Stoughton

JAMES J. FERNANDEZ, AGE 54, of STOUGHTON, was arrested by the Stoughton Police Department on drug charges on Tuesday, April 28. (Photo Courtesy Stoughton Police Department)

STOUGHTON — The Stoughton Police Department arrested a Stoughton man and seized crack cocaine and other evidence after executing a search warrant Tuesday evening.

JAMES J. FERNANDEZ, AGE 54, OF STOUGHTON, was arrested and charged with:

Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug (Subsequent Offense)

Distributing of a Class B Drug (Subsequent Offense)

On Tuesday, April 28, based on an ongoing narcotics investigation, Stoughton Police obtained a search warrant for a residence at 38 Wellesley Road, which was executed at about 6:12 p.m.

Four people were located inside. During the search, officers located approximately 11.9 grams of suspected crack cocaine that field-tested positive for cocaine base, multiple digital scales with white powder residue, plastic baggies commonly used for narcotics distribution and nearly $500 in cash.

The investigation revealed that the drugs allegedly belonged to FERNANDEZ.

FERNANDEZ was taken into custody and transported to the police station. He is currently on probation related to a prior narcotics conviction out of Stoughton District Court.

“This arrest is the result of proactive police work and an ongoing investigation into drug activity in our community,” Chief Donna McNamara said. “Our officers will continue to investigate and address illegal drug distribution in Stoughton.”

FERNANDEZ was arraigned Wednesday in Stoughton District Court. His bail was set at $2,500 related to the new arrest.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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The Stoughton Police Department has purchased the Emergency Birth Kit for every marked vehicle in its fleet – making it one of the first departments in Massachusetts to fully equip its patrol vehicles for emergency childbirth situations. The kits were developed by CORE4 Products LLC, a Medfield, Massachusetts-based company.

The acquisition comes just four months after a Christmas Day emergency delivery that drew national attention. Stoughton Police received a call at 6:12 am that a local woman was in active labor. Sergeant Albert Medeiros was first on scene, followed moments later by Officer Daisy Guzman. Together, the two officers helped deliver a healthy baby boy at 6:17 a.m. just five minutes after the initial call. The mother and child were transported to Boston Medical Center, where both were reported in good health. The story was covered by numerous Boston-area television and print news outlets, and other regional outlets.

“The events of Christmas morning reminded us that our officers can be called upon for any emergency at any moment,” said Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara. “Equipping every vehicle with an Emergency Birth Kit ensures our officers have the right tools for any situation our Officers might face.”

“What Sergeant Medeiros and Officer Guzman did on Christmas morning was heroic,” said Paul DeLuca, Founder and CEO of CORE4 Products. “Stoughton’s decision to equip every marked vehicle sends a powerful message to the community they serve: this department is committed to being prepared for every emergency, including the ones no one expects.”

The Emergency Birth Kit is the first single-use childbirth kit purpose-built for first responders. Each kit contains essential sterile OB supplies that enable officers to manage an unexpected childbirth situation until EMS arrives — or assist with delivery if advanced medical care is unavailable. The kit was officially introduced at the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Annual Conference on April 8, 2026.

Historically, officers and deputies have assisted in delivering babies in vehicles, on highways, during traffic stops, in parking lots, and outside hospitals in states from coast to coast. The Emergency Birth Kit closes that gap with a standardized, low-cost solution that reduces improvisation and supports accreditation and operational readiness standards.

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Feb. 15 is National School Resource Officer Day, a time to recognize the officers who serve in our schools and support student safety.

In Stoughton, the School Resource Officers for Stoughton Public Schools are Juvenile Detective Lindsay Bonda and Officer Tiani Paula. They primarily staff the middle and high schools and are a consistent presence in the school community.

As SROs, Detective Bonda and Officer Paula serve as visible and active law enforcement representatives in school buildings. They respond to police-related matters​ and work closely with faculty and administrators to address concerns​. They also serve as a direct liaison between the schools and the Stoughton Police Department, ensuring clear communication and coordinated support.

Our SROs play an important role in maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment.

We thank Detective Bonda and Officer Paula for their continued commitment to the students, staff and families of Stoughton!

