Woonsocket Police Department

242 Clinton Street Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895

Telephone (401) 766-1212 Fax (401) 765-4922

 

 

August 30, 2021

 

 

Man charged with Cruelty to Animals

 

Woonsocket, RI; On Friday August 27, 2021, K9 officer Jason Berthelette received a call about an abandoned dog (grey and white pitbull) tied to a tree by railroad tracks just off Arnold Street in Woonsocket. The dog had reportedly been there for at least an hour, without shade, water or food in approximately 93-degree heat.

Officer Berthelette located the dog and was able to free it from the tree to which it was tied and transported it to the Woonsocket Animal Control shelter and gave the dog appropriate treatment.

Through an exhaustive investigation, Officer Berthelette was able to identify the dogs owner as Melvin Shaw, 41 years old, of 209 Rathbun St. Woonsocket, RI.

Mr. Melvin Shaw appeared in 6th District Court this morning and charged with:

1. Cruelty to Animals (Felony)

2. Obstructing an Officer.

His bail is set at $2,500 with surety and must turn over all domestic animals in his possession. Mr. Melvin is scheduled to appear in Superior Court for a pre arraignment conference on 12/10/21.

Follow-up questions regarding this case can be made with Captain John Picard at 401-767-8832 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

 

Subzero conditions are bringing the chill to the eastern third of the country this week. Strong gusty winds will lead to dangerous wind chills, prompting extreme cold warnings and watches for the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest. More severe weather will be on the way as a major winter storm is expected to impact a huge area from Texas to the East Coast from Friday through the weekend.        President Trump says the framework of a long-term deal on Greenland is in place. Shortly after announcing the deal framework in a post on Truth Social, Trump told reporters the deal gives the U.S. everything it needs. He went on to call it an "infinite deal" that would last "forever."        ICE's latest operation is underway in Maine this week. According to Fox News, authorities arrested more than 50 people on Tuesday and more arrests were taking place on Wednesday. ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde said there are "approximately 14-hundred targets" in Maine, and it comes as part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown against illegal immigrants.        The YouTuber credited by Republicans for uncovering "billions of dollars" in fraud in Minnesota says his peers are done putting up with fraud in the government. Nick Shirley was one of four witnesses to appear before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance. Minnesota Democrat Governor Tim Walz said the firestorm from the fraud investigation was the main reason he's not seeking re-election.        A Navy admiral removed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says she's running for Congress. Three-star admiral Nancy Lacore was the head of the Navy Reserve before Hegseth removed her last August. On Tuesday Lacore registered to run for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District as a Democrat.        Heart disease is still the number one cause of death in the U.S. but fewer people are dying from it. That's according to a new report from the American Heart Association. The report shows heart disease death rates have dropped for the first time in five years.