 MURDER TRIAL STARTS
On Wednesday, a jury from Suffolk Superior Court visited the Chelsea crime scene in the trial of Melissa Pfeiffer, 32, who stands accused of murdering Crystal Blanchard in 2010. Pfeiffer faces charges of second-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (fire). She is also charged with arson and two counts of causing injury to a firefighter as a result of criminal conduct. The jury was seated and opening arguments commenced late last week.
The charges relate to a Dec. 24, 2010, fire allegedly set by Pfeiffer on Spruce Street in Chelsea that claimed the life of 20-year-old Crystal Blanchard. ADAs Julie Higgins and Colby Tilley, defense attorney James Doyle, and Judge Janet Sanders are involved in the proceedings in courtroom 817 of Suffolk Superior Court.
Judge Sanders was previously assigned to review the numerous casino lawsuits filed against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and Wynn Everett by Revere, Boston, Somerville, and taxpayers. Sanders dismissed all of these suits from court before rotating into the criminal court division.