Mass. Crews Respond to an Out-of-Control Brush Fire

Police and firefighters responded to an out-of-control brush fire off Bass Avenue at 2:15 p.m. Monday.

The fire spread quickly and spewed black smoke over the area, but was under control by 3 p.m. Monday, officials said.

Raul Mena, 28, of Washington Square, was arrested at 1 p.m. Sunday on charges of larceny, unauthorized use of a credit card and forgery.

According to police, Mena allegedly used a credit card left behind by a customer at his workplace to buy more than $200 worth of items from the CVS and Walgreens in downtown Gloucester. Mena also allegedly attempted to use the card again, but balked when asked to show identification, police said.

Bisa Connors, 54, of Harrison Avenue was arrested at 1:22 p.m. Sunday on charges of drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

According to police, a report of a car driving erratically on Eastern Avenue matched the description of her car, and a witness claimed her car had been struck by the same driver. That woman called police to report that Connors had proceeded to hit a rock wall on Harrison Avenue multiple times while attempting to park.

When police spoke to Connors, she allegedly said she did not recall hitting anything; she also allegedly admitted to police that she had been drinking.

Michael Sprouse, 51, a local homeless man, was arrested at 1:02 p.m. Sunday on Harbor Loop on an outstanding warrant from Gloucester District Court.

Eric Aitken, 53, of no permanent address, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct at 1:56 p.m. Sunday.

Police said a Main Street woman called to report that Aitken was passed out outside of her door, and when police arrived, Aitken began to argue with the woman's boyfriend.

Police said they told him to be quiet or he would be arrested, but Aitken allegedly continued the quarrel, officers said.

Detectives are seeking criminal charges against a Veterans Way woman for allegedly possessing illegal narcotics.

The woman allegedly had several pills that she claimed she had a prescription for but could not identify, as well as rolled up dollar bills with white powder residue.

A Perkins Street man reported to police at 12:03 p.m. Saturday that his car was vandalized in the parking lot at Gloucester Crossing.

The man said he came out of the store to find a woman who told him his car had been "keyed," and that she had written down the license plate number of the person who did it. Police are investigating.

Copyright 2012 - Gloucester Daily Times, Mass.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service