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.
MILFORD POLICE RESPOND TO PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT ON CENTRAL STREET
MILFORD — On Thursday, September 18, 2025, at approximately 8:07PM, the Milford Public Safety Communications Center received a 911 call from a male reporting he had struck a pedestrian with his vehicle near the Milford Highway Department, located at 30 Front St. in Milford, MA.
On Arrival responders located a 66-year-old male beneath the front end of a Ford F-250 pick up truck. The victim was transported via Community Ambulance to Milford Regional Medical Center before being airlifted to UMASS Memorial Hospital in Worcester, MA by Lifeflight.
The incident remains under investigation by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (CEMLEC) Accident Reconstruction Unit.
MILFORD POLICE INVESTIGATING PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT
MILFORD — On Thursday, September 18, 2025, at approximately 4:02 PM, the Milford Public Safety Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident involving a child.
First responders from the Milford Police and Fire Departments arrived on scene and located an 8-year-old female with upper body injuries. She was rendered aid at the scene and transported by ambulance to Milford Regional Medical Center before subsequently being airlifted via LifeFlight to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester.
The incident remains under investigation by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (CEMLEC) Accident Reconstruction Unit.
NATIONAL POLICE WOMEN'S DAY
Today is National Police Women's Day, we'd like to take a moment to recognize the continued contribution of the women in law enforcement and our department's female officers, Sgt. Kara Maguire, Detective Crystal Gallagher, Officer Felicia Gonzalez and Officer Ana Terrinha.
A DAY OF UNFORGETTABLE TRAGEDY
September 11, 2001 — a day of unforgettable tragedy.
Four coordinated attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people, injured thousands more, and left lasting health impacts on countless first responders and survivors. To honor those we lost, we must never forget.
9/11 holds special meaning for our agency. Milford Police Chief Robert Tusino was serving with the NYPD at the time of the attacks and responded to Ground Zero.
This morning at 8:46 a.m.—the moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower—we will hold a memorial radio acknowledgement across our emergency channels.
REMEMBERING FALLEN OFFICER HARRY W. BUTLER
Please take a moment to join us in remembering fallen officer Harry W. Butler.
Officer Butler was shot and killed while working in plainclothes with his partner in a residential neighborhood in response to individuals discharging firearms. Just after midnight, an individual approached the officers and asked what they were doing and who they were, when Officer Butler's partner responded that they were police officers the subject fired a revolver at point blank range striking Officer Butler in the face. A gang of a dozen or more men then appeared from the foliage in an ambush on the officers and exchanged gunfire with the officers. Officer Butler died at the scene.
Two men, 32 and 38, were arrested and charged with murder. Their trial resulted in the charges being dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Officer Butler was survived by his wife and three young children