This Just In

By SCOTT JACKSON

The Walmart location in Quincy has reopened days after police said a man intentionally set a fire inside the store.

The store reopened at noon on Thursday.

Firefighters were called to the Walmart at 301 Falls Blvd. just before 6:30 p.m. on Monday, according to Capt. John Dougan of the Quincy Police Department. When they arrived, firefighters saw fire and heavy smoke coming from the building, and people running from the store.

When police arrived, Dougan said one man standing near the front door “caught the officers’ eyes” as he matched the description of the party who was believed to have started the fire. Dougan said police asked the man if he had started the fire, to which the suspect responded, “yeah, I started the fire.”

The suspect – identified as Ronald Wulfer, a 35-year-old homeless man from Quincy – was then arrested and brought to police headquarters. Dougan said officers found a Bic lighter in Wulfer’s possession, which Wulfer said he used to start the fire.

Wulfer also told officers he started a fire at a wooden fence outside the Roche Bros at 101 Falls Blvd. on Sunday evening, Dougan said.

Dougan said Wulfer was charged with two counts of arson, one count of defacing property and one count of disorderly conduct. Arraignment information was not immediately available Thursday.

By SCOTT JACKSON

A Weymouth man has been charged with robbing the Quincy Credit Union on Tuesday after turning himself into police.

Capt. John Dougan of the Quincy Police Department said officers were called to the credit union’s main branch at 100 Quincy Ave. around 1 p.m. on Tuesday for a report of an unarmed robbery.

Dougan said the suspect – a white male blue sweatshirt, gray hat and a backpack – approached a teller and passed a noting demanding. The suspect was given a $20 bill and fled the bank. After leaving the bank, Dougan said the suspect removed his sweatshirt and hat and, in the process, dropped the bill.

At approximately 6:15 p.m. that evening, Dougan said Weymouth police contacted Quincy police and said a man had entered the police station and told officers he had robbed the Quincy Credit Union about five hours earlier.

The suspect, identified as Alexander Montanaro, 35, of Weymouth, was then arrested on a charge of unarmed robbery.  Arraignment information for Montanaro was not immediately available Thursday.

By SCOTT JACKSON

The principal at South West Middle School in Quincy said an investigation is underway to identify whoever left hateful graffiti including a racial slur inside one of the school’s bathrooms and pledged to hold the responsible party accountable.

Derek Lakey, the school’s principal, said the graffiti was found in the bathroom on Tuesday.

“Hateful graffiti including a racial slur was found in one of our restrooms today,” Lakey wrote in an open letter.  “This graffiti is extremely offensive to the entire school community and will not be tolerated at South West Middle School.  An investigation is underway and the offensive graffiti has been removed.  Please know that those identified as involved in this misconduct will be held accountable and appropriately disciplined.

“Moving forward, we will use this incident as an opportunity to reinforce that as a school community, we stand for respect and inclusion.  At South West Middle School, we pride ourselves on providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for staff and students.  We will continue to emphasize these values at every opportunity inside and outside the classroom.”

Lakey invited anyone concerned about the incident to reach out to him or other staff members.

“If you or your student have concerns about this incident, please feel free to reach out to me at 617-984-8729 or via email at dereklakey@quincypublicschools.com,” he wrote.  “Assistant Principal Susan Foley (susanfoley@quincypublicschools.com) and Guidance Counselors Shane Abboud (shaneabboud@quincypublicschools.com) and Jill Kyranis (jillkyranis@quincypublicschools.com) are available to speak with you or your student as well.”

The graffiti at South West Middle School was discovered one day after a student with the GOALS program – which is located in a building on Hunt Street in North Quincy – was charged with bringing a handgun to school.

In an open letter published Monday, the date of the incident, Supt. Kevin Mulvey said the student admitting having the handgun with them inside the GOALS building. Before police could arrive, Mulvey said the student fled to the North Quincy MBTA station and boarded a train. The train was stopped before leaving the station, however, and the student was arrested without incident.

“This morning, a student at the GOALS program was found to be in possession of a weapon, specifically a handgun.  The student was quickly removed to an administrative area of the building and the student admitted to having a handgun on their person because of safety concerns outside of school. A GOALS administrator alerted the Quincy Police Department, Director of Safety & Security Michael Draicchio, and me,” Mulvey wrote.

“Anticipating the Quincy Police Department’s arrival, the student fled from the GOALS building to the North Quincy MBTA station and boarded a train.  The Quincy Police Department notified the MBTA Police and the train was stopped before departing the station. After a search of the train, the student was identified and arrested without incident at the North Quincy MBTA station and the handgun was confiscated by the police.”

Mulvey thanked school staff and police for their response to the incident.

“My sincerest thanks go to the staff of the GOALS program, due to their actions and the support of the Quincy Police Department and the MBTA Police Department, this very serious event ended without injury to any member of the community.  As you know, safety and security is very important to all of us here at Quincy Public Schools and I want to stress that the student did not threaten any staff members or students at any time,” he said.

“Please contact me at kevinmulvey@quincypublicschools.com or at 617-984-8701 if you have questions or concerns.”

Mayor Thomas Koch, in a statement, commended the response by school staff.

“From the initial response to the resolution, the school staff and our police officers did a truly excellent job in handling this incident and ensuring it ended the way it did,” he said.

By SCOTT JACKSON

Quincy city councillors on Monday called upon state officials to enforce the existing commercial traffic ban on Furnace Brook Parkway.

Councillors unanimously approved a resolution – put forward by Charles Phelan Jr., Brian Palmucci and Anne Mahoney – asking the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which owns the road, and State Police to enforce the commercial traffic ban.

Phelan said smartphone apps like Waze are directing drivers of commercial vehicles to cut through Furnace Brook Parkway and abutting neighborhood roads, even though commercial trucks are prohibited from using the parkway.

“What I have had problems with is huge tractor-trailers coming down Furnace Brook Parkway…taking turns off of Waze and going into neighborhoods. It let up a little during the pandemic but now it is starting to kick back up and there are huge delivery trucks that the street was never meant for,” Phelan said.

“These tractor-trailers will come down side streets, get caught in the middle of the street, and you have a disaster.”

Phelan suggested copies of the resolution should be sent to State Police and members of Quincy’s delegation on Beacon Hill to emphasize the importance of enforcing the commercial traffic ban.

“These roadways were never meant for this kind of heavy traffic on them,” Phelan said. “There are going to be a lot of cars – that is inevitable – but that is what is supposed to on them.”

Councillor Noel DiBona said he has heard from residents concerned about trucks on Furnace Brook Parkway and nearby roads over the past six years.

“You’re talking about going down the side streets – they are also going down do-not-enters and one-way systems sometimes. We have to prevent that from happening and I am happy that this is going forward,” DiBona said.

“I’m happy to see this come about and hopefully we can get this resolved as we move forward.”

Ward 6 Councillor William Harris delivery trucks should not be taking Furnace Brook Parkway and neighborhood streets.

“They are supposed to be going right onto the highway, not cutting through Furnace Brook Parkway, not going through our neighborhoods. It’s not right,” Harris said.

“This is a quality of life issue and that is what we are here to protect.”