Regional Roundup: Robbery Suspects Arrested in Foxborough, Easton Teens Arrested for Breaking and Entering, and More

Mansfield Selectmen Decide to Euthanize Milo the Dog

Mansfield selectmen voted 3-2 to euthanize Milo the dog Wednesday after hearing from both the victim's family and the dog's family.

The dog reportedly attacked 6-year-old Christian Hebert on Jan. 3 while at the house of the dog's owner Michael Bailey.

After the vote, the Baileys said they would try to appeal the ruling in court.

The board heard statements from both sides as well as from Mansfield animal control officers Jeffrey Collins and Steve Simmons.

Collins said while he met the dog only once, Milo seemed to be calm and docile in front of a stranger, but the severity and depth of the bites, based on hisexperience and the Dunbar system, were excessive.

"I have several dozen cases of various people that have been bitten ranging from a minor bite in the hand to a young lady who was knocked by two dogs, who worked as a pack, ravaging her shoulder and head," he said. "This bite is excessive."

Collins recommended the dog be euthanized after determining the dog's aggressiveness and danger using the Ian Dunbar scale, which determines the animal's intentions by examining the number, degree and depth of the dog's bite.

Two Easton Teens Arrested For Breaking and Entering on Washington Street

Easton Police arrested two teens Monday morning for allegedly breaking into a vacant strip plaza at 750 Washington Street.

George Holyoke-Spencer, 17, of 24 Center Street and a 15-year-old juvenile from Easton were charged with breaking and entering a building during the daytime, malicious damage to property and larceny, according to Easton Police Chief Allen Krajcik.

Krajcik said police first received a call at approximately 8:45 a.m. from a resident who reported seeing two suspicious males at the strip mall. The witness said he saw the males smash a window with a bat and gain entrance. The call resulted in the arrival of cruisers to make the arrest.

Police Arrest Pair of Rhode Island Robbery Suspects in Foxborough

Foxborough police arrested two suspects in a Rhode Island robbery case Monday night at a local hotel after receiving information from the Providence Police Department, according to police logs.

Kevin P. Cunningham, 27, of Norwood and William Bryce Donovan, 19, of Hingham were arrested at America’s Best Value Inn at 105 Washington St. in Foxborough at 8:49 p.m. and charged with the following:

• Cunningham - Three default warrants; receiving stolen property over $250; grave marker removal

• Donovan - Receiving stolen property over $250; grave marker removal

Norton Thinking About Chapter 40B Reform

Selectmen voted 5-0 Thursday to allow a new town meeting warrant article in May that would allow the town to seek special Norton-only legislation concerning Chapter 40B, helping Norton to fill its quota.

The Chapter 40B Affordable Housing statute in Massachusetts requires at least 10 percent of the town’s available housing be what the state has deemed low-cost. Currently, Norton has 6,707 units of housing available in the town and would need 671 affordable units. Norton town counsel Ilana Quirk said the town of Norton has an additional 310 units of affordable housing in planning, but those don’t count in the SHI after a year if by that time they don’t have a building permit.

The warrant article at the special town meeting would, if passed by a counted majority, allow the town to approach state legislators with the legislation that would allow Norton to count those 310 additional units if they are allowed to get a building permit and have not yet obtained one.

Walmart Scraps Plans for Seekonk Supercenter

As is frequently the case throughout the country, Walmart's proposal to build a supercenter store in Seekonk had its supporters and opponents, and the subject often led to some intense community debate. The two sides can call a truce because the company has taken the project off the table.

"We have made a business decision not to move ahead with a new supercenter in Seekonk," wrote Walmart spokesman William C. Wertz in an email to Seekonk Patch. "Our existing store will continue to serve the community. We don’t have any future plans to announce at this time, but we remain interested in growth, and we're always evaluating opportunities to serve more customers and give Massachusetts residents new options for jobs and affordable food."