A state police spokesman said no contact had been made with suspect Eric Frein, who was placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list after the Sept. 12 shooting at a nearby police barracks that left one trooper dead and a second wounded.

CANADENSIS, Pa. (AP) — Nine days after a gunman opened fire in a deadly ambush at a state police barracks, authorities have had no contact with the suspect they describe as a self-taught survivalist despite an intensive search that shut down the heavily wooded community where he lived with his parents.

Though a shelter-in-place order had been lifted in the Pocono Mountains community where police have focused their search, they continued to urge residents to be vigilant Sunday as the manhunt continues for Eric Frein.

A state police spokesman said no contact had been made with Frein, who was placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list after the Sept. 12 shooting at a nearby police barracks that left one trooper dead and a second wounded.

Police on Friday descended on the community where Frein, 31, had lived with his parents, ordering residents to stay inside their homes and preventing anyone outside the neighborhood from returning to their homes. Law enforcement officers wearing bulletproof vests and armed with rifles scoured the woods as helicopters buzzed overhead.

Late Saturday night, police lifted their order to stay inside but urged residents to keep doors locked, keep their yards well-lit and report suspicious persons or vehicles. They should also stay out of the dense, boggy woodlands where the search was underway, authorities said.

On Sunday, some residents began getting out of their homes for the first time since Thursday.

"Basically, we were locked in our own house," said Lukasz Drozdzewski, who was washing clothes at a nearby laundromat with his wife and three young sons. "Today's the first day we've been out."

Drozdzewski lost a day of pay Friday when he couldn't drive to work. His sons' school was closed Thursday and Friday because of the manhunt.

Drozdzewski is a little worried for his family's safety, he said, but is ready for life to go on.

"I'm not going to change my life because of one person," he said.

Authorities say Frein used a high-powered rifle to kill Cpl. Bryon Dickson — a married ex-Marine with two sons — and wound Trooper Alex Douglass outside the barracks in Blooming Grove.

Though police described Frein as a survivalist with a grudge against police, some who know him said he has not always played the loner.

Frein joined a group that performed military re-enactments of Eastern European conflicts in the modern era and played a small role in a 2007 movie about a concentration camp survivor — earning him a mention in the movie database IMDb. He also helped with props and historical references on a documentary about World War I.

"He was a very friendly guy to me," said Jeremy Hornbaker, who hired him for the documentary. "We left on very good terms."

Frein's father, retired Army Maj. E. Michael Frein, told police that he had taught his son to shoot. He "doesn't miss," the father told state police during a search of the family home, when he also disclosed that an AK-47 and a .308 rifle with a scope were missing. A copy of the book, "Sniper Training and Employment," was found in his bedroom.

Frein's only known legal problems stemmed from the 2004 theft of some vendor items at a World War II re-enactment in Odessa, New York. He failed to show for his trial, and was arrested in Pennsylvania as a fugitive from justice.

The FBI's Most Wanted poster describes him as 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. State police said he apparently cut his hair into a wide Mohawk in preparation for the attack. He was also described as a heavy smoker.

Trooper Tom Kelly, a state police spokesman, said a report of gunfire on Friday night was not linked to the search.

Demonstrators are making their way through Manhattan's streets as part of a series of global marches over climate change.

NEW YORK -- Demonstrators are making their way through Manhattan's streets as part of a series of global marches over climate change.

Thousands filled the streets Sunday near Columbus Circle and Broadway, including actors Mark Ruffalo and Evangeline Lilly.

Other cities held similar marches. In London, organizers said 40,000 took part including actress Emma Thompson and musician Peter Gabriel. A march in Melbourne, Australia drew 10,000 people.

The Manhattan march comes two days before the United Nations Climate Summit. More than 120 world leaders will convene Tuesday for the meeting aimed at galvanizing political will for a new global climate treaty by the end of 2015.

The march also coincides with New York's annual climate week, which will include a string of events this week, some featuring celebrities, CEOs and climatologists.

As they scramble for campaign dollars, Republican Charlie Baker and Democrat Martha Coakley are reaching out to different pockets of donors to help bankroll their pursuit of the Massachusetts governor's office.

BOSTON (AP) — As they scramble for campaign dollars, Republican Charlie Baker and Democrat Martha Coakley are reaching out to different pockets of donors to help bankroll their pursuit of the Massachusetts governor's office.

One of the differences is in the amount of out-of-state money each campaign has brought in.

Just under 8 percent of contributions to Baker's campaign — about $270,000 — came from donors living outside Massachusetts, according to a review of campaign finance records by the Associated Press filed between January, 2013 and mid-September.

