OFFICER BRIAN SANCHIONI AND K-9 TITAN HONORED BY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Yesterday, Officer Brian Sanchioni and his K-9 partner, Titan, were recognized by the New England Patriots for their courageous actions during a life-saving incident earlier this year.

On April 28, 2025, Officer Sanchioni and K-9 Titan responded to a report of a missing 8-year-old boy. After an extensive search, Titan successfully located the child clinging to a small tree in a body of water. Thanks to the quick response and teamwork of Officer Sanchioni and Titan, the boy was rescued and brought to safety.

The duo were honored yesterday at Gillette Stadium and got to personally meet Patriots' owner Robert Kraft.

DRUG ARREST OUTSIDE MILFORD DISTRICT COURT

MILFORD — On Friday October 17, 2025, at approximately 12:20PM, the Milford Public Safety Communications Center received a call reporting a male and female using drugs inside a white Honda Accord in the parking lot of Milford District Court.

On arrival members of the Milford Police Detective Bureau made contact with a male occupant of the white Accord, Celso Souza Filho. While speaking to Filho, Detective observed a glass bong and a skinny, tubular glass pipe in the passenger area of the vehicle. Further investigation netted 1.3 grams of cocaine, 97 trazadone pills, a black digital scale and paraphernalia consistent with crack-cocaine use.

Celso Souza Filho, 45 and Jennifer Salamone, 36, of Marlborough, MA were charged with the following:

CLASS B DRUG POSSESSION
CLASS E DRUG POSSESSION

CONTACT JCOVINO@MILFORDPOLICE.ORG FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INQUIRES
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Milford Police Department and DEA to hold Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, October 25, 2025 at the Milford Senior Center.

Milford Police Department and DEA to hold Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, October 25, 2025 at the Milford Senior Center.

 

Milford, MA- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will once again conduct one of its most popular community programs:  National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10:00am – 1200pm.  The public can dispose of their unwanted prescription medications at the Milford Senior Center located at 60 North Bow St., with the assistance of the Milford Police Department.  The collection site will be located outside the front entrance to the Milford Senior Center.

 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.  Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that flushing these drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posed potential safety and health hazards.

 

Last April, during the Take Back Day, the DEA New England Field Division participated in the event.  There was a total of 4,472 law enforcement agencies that participated, over the course of four hours, 620,321 lbs. (310 tons) of expired, unused, unwanted prescription drugs were collected at 4,472 collection sites throughout the country. In Massachusetts, 176 law enforcement agencies participated collecting a total of 26,590 lbs. of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

 

Please help us in keeping our community safe from this dangerous hazard.

MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT RESULTS IN CAPTURE OF ARMED SUSPECT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15TH 2025

MILFORD — On Monday, September 22, 2025, the Milford Police Detective Bureau received information regarding threats made. Alexis Sierra, 23, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was observed brandishing a firearm and threatening to “shoot up” the victim’s residence.

As detectives responded to the area, they observed a gray 2023 Mercedes-Benz matching the description provided by the victim. The vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Due to the erratic operation creating a danger to the public, detectives discontinued the pursuit and notified both the Massachusetts and Rhode Island State Police to attempt to locate the vehicle, but it was not immediately found.

On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Milford District Court issued an arrest warrant for Alexis Sierra on multiple charges, including Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

Over the following weeks, Sierra was reportedly involved in multiple high-speed pursuits with Bellingham Police, Massachusetts State Police, Woonsocket Police, Providence Police, and Rhode Island State Police, evading capture each time.

On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Sierra was apprehended by the East Providence Police Department, concluding a multi-agency effort to locate and safely take him into custody.

“This arrest is a testament to the outstanding collaboration among local and state agencies across Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” said Chief Robert Tusino of the Milford Police Department. “Their coordinated efforts ensured that a dangerous individual was taken off the streets without further harm to the public.”

Alexis Sierra has been charged with the following crimes:

ASSAULT W/DANGEROUS WEAPON
THREAT TO COMMIT CRIME
NEGLIGENT OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE
STOP FOR POLICE, FAIL
STOP/YIELD, FAIL TO
SPEEDING IN VIOL SPECIAL REGULATION
STOP/YIELD, FAIL TO
PASSING VIOLATION
PASSING VIOLATION
UNLICENSED OPERATION OF MV
FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE

CONTACT JCOVINO@MILFORDPOLICE.ORG FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INQUIRES
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
*Booking photo courtesy of East Providence Police Department

OFFICER AND SUSPECT INJURED DURING WARRANT ARREST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY OCTOBER 14TH 2025

MILFORD — On Monday, October 13, 2025, at approximately 4:59 PM, the Milford Public Safety Communications Center received a call from Domingo Mejia, requesting police assistance to retrieve personal belongings from his former residence. Mejia required a police escort due to an active 209A restraining order.

