Police/Court
Island first responders fielded a 10 member team for a Boston Strong First Responders workout marathon last weekend at Gillette Stadium. The 26-hour endurance event was a fundraiser for The One Fund Boston, which aids victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Acting behind closed doors, the Tisbury selectmen voted without dissent Monday to fire a Tisbury police officer who is the subject of a criminal complaint and who has had a recent history of misconduct.
Kelly Kershaw, 30, was terminated following a nearly three-hour executive session that was attended by the three town selectmen, their town administrator, Ms. Kershaw and her attorney. Her attorney told the Gazette later in the week that Ms. Kershaw, who had been employed with the police department since 2004, will take action to dispute the decision.
The Tisbury town hall was briefly evacuated Friday afternoon after officials received a suspicious letter that police described as "ranting" but not particularly worrisome.
The letter contained no "particular threat to anybody or any town," Tisbury police Sgt. Timothy Stobie said, and the building was evacuated out of an abundance of caution.
Drug task force officers arrested Fernando A. Jesurum, 26, after he arrived on the Island via ferry Tuesday night, Edgartown Det. Michael Snowden said in a statement of facts about the case. He was arraigned Thursday in Edgartown district court on charges of possession to distribute a class B drug (cocaine), subsequent offense and cocaine trafficking. Bail was set at $40,000 cash.
A hearing for Tisbury police officer Kelly Kershaw before the town selectmen has been rescheduled for Monday, June 10.
A New Hampshire man charged with vehicular manslaughter after an accident on the Vineyard last July that killed his son and his son’s girlfriend pleaded guilty to a lesser charge last Friday in Edgartown district court.
In an emotional scene at the courthouse, Thomas C. Jones, 54, pleaded guilty to negligent operation of a motor vehicle in the July 4, 2012 accident that led to the deaths of his son, Seth Jones, and Heather Laflamme. Two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation were dismissed. Judge Bernadette L.