For Coakley, the nearly $494,000 she's pulled in from out-of-state backers accounts for more than 19 percent of her total — nearly one out of every five dollars

The reports filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance also helped fill in some details about the kinds of individuals donating to both campaigns.

Lawyers were among the top donors to both candidates, Coakley collected more than $544,211 from those who listed "attorney" as their profession — more than double the $263,823 donated to Baker by those who described themselves as "attorney" or "lawyer."

Those who said described themselves as "retired" were the top donors to Baker by occupation ($335,930), far more than the $136,954 donated to Coakley by retired individuals.

Other top donors by occupation to Coakley were those who listed under their job title: "not employed" ($76,908); president ($74,900); homemaker ($73,085); and consultant ($28,556).

For Baker, those who listed their job title as retired or attorney were followed by: homemaker ($169,283); president ($90,195); executive ($84,970); and consultant ($79,210).

The reports also show how much workers from individuals companies gave to each candidate. While companies are barred from making direct contributions to candidates, individual donors list both their occupation and employer. The maximum individual donation is $500 per calendar year.

For Baker, employees at PricewaterhouseCoopers contributed $15,200, followed by Northeast Utilities ($13,100), Fidelity Investments ($12,125), Gutierrez Company ($11,000), and Mintz Levin ($7,500).

For Coakley employees at EMC Corporation topped the list with $20,500 in total donations. Others include Goulston & Storrs ($13,100), Nixon Peabody LLP ($12,825) and Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP ($11,750).

Coakley, the state's attorney general, also collected $17,770 from those who listed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as their employer.

Charlie Baker, center, stands behind the bar and pours a Guinness during at a campaign stop Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Boston's South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) 

"We're proud that virtually all of our financial support comes from folks that live in the commonwealth," Mark Fuller said in a statement. "It shows that Charlie's positive message is really resonating with voters."

Coakley campaign press secretary Bonnie McGilpin said the attorney general's role in national issues like the foreclosure crisis and arguing against the federal Defense of Marriage Act helped earn Coakley fans outside Massachusetts.

"In addition the thousands of supporters in Massachusetts excited about electing our first women governor, there are people across the country that support Martha's vision of expanding fairness, opportunity and equality," McGilpin said.

A closer look at the campaign finance reports also showed both candidates relying on contributions from donors in many of the same cities and towns. Contributions from Boston led both candidates' lists. Newton, Needham, Wellesley and Winchester also made it onto the list of Baker and Coakley's top ten communities.

Baker also pulled in $120,725 from his hometown of Swampscott.

The top zip code for each? Coakley pulled in $338,166 from 02108, a downtown Boston zip code while Baker's top zip code was in Swampscott.

As of Sept. 15, Baker had $930,109 left in his campaign account, compared to just $131,655 for Coakley, who was coming off a three-way primary contest. Baker was unopposed.

The contributions to Baker and Coakley don't include money being spent to support or oppose their candidacies by outside groups, including political action committees.

A post-primary poll by the Boston Globe found 39 percent of those polled favored Coakley, compared to 36 percent for Baker, 19 percent undecided, and the remaining 6 percent divided up between three independent candidates for governor — Jeff McCormick, Scott Lively, and Evan Falchuk.

The poll of 407 likely voters was conducted between Sept. 14 and 16 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

The election is Nov. 4.

School Superintendent William McAlduff Jr. says Patrick Gill's death is a devastating loss to the entire community.

WINCHESTER, Mass. (AP) — Winchester residents are mourning the death of a 17-year-old boy who was the captain of the town high school's football team.

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday evening at St. Mary's Church in the northern Boston suburb to remember Patrick Gill, who was killed in a single-car accident Saturday morning.

School Superintendent William McAlduff Jr. says Gill's death is a devastating loss to the entire community. Grief counseling is being offered at the high school beginning Sunday.

Winchester Police 

Police are still investigating the cause of the accident. Authorities say Gill was driving on Manomet Road near High Street when his car went off the road and crashed into a tree.

The young-adult thriller "The Maze Runner" raced to the box-office top spot with $32.5 million, sprinting past Liam Neeson's "A Walk Among the Tombstones."

NEW YORK -- The young-adult thriller "The Maze Runner" raced to the box-office top spot with $32.5 million, sprinting past Liam Neeson's "A Walk Among the Tombstones."

According to studio estimates Sunday, Fox' "The Maze Runner" easily outpaced the $13.1 million debut of Neeson's latest action film for Universal Studios. "The Maze Runner," adapted from James Dashner's series of science-fiction YA novels, is being launched as a new franchise, with a sequel already in the works.

The Warner Bros. dramedy "This Is Where I Leave You" came in third with $11.9 million. The Shawn Levy-directed film failed to be a big draw despite an A-list ensemble cast including Tina Fey, Jason Bateman and Jane Fonda.