Today, we recognize Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and thank all of our local officers, along with our local law enforcement partners. These are people who deeply care about the work they do and work hard every day to serve their communities.

We thank our community members who regularly show their support for our Police Department. We encourage everyone to take a moment today to thank their local law enforcement officers for keeping our communities safe through enforcement, ongoing educational initiatives and community engagement.

The Stoughton Police Department would like to remind residents of the dangers of ice during the winter, when ponds, lakes, and waterways freeze over.

No ice is 100 percent safe, as it is impossible to judge ice conditions by appearance or depth alone. Many factors, including water depth, body of water size, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, ice age, and local weather conditions, affect ice strength.

Falling through the ice can be extremely dangerous and often fatal. Residents should avoid walking or driving on ice-bound bodies of water. The department would like to share the following safety tips on what to do if someone falls through ice.

For more information and safety tips, visit the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ice-strength-and-safety

In recent months, there has been an increase nationally in reports of the “Door-Kicking Challenge,” a dangerous social media video trend in which teenagers record themselves aggressively kicking a homeowner’s door late at night and running away. This is intended to mimic a home invasion to capture the resident’s reaction and post it online. Though it may seem like a prank, participants risk facing criminal charges and unintended confrontations with homeowners.

We urge community members to refrain from this trend. The potential physical and emotional damage to all parties involved is not worth social media views. We encourage parents to discuss the consequences of this challenge with their children and ask that homeowners stay alert and report any experiences of this trend. Together, we can help keep our community safe.

Chief Donna McNamara reports that the Stoughton Police Department and law enforcement partners successfully de-escalated a situation involving an individual experiencing a mental health crisis.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, at about 11:41 a.m., the Stoughton Police Department responded to an apartment complex on Technology Center Drive for a report of an individual experiencing a mental health crisis who may be armed with a knife.

Officers determined the individual was alone and had barricaded themself in the apartment. Stoughton Police set up a perimeter to maintain public safety and requested assistance from the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (METRO-LEC) SWAT team, which includes specially trained crisis negotiators.

Through an investigation, police determined they could safely enter the apartment. The METRO-LEC SWAT team safely took control of the individual without incident, and there were no reported injuries.

The individual in crisis was connected with appropriate mental health services and is not facing criminal charges.

“Our priority from the start was to protect everyone involved and to resolve the situation without injury. The coordination displayed by our officers and our partners at the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council led to a safe outcome,” said Chief McNamara. “We are grateful for the successful resolution and that we are able to connect this individual with the appropriate services. I also want to thank the residents of the apartment complex for their cooperation and patience as officers worked to resolve the incident.”

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Chief Donna McNamara reports that the Stoughton Police Department, along with local and state law enforcement partners, is actively investigating a fatal crash. 

On Saturday, Dec. 20, at about 10:40 a.m., the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center notified the Stoughton Police Department that the they were monitoring a Brockton Police pursuit that had entered Stoughton.

Dispatch began providing Stoughton Police with reports about the location of the vehicle, which was reportedly driving erratically and evading police, and officers responded to the area to search for it, but were never actively engaged in the pursuit.

A short time later, dispatch notified Stoughton Police that the wanted vehicle, which was being pursued by a Brockton Police cruiser, crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Pleasant and Prospect streets.

Dispatch notified Stoughton Police that two men fled on foot from the vehicle. One of the men was quickly detained by Stoughton Police officers, and then taken into custody by the Brockton Police Department.

Following an extensive search of the area, including K-9 units and the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, the second man was taken into custody by Stoughton Police at Halloran Park.

One of the victims in the other vehicle involved in the crash, an 84-year-old Stoughton man, was transported by the Stoughton Fire Department to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

A second person in the vehicle, a 78-year-old Stoughton woman, was taken to a Boston hospital with serious injuries.

The crash is being investigated by the Stoughton Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Services Section.

All further inquiries should be directed to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.

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Today, on National First Responders Day, we pause to honor the bravery and sacrifice of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers.

These dedicated professionals put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and respond in times of crisis. We are grateful for their service and commitment.

We are proud to stand alongside our fellow first responders and grateful for the trust and collaboration that allows us to serve our community together.