Public Safety Archive

Attleboro, MA – August 17, 2025 — The Attleboro Fire Department faced an extraordinarily busy day on Saturday, August 16, responding to 50 calls for emergency service—marking one of the busiest shifts the department has seen this year. At two points during the day, firefighters were juggling seven simultaneous emergencies, prompting the department to request mutual aid from neighboring communities including North Attleborough, Seekonk, and Norton. What’s Behind the Surging Call Volumes? Summer weekends often bring a spike in emergency calls, with everything from vehicle accidents to medica…

Attleboro, MA – July 29, 2025 — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in mosquito samples collected from the Attleboro area. While no human cases have been reported locally, health officials are urging residents to take precautions to reduce their risk of mosquito bites. Experts recommend using insect repellents containing DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, especially during the peak mosquito hours at dusk and dawn. Residents are also encouraged to wear long sleeves, pants, and socks when outdoors and to remo…

A wild police chase ended in an unexpected way Monday morning when a driver jumped into a backyard swimming pool in Attleboro while trying to escape arrest. The chase began around 8:20 a.m. in Northborough and moved south on I-495 and I-95, eventually leading police into a residential neighborhood off West Street in Attleboro. According to Massachusetts State Police, the suspect, 43-year-old Shanna Tognarelli of Franklin, ditched her car and dove into a backyard pool before being taken into custody. No injuries were reported, and the suspect is now facing several charges. The incident invol…