Professor Gary Spring, 61, former chairman of Merrimack College's civil engineering department, is charged with possession of child pornography for allegedly viewing electronic images of naked, prepubescent girls on a college-issued computer.

Gary Spring, a former Merrimack College professor and department head who was fired on Friday, is facing child pornography charges following an investigation by local and federal authorities. Facebook / Gary Spring 

Gary S. Spring, 61, the former chairman of Merrimack College's civil engineering department, admitted to "masturbating to images of child pornography," Special Agent Laurence A. Travaglia, the FBI investigator, said in an affidavit included in the federal criminal complaint issued against Spring.

The Danvers resident was arrested Friday on possession of child pornography after a search of his residence and college office confirmed that he possessed images of nude, prepubescent girls, federal officials said.

Authorities believe they have a solid case against the professor, who also served as administrator of the North Andover college's residential summer camp for middle- and high school-aged children.

Spring's phone number is unlisted and he could not be reached for comment. Some of his former colleagues either did not immediately respond to email questions or declined to comment when reached by phone Sunday.

Merrimack officials terminated Spring on Friday, scrubbing his online profile from the school's website and discontinuing his email account.

"Dr. Spring's access to email was barred upon his being placed on leave, and since he was terminated on Friday he can no longer be contacted through Merrimack," James A. Chiavelli II, the school's associate vice president of communications, said in an email message to MassLive / The Republican.

"I have reviewed the images ... and I find probable cause to believe they depict minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and child pornography," U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy said in the criminal complaint.

Spring admitted to viewing a series of pornographic images that "began with the children fully clothed and ended with them naked," Travaglia said.

Merrimack officials contacted police after discovering suspicious activity associated with a college-owned computer on loan to Spring. Further investigation determined that the computer was used to access child pornography, law enforcement officials said.

"The Merrimack College community is saddened by these disturbing allegations," a statement from Chiavelli said. He noted that college officials "brought this matter to the attention of law enforcement and support all efforts to investigate the full breadth and depth of this case."

Spring was placed on administrative leave and barred from campus at the outset of the investigation, which covered a period stretching from June until this month.

The criminal allegations are "not reflective of the institution, its members and its core values," Chiavelli said. "Our prayers today are for all victims of sexual exploitation, especially those unable to speak for themselves, and the college encourages everyone to immediately call potential abuse to the attention of the proper authorities."

Spring faces a potential 20-year prison sentence, a lifetime probation sentence, and a $250,000 fine, though the actual punishment for federal crimes is typically less than the maximum statutory penalties, according to U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, whose office is handling the prosecution.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the U.S. Attorney's Office at (617) 748-3274.

Spring was being held until a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, according to a report by NECN, which did not cite a location for that hearing.

Authorities have identified the intruder from Friday night's shocking incident as Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas, and the Army said he had served from 1997 to 2003, when he was discharged, and then again from 2005 to December 2012, when he retired.

WASHINGTON — The man accused of getting inside the White House after scaling a fence is a veteran who was awarded a medal for his service in Iraq and retired due to disability, the Army said Sunday.

Authorities have identified the intruder from Friday night's shocking incident as Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas, and the Army said he had served from 1997 to 2003, when he was discharged, and then again from 2005 to December 2012, when he retired.

The military does not provide details about a soldier's disability due to privacy considerations.

Gonzalez was expected to appear in federal court Monday to face charges of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon — a knife, in this case.

The Secret Service tightened security outside the White House after the embarrassing breach in which the intruder carrying a knife climbed the fence, ran across the lawn and entered the building before agents stopped him.

The first family was away from the White House at the time.

Increased surveillance and more officer patrols are among the measures that Secret Service Director Julia Pierson ordered. She also began an investigation into what went wrong.

A member of the House Homeland Security Committee said Sunday that it was astonishing, at a time of concerns about terrorist attacks, that "someone could actually get into the White House without being stopped."

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said the intrusion was "absolutely inexcusable" and he expected congressional hearings into the incident at one of the world's most heavily secured buildings.

"This demands a full investigation, an investigation as to what happened, why it happened and what's being done to make sure it never happens again," he told "Fox News Sunday."

Officials first said the fact that the man appeared to be unarmed may have been a factor in why agents at the scene didn't shoot or have their dogs pursue him before he made it inside.

But a criminal complaint issued late Friday revealed Gonzalez had a small folding knife with a 3 ½-inch serrated blade with him at the time of his arrest.

At a hearing late Saturday afternoon in D.C. Superior Court, the assistant public defender representing Gonzalez said Gonzalez had no convictions or arrest warrants and had tested negative Saturday for drug use, according to The Washington Post.

