For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Blackstone Police Department Updates the Community on Recent Criminal Activity

Officer Travis Loether Promoted to Detective

BLACKSTONE — As several ongoing criminal cases have recently come to a close, Chief Ross Atstupenas and the Blackstone Police Department would like to update the community on the department’s most recent successfully completed cases, and reassure residents that the Town of Blackstone remains a safe and vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

“Because of the delicate nature of certain criminal investigations, there are times where we cannot release all of the information that we would like to release to the community,” Chief Atstupenas said. “There have been some instances of violence striking our community recently, but we hope that, by providing as much information to the public as possible here, that we will reassure our residents that their police department acted swiftly and aggressively to identify those responsible.”

The Chief would like to update residents on the following incidents:

Aug. 25, 2014 Residential Burglary Solved

Police responded to a residential burglary on Fox Run Road. On Oct. 16, of this year, Blackstone Police were notified by the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab that blood collected as evidence from the crime scene matched that of THOMAS L. JONES, AGE 39, OF WOONSOCKET, R.I. Blackstone Police issued a warrant for JONES on Nov. 17, 2015. JONES is currently being held at the Rhode Island Adult Corrections Institution on unrelated charges.

March 24, 2015 Residential Burglary Solved

Blackstone Police responded to a residential burglary on Milk Street. On Oct. 1, Foxboro Police provided results of a search warrant from a burglary in their community that included evidence from the Blackstone burglary. The investigation has led to the identification of SHAWN SENAY, AGE 36, OF WOONSOCKET, R.I., as the suspect in the Foxboro and Milk Street burglaries. SENAY will be charged in the connection with the Milk Street burglary in the coming days, and is currently being held at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s House of Correction on related charges.

Nov. 9, 2015 Bank Robbery Solved

Blackstone Police Responded to a bank robbery at Unibank on Cheney Street on Nov. 9. A few days later, EDRED BUCHANAN, AGE 38, OF WOONSOCKET, R.I., was arrested on Nov. 13 by Providence Police and the FBI. BUCHANAN is suspected in bank robberies at the Blackstone Unibank Branch and six other banks in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He is currently being held at the Rhode Island Adult Corrections Institution. Federal charges are pending.

November 20 Homicide

Last month, on Nov. 20, Blackstone Police responded to a homicide on Mendon Street. Within 48 hours, police took WILLIAM HODGES, AGE 34, OF MILFORD, and BRENDAN BATES, AGE 25, OF MILFORD, into custody. On Monday, Nov. 23, HODGES and BATES were arraigned at Uxbridge District Court for murder.

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“I am extremely proud of the hard work put in by our Blackstone Police officers and investigators, and I am equally proud of the partnerships we have forced with our municipal, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that those allegedly responsible for commuting crimes in our community will face justice,” Chief Atstupenas said.

Officer Travis Loether Promoted to Detective

Chief Atstupenas is also pleased to announce that 11-year veteran Officer Travis Loether has been promoted to the rank of Detective.

“Detective Loether has done an impeccable job during his more than a decade with the department,” Chief Atstupenas said. “His promotion gives our department another vital investigative resource as we continually strive to close criminal cases swiftly and properly.”

Detective Loether started at the Blackstone Police Department in August of 2004 as a patrolman. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Norwich University, Military College of Vermont.

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