Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

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 dog’s 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.

 

 
Federal officials have frozen all child care payments to Minnesota, citing what they call widespread fraud in the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says no money will be released without receipts or photo proof, and an audit of Minnesota child care centers is now being demanded. Governor Tim Walz says his administration supports criminal prosecutions but argues the investigation unfairly targets the state's Somali community.        Search crews near San Antonio have found a body while looking for a missing 19-year-old woman. Bexar [[ bear ]] County deputies say the body was discovered in tall grass just a few hundred yards from Camila Olmos's home, along with a firearm at the scene. The body matches her clothing description, but officials say the medical examiner will confirm the identity and cause of death in the coming days.        A bunch of new laws take effect tomorrow. New social media limits for minors go into effect for Virginia, Minnesota and North Carolina. In California, there's a new law banning ICE agents from covering their faces while on duty. New York, Illinois, and Delaware have new laws that would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with medical assistance. New Jersey will require a thorough investigation of chronic school absenteeism in 2026. And, the minimum wage is going up in 17 states starting January 1st.        A political fight is spilling onto the Kennedy Center stage after several artists canceled upcoming appearances. The dropouts come after the Trump-appointed board voted to rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a move critics say would require congressional approval. Center President Ric Grenell brushed off the cancellations, calling the artists far-left activists and saying boycotting the arts to support the arts makes no sense.        A judge is deciding whether to seal court records in the assault case involving New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The question comes after a motion hearing, as Diggs faces charges of assault and strangulation tied to an alleged incident where the accuser says she was attacked and choked.        French President Emmanuel Macron is choosing to stay away from the funeral of film icon Brigitte Bardot. Bardot, who died Sunday at 91, was celebrated for her role in French New Wave cinema and her animal rights activism, but her legacy was later marred by controversial anti-immigration remarks and multiple hate-speech convictions. Macron's office confirmed he will not attend next week's service, while far-right former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says she plans to be there.       

Old News Archives