"This is someone who has provided service to his country and shown commitment in his life," said the lawyer, Margarita O'Donnell, as she tried unsuccessfully to get Gonzalez released.

According to a criminal complaint, Gonzalez told Secret Service agents after his arrest that he was "concerned that the atmosphere was collapsing" and needed to contact the president "so he could get word out to the people."

The Army said Gonzalez enlisted in July 1997 and was assigned to the 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas. At the time, he listed his home as Puerto Rico.

He was discharged in September 2003 after completing his service obligation.

Gonzalez enlisted a second time, in July 2005, and served until his retirement in late 2012.

During this period, he was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, and the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Ford Hood.

Gonzalez served in Iraq from October 2006 to January 2008, according to the Army.

Obama and his daughters had just left the White House by helicopter Friday evening when the intruder hopped the fence.

The intruder ran toward the presidential residence unimpeded, ignoring orders from officers to stop, until being tackled just inside the doors of the North Portico — the grand, columned entrance overlooking Pennsylvania Ave.

"Every day the Secret Service is challenged to ensure security at the White House complex while still allowing public accessibility to a national historical site," the agency said in a statement Saturday. "Although last night the officers showed tremendous restraint and discipline in dealing with this subject, the location of Gonzalez's arrest is not acceptable."

With questions mounting, President Barack Obama tried to allay concerns about whether the Secret Service is still up to the task of protecting him and his family.

"The president has full confidence in the Secret Service and is grateful to the men and women who day in and day out protect himself, his family and the White House," White House spokesman Frank Benenati said late Saturday.

The Secret Service said its Office of Professional Responsibility was carrying out the review.

The breach triggered a rare evacuation of much of the White House. Secret Service agents drew their weapons as they hurried White House staffers and journalists out of the West Wing through a side door.

Less than 24 hours after Gonzalez's arrest, a second man was apprehended after he drove up to a White House gate and refused to leave, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said, prompting bomb technicians in full gear to search the vehicle as agents briefly shut down nearby streets.

On Sunday, Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary identified the man as Kevin Carr, 19, of Shamong, N.J.

There were no indications the two incidents were connected. But they only intensified the scrutiny of the Secret Service, which is struggling to rehabilitate its image following a series of allegations of misconduct by agents in recent years, including agents on Obama's detail.

The boy told police he was shot in the vicinity of Essex and Myrtle streets some time before 11 p.m. Friday. He walked to his home and had his mother drive him to the hospital, police said.

Conor Berry | cberry@repub.com 

The male victim, whose age wasn't released, told police that he was hit by gunfire from a passing car while walking near Essex and Myrtle streets, according to Springfield Police Lt. Richard LaBelle.

The boy walked to his home and was taken to the hospital by his mother, LaBelle said.

The gunshots reportedly came from a blue Subaru station wagon with three occupants, police said.

An update on the boy's condition wasn't immediately available. No arrests had been made as of early Sunday afternoon, Sgt. Roy Carter said.

Police reported ShotSpotter activations in the Pasco Road and Worcester Street areas around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, but it wasn't immediately clear if those gunfire reports were related to juvenile's injuries.

Nine days after a gunman opened fire in a deadly ambush at a Pennsylvania state police barracks, authorities said Sunday they have recovered one of the weapons he was carrying and believe they are hot on his trail.

CANADENSIS, Pa. -- Nine days after a gunman opened fire in a deadly ambush at a Pennsylvania state police barracks, authorities said Sunday they have recovered one of the weapons he was carrying and believe they are hot on his trail.

Investigators said they believe the alleged gunman they describe as a self-taught survivalist had been planning a confrontation with law enforcement for months, if not years.

Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens revealed a few more details about the manhunt for Eric Frein, saying trackers have discovered items he hid or abandoned in the woods -- including a gun they believe he had been carrying while on the run.

"We are pushing him hard, he is no longer safe and I am confident he will be apprehended," Bivens said.

The search is focusing on a several square-mile area on the border of Pike and Monroe counties around the village where Frein grew up, Bivens said.

"We know that Frein has prepared and planned extensively for months, and maybe years," Bivens said. "He planned his attack and his retreat."

Bivens said Frein had the advantage of knowing the "rugged terrain" around the area initially, but does not any longer.

"Our tactical operations people now also know his backyard, the area he once felt safe in," Bivens said.

No contact had been made with Frein, who was placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list after the Sept. 12 shooting at a nearby police barracks that left one trooper dead and a second wounded.

Bivens said authorities did not yet know if the gun they recovered had been used in the shooting.

Although Bivens did not say what police believe was Frein's motive, he said Frein had been planning a confrontation with police.

Bivens said Frein had covered perhaps 15 or 20 miles since the shooting last week and authorities do not believe he has contacted his family. Police also have no information that he's being helped by anyone, Bivens said.