While officers were enroute to meet Mejia at AutoZone, located at 161 East Main Street in Milford, dispatch confirmed that Mejia had an active probation violation warrants for Domestic Assault and Battery and Destruction of Property.

Upon arrival, officers informed Mejia of the outstanding warrant. When they attempted to place him under arrest, Mejia became combative, throwing punches at the officers. A Taser was deployed to gain control of the situation. Mejia subsequently fell to the ground, striking his head during the incident.

“Our officers acted swiftly and professionally to ensure the situation was brought under control without further harm, to themselves or the individual” said Milford Police Chief Robert Tusino. “I appreciate the restraint and sound judgment shown by the responding officers in a rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous encounter taking place in a location filled with members of our community.”

One officer suffered an injury to his hand, while Mejia was transported under arrest to Milford Regional Hospital. While in custody at Milford Regional Hospital, Mejia was causing a disturbance before being transferred to Boston Medical Center for treatment for an injury suffered from the fall. He remains in police custody on the following charges:

DISTURBING THE PEACE
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
RESIST ARREST
WARRANT ARREST
A&B ON POLICE OFFICER
A&B ON POLICE OFFICER
A&B ON POLICE OFFICER
A&B ON POLICE OFFICER

MILFORD POLICE SAFELY RESOLVE ARMED STANDOFF DURING WELL-BEING CHECK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY OCTOBER 7TH 2025

 MILFORD — On Monday, October 6, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., members of the Milford Police Department Family Services Unit responded to a residence on Congress Street in Milford to conduct a well-being check.

Upon arrival, officers entered the home with another resident and encountered Darren Esslinger. Without warning, the routine well-being check quickly escalated when Esslinger ran into the kitchen, stating that the officers were there to kill him.

As officers and the on-scene clinician approached the kitchen threshold, Esslinger grabbed a large kitchen knife and threatened to kill them.

At approximately 6:59 p.m., officers were able to successfully de-escalate the situation and take Esslinger into custody without injury.

“I’d like to commend the officers and clinician of our Family Services Unit for their professionalism and restraint” stated Milford Chief of Police Robert Tusino.  “So often we hear tragic outcomes to volatile situations such as this one.”

Darren Esslinger was charged with the following crimes and held on $10,000 bail:

ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO MURDER

ASSAULT W/DANGEROUS WEAPON

THREAT TO COMMIT CRIME

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

 

 

CONTACT JCOVINO@MILFORDPOLICE.ORG FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INQUIRES

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

 

 

HELP US LOCATE MISSING 19 YEAR OLD

🚨 MISSING PERSON – PLEASE SHARE 🚨

Our agency is seeking the public’s help in locating Julia Brown, age 19.

Julia was last seen by family at approximately 4:50 PM today at her home in Milford, MA. She was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with the word “LOVE” across the chest.

It is believed that Julia may have made her way to the Mohegan Sun area in Connecticut.

If you see Julia or have any information on her whereabouts, please call us immediately at 508-473-1113 or dial 911.

Please share this post widely to help us bring Julia home safely. Every share matters.

MILFORD POLICE CHARGE MAN WITH CRIMINAL HARASSMENT OF A POLICE OFFICER

MILFORD — On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at approximately 2:11 p.m., members of the Milford Police Department arrested Bruno Umbro, 54, of Milford, on a warrant for charges related to criminal harassment and intimidation.

The investigation began on August 7, 2025, after Umbro allegedly left several threatening voicemails and emails for a Milford Police Detective.

On September 23, 2025, the Milford District Court issued a warrant for Umbro’s arrest, which was executed later that day.

“Anyone who threatens or harasses members of the Milford Police Department will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Chief of Police Robert Tusino. “We will not tolerate any officer or their families being subjected to this type of behavior.”

Umbro has been charged with the following offenses:

  • Criminal Harassment

  • Annoying Telephone Calls/Electronic Communications

  • Intimidation of a Witness/Juror/Police/Court Official

MILFORD POLICE CHARGE JUVENILE WITH POSSESSION AND DISTRIBUTION

MILFORD — On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at approximately 12:42 PM, members of the Milford Police Detective Bureau observed a suspected drug transaction in the Prospect Heights area of Milford.

Following the transaction, detectives conducted a stop of a gray Toyota Corolla occupied by two juvenile males on Water Street. As a result of the nvestigation, Milford Police Detectives seized approximately $4,460 worth of marijuana and THC products, as well as $721 in cash.

“I’m thankful for the vigilance of our Detective Bureau and the assistance of our School Resource Officers,” said Chief of Police Robert Tusino. “Keeping drugs out of our schools is imperative to ensuring the safety and well-being of the students who attend them.”

At this time, a 17-year-old male has been charged with the following offenses:
• Possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance
• Possession of a Class D substance


CONTACT JCOVINO@MILFORDPOLICE.ORG FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INQUIRES
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.