Milford Year-in-Review: The Top 10 Police and Fire Stories of 2015

When it came to police and fire activity in Milford, 2015 was an interesting year.

This year, Milford Patch readers clicked on stories about a shooting on Valentine’s Day, a man killed while walking on Route 495, two men who were saved from a heroin overdose by Milford police, and a woman arrested on prostitution charges.

Based on pageviews, these were the most read police and fire stories on Milford Patch in 2015.

1. Milford Woman Arrested on Prostitution Charges - In May, a Milford woman was arrested on prostitution charges after an incident that saw a Rhode Island man attempt to run over a police officer. Police discovered the woman after she posted an advertisement on a website promoting sexual favors for $250. After agreeing to meet with an undercover police officer, she admitted that she intended to steal money from the men that she was scheduled to meet.
2. Hopkinton Man Killed in Milford Shooting - On Valentine’s Day, a Hopkinton man died after a gun battle on Saturday morning at the Holiday Inn Express in Milford. Around 10 a.m., a shooting was reported at the hotel located on Fortune Boulevard involving Thomas Coburn III, 51, of Hopkinton, Christian Nealon, 48, of Hopkinton, and a woman. Coburn was declared dead at the scene after shots were fired in the parking lot of the hotel.
3. Dead Body Found in Milford - In November, police received a report of a male on the ground on Cedar Street by Route 495. According to the entry in the Milford Police Log, the caller told police that the body was near a blue Nissan with a rifle and appeared to be expired.
4. Connecticut Man Killed After Leaving Vehicle on Route 495 - In May, a man identified as 29-year-old Benjamin Macaskill of Bristol, Conn. got out of a car near exit 20 on 495 South due to an argument. While walking in the center lane of the highway, he was hit by a tractor-trailer, and later pronounced dead at UMass Medical Center in Worcester.
5. Police: Huffing Glue Caused Car Crash - In March, police said a Sharon woman allegedly responsible for two car crashes in Milford was under the influence of keyboard cleaner and marijuana.
6. Milford Mother Discovers 10-Year-Old Daughter Tied to Chair - In August, Milford police received a call from a person who told police that his niece was tied up and a person pointed a gun at her while he was away from the room. The mother, whose identity has not been released, said the man entered the house through an unlocked door while her 10-year-old daughter was sleeping in a front room.
7. Police Save Two From Heroin Overdoses - In July, two men who overdosed on a strong heroin owed their lives to the Milford Police Department. The men, a 46-year-old from Mendon and a 48-year-old from Milford, were revived with the help of Narcan after passing out at a red light.
8. Milford Police Charge Four with Heroin Trafficking - In October, Milford Police Detectives, along with the DEA Worcester HIDTA Task Force, State Police Detectives assigned to District Attorney Joseph Early’s Office, and Hopedale Police Detectives arrested four individuals for trafficking in a class A substance.
9. Ex-Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charge - In July, former Blackstone Valley Tech teacher Charles Mattie, 28, formerly of Hopedale, pleaded guilty in Milford District Court to one charge of exhibiting a child in a nude or lascivious pose. As part of the sentence, Mattie must register as a sex offender, surrender his teaching license, and not take a job working with children.
10. Two Charged With 10 Counts of Larceny, 10 Counts of Credit Card Fraud - In August, police arrested two men who allegedly entered several unlocked vehicles in the Main Street area on the night of July 27 and the early morning hours of July 28. A wallet, among other items, was stolen from a car on South Bow Street and the ATM card in it was used on July 29 at 13 area stores for a total of $931.00. Video surveillance of several stores showed both parties making purchases using the stolen ATM card.