Authorities lifted a shelter-in-place order on Saturday night in the Pocono Mountains community where the search has focused, although they continued to urge residents to be vigilant Sunday as the manhunt continues.

Bivens asked residents to report any shelters or bunkers that Frein may have constructed and also asked hunters to review footage from trail cameras set up to track wildlife.

Heavily armed police and federal agents on Friday descended on the community where Frein, 31, had lived with his parents, ordering residents to stay inside their homes and preventing anyone outside the neighborhood from returning to their homes. Law enforcement officers wearing bulletproof vests and armed with rifles scoured the woods as helicopters buzzed overhead.

Residents are being urged to keep doors locked, keep their yards well-lit and report suspicious persons or vehicles. They should also stay out of the dense, boggy woodlands where the search was underway, authorities said.

The accident caused Route 202 to be closed for about an hour.

This story was updated at 7:23 p.m.

NEW SALEM – Massachusetts State Police are investigating the cause of a three-car accident that sent several people to the hospital.

The accident happened on Route 202 at about 1:25 p.m. Sunday. It closed the road for about three hours and caused traffic to be diverted. The street is now open, a state trooper said.

The number of people injured in the accident was not known immediately.

Masslive will update as soon as more information becomes available.

The accident happened on Congamond Road.

SOUTHWICK - Local police are investigating the cause of a single-car accident that happened Sunday morning.

The accident happened at 10:06 a.m. near 44 Congamond Road, police said.

The female driver was injured and was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield by the Southwick Fire Department ambulance and Westfield Advanced Live Support.

Southwick police did not say how serious the woman's injuries are. She was alone in the car at the time of the accident.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Eastern States Exposition fair is about half-way through its 17-day run. Over the past 10 days people have been sending out messages about the animals, the amusement park rides, the traffic, the music and the food. Here are some of the Tweets from the past weekend. [View the story "The Big E: What People are Tweeting"...

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Eastern States Exposition fair is about half-way through its 17-day run.

Over the past 10 days people have been sending out messages about the animals, the amusement park rides, the traffic, the music and the food. Here are some of the Tweets from the past weekend.

State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens revealed a few more details about the manhunt for Eric Frein.

CANADENSIS, Pa. -- Nine days after a gunman went on a deadly ambush at a northeastern Pennsylvania state police barracks, authorities said Sunday they have recovered one of the weapons he was carrying and believe they are hot on his trail as he travels on foot through nearby rugged forests.

Investigators said they believe the suspect they describe as a self-taught survivalist had been planning a confrontation with law enforcement for months, if not years.

State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens revealed a few more details about the manhunt for Eric Frein, saying trackers have discovered items he hid or abandoned in the woods -- including an AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition they believe he had been carrying while on the run.

"We are pushing him hard, he is no longer safe and I am confident that he will be apprehended," Bivens said.

Authorities did not yet know if the weapon had been used in the ambush, he said. Still, police believe Frein remains dangerous and possibly armed with a .308 rifle with a scope that police say was missing from the family home along with the AK-47.



Since the Sept. 12 shooting, there have been no confirmed sightings of or contact with Frein, who was placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list after the ambush at the Blooming Grove police barracks that killed Cpl. Bryon Dickson, 38, and critically wounded Trooper Alex Douglass.

The search is focusing on a several square-mile area on the border of Pike and Monroe counties around the village where Frein grew up, Bivens said.

"We know that Frein has prepared and planned extensively for months, and maybe years," Bivens said. "He planned his attack and his retreat."

Bivens said Frein initially had the advantage of knowing the rugged terrain around the area.

"Our tactical operations people now also know his backyard, the area he once felt safe in," Bivens said.

Heavily armed police and federal agents on Friday descended on the community of Canadensis where Frein, 31, had lived with his parents, ordering residents to stay inside their homes and preventing anyone outside the neighborhood from returning to their homes. Law enforcement officers wearing bulletproof vests and armed with rifles scoured the woods as helicopters buzzed overhead.

Police ordered the lockdown, believing that Frein was close and there was the possibility of a confrontation, Bivens said. Now, they are telling residents to go about their normal lives but remain vigilant, keep their doors locked and stay out of the dense, boggy woodlands where the search is underway.

Bivens said police cannot "100 percent" guarantee the safety of area residents but said officers are doing their best to ensure that Frein is not in the immediate area of where most of them live.

Although Bivens declined to discuss what police believe was Frein's motive or mindset, he said they believe Frein is focused solely on attacking police, not civilians. Police are in contact with area schools that closed Thursday and Friday because of the manhunt, and it is up to them when to reopen, Bivens said.

