Associated Press President Donald Trump, center, poses for a photos with Vice President Mike Pence, front left, and Bristol County, Mass., Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, front right, during an event with sheriffs in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.

LETTER: Sheriff should resign if he wants to work on Trump’s campaign

Posted Nov 29, 2019

In response to David Ehrens’ letter to The Standard Times of Sunday November 24, 2019 and Betty Ussach’s letter to the S-T today, Wednesday, November 27, 2019 I say “right on” David Ehrens and Betty Ussach.

Thank you both for your letters to the Standard Times. It is really important to continue to point out how poorly Sheriff Hodgson manages our jail.

I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of our Sheriff. He has indeed neglected his primary job of running a decent house of correction and jail. Both Mr. Ehrens and Ms. Ussach suggest that the sheriff must, and I quote David Ehrens here, “focus on managing the jail, running rehabilitation programs, and showing up at his Faunce Corner office every day to faithfully serve the communities of Bristol County, Massachusetts.” Yes he should. But he hasn’t to date and if history is any indication, he won’t. That is what he was elected to do. But now that he has been appointed honorary chair of Trump’s Massachusetts re-election campaign, I have an alternative suggestion.

Sheriff Tom Hodgson should consider stepping down as sheriff of Bristol County, as it is very clear first, that he is unable to run a respectable house of correction and give inmates the rehabilitation they need to stay out of his jail in the future and become contributing members of society. In addition, it is apparent that his ideology mirrors that of the president. An ideology of racism, bigotry, hatred of immigrants — never mind that every person in this country, unless Native American, comes from immigrant stock including Sheriff Hodgson himself.

Bristol County and the jail would be far better off with a new, more tempered, empathetic sheriff.

And finally, I also wonder about Hodgson’s ability to run the jail and find time to be involved with the president’s re-election campaign here in Massachusetts. Having personally been involved in numerous election/re-election campaigns, I know that campaigning is very time consuming, requiring long hours and high energy; therefore being involved in Trump’s Massachusetts re-election campaign will take away from his full time job.

So how exactly will he be able to manage our jail? I would urge Sheriff Hodgson to resign, effective immediately.

Laurie Bullard

Westport Point

Editor’s Note: David Ehrens, Betty Ussach and Laurie Bullard are members of Bristol County for Correctional Justice, a local group of people and organizations. According to BCCJ’s website, the group is concerned about about the treatment of inmates in Sheriff Thomas Hodgson’s custody at Bristol County House of Correction and Ash Street Jail.

$1,000 reward offered for capture and conviction of alleged New Bedford animal abuser, Miguel A. Martinez.

$1,000 reward offered for capture and conviction of alleged New Bedford animal abuser.

By Linda Roy

Posted Nov 21, 2019

NEW BEDFORD - Miguel A. Martinez still has an active warrant on him for animal cruelty after a video appearing to show him hitting a dog went viral in October. He has not been apprehended and remains at-large, according to New Bedford Police.

Now the Coalition for Animals of Greater New Bedford is stepping up and offering a $1,000 reward for the apprehension and conviction of Martinez.

“This kind of treatment of an innocent animal is reprehensible,″ said Coalition President Lauren Stamatis. “Our Coalition works to protect the animals in our community and we are horrified by this blatant act of violence and abuse.”

Miguel A. Martinez, 42, of 472 Cottage St., New Bedford, is wanted on animal cruelty charges after an online video showed him striking a dog at his Cottage Street residence Oct. 9.

The dog and her puppies were taken from the home by New Bedford Police and transported to Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment & Specialties, where tests indicated they were not injured in the attack.

"We are offering this reward from our established Animal Abuse Reward Fund to encourage the public to keep their eyes out for this individual, who needs to be brought to justice in the criminal court system,” Stamatis said.

In the video seemingly showing the dog being hit, a man in a grey jump suit, later identified as Martinez, appeared to be “torturing a small multi-colored dog throughout the video,” court records said. Martinez appeared to be holding “a long black object” and was swinging it at the dog. “The dog was then heard yelping loudly multiple times while attempting to get away from Mr. Martinez,” according to police. The dog ran on to a small deck with Martinez following and swinging the object at the dog.

Police met Martinez, who was wearing a grey sweatsuit, at his residence and the adult dog was inside his car, court records say. A woman, identified as Pilar Aguiar, 47, was present and said she blocked Martinez’s driveway, after seeing videos on Facebook of the suspected abuse.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Martinez is asked to call New Bedford Police Department tip line at 508-961-4584.

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