Asked whether it was foolish of Frein to return to the area where he lived, Bivens replied, "I don't say that it was well-planned, I say that it's been planned."

Bivens said Frein had covered perhaps 15 or 20 miles on foot since the shooting and authorities do not believe he has contacted his family. Police also have no information that he's being helped by anyone, he said.

Bivens asked residents to report any shelters or bunkers that Frein may have constructed and also asked hunters to review footage from trail cameras set up to track wildlife.

Three other people were injured and brought to Athol Hospital by ambulance.

NEW SALEM – One victim of a three-car accident was seriously injured and flown to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester by helicopter Sunday afternoon.

The accident also injured three other people who were transported to Athol Hospital by ambulance, State Police Lt. Daniel Richard said.

The accident happened at about 1:25 p.m. on Route 202 near the New Salem General Store. Initial reports had said the crash occurred in Shutesbury but that was incorrect, Richard said.

The accident involved three cars, a 2004 pickup truck, a 2013 Honda Civic and a 2011 Toyota Corolla. Police could not say which drivers and passengers were hurt or give information about the injured.

A portion of Route 202 was closed until about 4:30 p.m. and traffic was rerouted down Cooleyville Road in New Salem, he said.

The accident is under investigation by the state police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Unit. The cause is not known yet, he said.

Fire and Rescue squads from New Salem and Orange assisted at the accident. The state Department of Transportation assisted in traffic control, he said.

This is a breaking story. Masslive will update when more information is available.

In the race to become the next governor of Massachusetts, Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Baker are tied, according to a new poll released on Sunday.

In the race to become the next governor of Massachusetts, Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Baker are tied, according to a new poll released on Sunday.

The Rasmussen Reports telephone survey conducted from Sept. 16-17 revealed that both candidates are pulling support from 42 percent of likely Nov. 4 voters with just 5 percent saying they prefer one of the three independents in the gubernatorial race.

The poll, which gauged the opinions of 750 likely voters across the commonwealth, determined that 10 percent are still undecided about who they will vote for, signaling that this very close election could go either way.

A Boston Globe poll of 407 likely voters conducted from Sept. 14-16 and released on Friday placed Coakley and Baker in a dead heat, with each respectively pulling support from 39 percent and 36 percent, a gap within the poll's 4.85 percent margin of error.

The Rasmussen Reports survey released on Sunday has a 4 percent margin of error.

The victim's former high school football coach described him as a passionate person who worked hard on the field and in the classroom.

SPRINGFIELD — Tavis Humphrey-Frazer, shot and killed in the city's Six Corners neighborhood Sunday evening, was remembered by his former high school football coach Monday afternoon as standout player who, after graduation, hoped to complete college as he strived to do the best for his young son.

Bill Watson — who first met Humphrey-Frazer when the latter was a middle school student and later coached him at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy — said he last saw the 20-year-old on Saturday during a football game at American International College.

Watson said he even had a chance to hold his former player's year-old son.

"He wanted to graduate college and he wanted to be the best father that he could be. That’s what he talked about on Saturday," Watson said. "He wanted to be the best father that he could be and he never got that chance."

Police Capt. Thomas Trites said Humphrey-Frazer was shot in the head as he drove down Smith Street in the Six Corners neighborhood about 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Tavis Humphrey-Frazer, shown in a 2011 portrait taken for The Republican when he was named by the newspaper as an All-Western Mass. football player.File photo / Michael S. Gordon / The Republican

Humphrey-Frazer, who graduated from Putnam in 2013, crashed a short distance away near Mill and Knox streets. He was pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center at about 11 p.m., Trites said.

Police continue to investigate and no arrests have been made, Trites said.

Watson said the young man's senseless death is a painful echo of another loss that he is still reeling from: the shooting death of another former Putnam football player, Caleb Daniels, on June 20.

"It just hurts," said Watson, now a coach at Central High School. "It hasn't sunk in fully. I haven't recovered yet from the loss of Caleb Daniels."

Like Daniels, Humphrey-Frazer dreamed of college and a better life, Watson said.
Watson said Humphrey-Frazer attended American International College for a semester last year but opted to get a job so he could better help take care of his young son.

"He was kind of fighting between staying in school leaving and getting a job so he could take care of his kid," Watson said.

Humphrey-Frazer had Putnam friends who are now playing football for Fitchburg State College, and he hoped eventually to enroll there to further his education, Watson said.

Watson described Humphrey-Frazer as a passionate person who worked hard in the classroom and on the football field. He played as a safety and a receiver, and earned a slot as a starter at Putnam in his sophomore year.

Watson said Humphrey-Frazer was a bit small for football player and would take a beating on the field — "but he would always just hop back up."

Humphrey-Frazer "always wanted to be better," Watson said. "He was always trying to do everything to please the people around him. Even if he did something wrong, he would come to you before you came to him."

Watson said he happened to be in the Six Corners neighborhood shortly after the shooting and he saw the yellow police tape that marked the crime scene.

"When I saw that tape I knew that it meant somebody had been murdered," Watson said, adding that he heard a short time later that Humphrey-Frazer had been shot.

A small length of that yellow tape remained near Mill and Knox streets early Monday afternoon.

Watson said he believes it is all too easy for young people to get caught up when violence breaks out on city streets.

"These kids are not in gangs but they are being labeled by the people that are around them and the side of the city that they live in," he said. "It can happen to anyone at any time. A kid can just be walking down the street….It happens so fast."

The young man's death marks the city's 12th homicide this year. Daniels' was the 6th.
Watson said he feels bad for Humphrey-Frazer's family — especially for his mother and for his son, who now faces life without a father.

"Now he has to go through the cycle of not having his father around, and all the difficulty that brings living out here," Watson said.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Harriet P. Skipton 

GRANBY - Harriet Perry (Close) Skipton, 87, of Burnett St, died peacefully Sept. 2 at home. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on March 22, 1927, she lived in West Springfield, and South Hadley, before moving to Granby in 1993. A graduate of Hall High School in W. Hartford, she furthered her education at Colby-Sawyer Junior College in New Hampshire, and then obtained her bachelor of arts degree from Russell Sage College in Albany, New York, in 1949. She worked as a physical education instructor at Mount Holyoke College prior to starting a family. She was a member of the Center Church in South Hadley and was a longtime member of its choir. Her enjoyment of singing extended to the Springfield Symphony Chorus and the South Hadley Chorale. An avid skier and ski instructor, she also enjoyed golf and tennis. She was a 30 year member of the Orchards Golf Course. She was also an active volunteer for Hospice Life Care in Holyoke.

The jury's $1.3 million award was the largest in, at least, the city's recent history.

This is an updated version of a story posted at 3:42 this afternoon.

SPRINGFIELD - A federal jury on Monday awarded the mother of a teen struck and killed in traffic during a confrontation with police $1.3 million in damages.

Delano Walker Jr. 

After roughly seven hours of deliberations, the nine-member panel found that police officer Sean Sullivan violated the civil rights of Delano Walker Jr. during an encounter on July 16, 2009. Testimony over a three-day trial in U.S. District Court last week diverged on what happened when Sullivan and his partner, Sgt. Peter Albano, stopped Walker, 15, and two friends on their bikes on that night.

Witnesses said the officers stopped the boys as they emerged from an auto sales parking lot on East Columbus Avenue just after 10 p.m. The officers were on a special detail to combat a rash of car break-ins downtown that summer. Dominick May, a witness for plaintiff Kissa Owens, Walker's mother, said Sullivan grabbed repeatedly for Walker's throat when he didn't immediately terminate a cell phone call.

May told jurors Sullivan sent Walker spinning back into the path of an oncoming car. Sullivan and Albano testified that Walker was immediately combative with police and began reaching for something in his pocket, then danced backwards into traffic.

The driver of the Toyota Camry that plowed into Walker was not charged.

A lawsuit filed by Owens in 2012 alleged civil rights violations including excessive force, reckless intent, false arrest, assault and battery and wrongful death. Jurors found in favor of the plaintiff on the matters of the civil rights violations, reckless intent and assault and battery. It found in favor of Sullivan on the false arrest and wrongful death counts.

The jury returned its unanimous verdict just after 3 p.m. When the damages were announced, a silence fell over the courtroom. Walker's family and supporters filled half the gallery throughout the trial.

"I wouldn't say 'I won," Owens, of Springfield, said after the verdict. "Nothing will bring my son back. 'I won' would be my son walking through the door. I would say justice was served."

Owens was the final plaintiff's witness to testify. She told jurors the last time she heard her son's voice was over the phone when he assured her he would be home soon.

"Maybe this will set the new standard for the police - not only for my son but all the ones who come after him," Owens said.

Plaintiff's attorneys David Hoose and Luke Ryan said the jury's message was more important than the award.

"The number is less important. The fact that a jury of nine people from Western Massachusetts found that Delano Walker's civil rights were violated by the police was just a huge statement to me," Hoose said. "The testimony the police gave at this trial showed an appalling lack of understanding of what justifies a lawful stop."

The jury's award was the largest in, at least, the city's recent history. The fact that the the plaintiff prevailed on the federal civil rights claim also entitles Owens' lawyers to attorney's fees.

Sullivan, a 16-year-veteran of the police force, declined to comment after the verdict.

"We're exploring all of our legal remedies," his attorney, Kevin Coyle, said afterward.

Another lawyer for the city immediately called the mayor's office after the jury and U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni filed out of the courtroom.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno extended his condolences to Walker's family.

"At this juncture we will take stock of our legal options and mostly likely appeal the verdict," Sarno said through a spokesman.

The family of Benjamin Schoolfield received approximately $700,000 after the unarmed 20-year-old black motorist was shot by police in 1994. Another motorist, Melvin Jones III, received a $575,000 settlement from the city after he was severely beaten by former patrolman Jeffrey Asher during a traffic stop in 2009. That incident was caught on amateur video.

The top site is 10 Post Office Park.

WILBRAHAM – The Police Station Building Feasibility Committee is evaluating three sites for a new police station and listed 10 Post Office Park, east of Monson Savings Bank, as its number one site. The owner of the site is the Glen Garvey Group of Wilbraham.

There are two other sites the committee is considering – 105 Post Office Park and 2780 Boston Road adjacent to the police station.

Assistant Town Administrator Thomas Sullivan said he will investigate the process for getting an appraisal of the sites and report back to the committee at its Oct. 6 meeting.

Architect Jeff McElravy at a Monday afternoon meeting held at the police station presented conceptual drawings of a new 16,500-square-foot police station.

The new police station, which would replace the current 100-year-old police station on Main Street, would be a two-level structure with a walk-out basement, McElravy said.

The drawings show a community/training room, a dispatch room, a shift commander room, captains’ offices, a records room, a break room, a conference room and a chief’s office.

The lower level would include a prisoner processing area, female, male and juvenile prison cells, an evidence room, male and female locker rooms, a laundry room, a roll call area and two sally ports.

McElravy said there are various materials which can be used to build a new police station.

Most durable are steel-framed structures and brick structures, he said.

A new police station would be required by law to have an automatic sprinkler system, he said.

McElravy said he is thinking of a design with a pitched roof which will match the character of other traditional New England buildings.

In keeping with the traditional character of New England buildings, McElravy said he is thinking of having four steps up to the first level of the building.

A proposed new police station would need approval by the voters at the May annual town meeting and by voters of a debt exclusion override question at the ballot box.

A Senior Center Building Committee also is preparing to hire an architect to design a new 15,000-square-foot senior center.

Westfield police say that as officers arrested a man on Friday who is accused of sexually assaulting a teenager, they realized he had a loaded gun right beside him while he was speaking with police.

WESTFIELD – Westfield police say that as officers arrested a man on Friday who is accused of sexually assaulting a teenager, they realized he had a loaded gun right beside him while he was speaking with police.

Donald F. Stenico, 54, of Westfield, is charged with four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years old or over, three counts of improper storage of a firearm, three counts of possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card and two counts of possession of a large capacity firearm.

Det. Anthony Tsatsos wrote in his report that Stenico sexually touched a teenaged girl on five occasions during an 18-month period. Court documents say Stenico had sexual contact with a total of three minors.

Tsatsos said Stenico would give “full body massages” at his home during which he inappropriately touched the teen without her consent. Tsatsos wrote that Stenico made the girl take off her clothes and stand on a five-gallon bucket at his workplace, a Westfield trucking company, and he proceeded to “wash” her.

Tsatsos said that Friday he called Stenico at home and asked him to come to the police station. Stenico told police he was concerned about traffic and said it was more convenient if they would come to his apartment on Southampton Road.

Stenico’s wife told police that he kept guns in the house, so when they knocked on the door and Stenico said they could enter, they asked about his guns, Tsatsos said. Stenico told officers the guns were not secure, and after police said they were going to arrest him, Stenico agreed to let officers take the guns to the station.

Tsatsos said officers found a Ruger Mini-14 rifle in the closet and a Hi-Point .40 pistol in a case under the bed. They also found an empty box for a Bersa Firestorm .380 pistol, Tsatsos said. When officers asked where the pistol was, Stenico did not answer.

Tsatsos said officers found the missing pistol leading against the recliner Stenico was sitting in when officers entered. The gun was on the floor to the right side of the chair and within reach, he said.

Tsatsos said the gun was loaded and there was a round in the chamber.

According to the report, there was also a round chambered in the pistol beneath the bed, and none of the guns had trigger locks. Stenico had no firearm identification cards and no active license to carry, the report said.

Officers found three 30-round magazines and two 20-round magazines for the rifle, the report said.

At Stenico’s Monday arraignment in Westfield District Court, Judge Philip Contant held him without right to bail pending a Wednesday detention hearing.

According to court records, Stenico was charged with assault and battery in 1998 and his case was continued without finding. Four abuse prevention orders from separate plaintiffs have been filed against Stenico.