Police/Court
Jury selection began today in Dukes County Superior Court for the murder trial of an Aquinnah man.
Ovando Eghill, 32, is charged with second degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly fatally stabbed an Edgartown man, Michael M. Trusty, on June 14, 2011.
According to police, the incident took place outside a Spring street home in Vineyard Haven. Mr. Eghill’s wife was previously married to Mr. Trusty, and both men were at Spring street to visit their children, police said.
The spring session of the superior court opened on Monday, when a Dukes County grand jury handed down three indictments: two men were indicted on charges stemming from an alleged assault in Oak Bluffs, and a Vineyard Haven man was indicted on drug charges.
A 30-year-old Vineyard Haven man has been cited for leaving the scene of property/damage after crashing his car through a guardrail on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road last week and abandoning it in a ravine.
Oak Bluffs’ new police officer, Seth Harlow, got a glowing review this week from police chief Erik Blake, described as having “an amazing ability to assimilate in any group, a maturity level that’s unmatched.”
Chief Blake said Mr. Harlow has been working on Martha’s Vineyard since 2009, beginning with Edgartown parking and traffic. He joined the Oak Bluffs force in the summer of 2011 and was asked to stay on. Chief Blake sponsored him last fall for the police academy, where he graduated in the top of his class.
Two Martha’s Vineyard men are facing drug charges after a Martha’s Vineyard Drug Task Force investigation into heroin distribution. Roan W. Elgart, 37, of West Tisbury, was arraigned on charges of possessing to distribute a class A drug (heroin), possessing to distribute a class E drug (Clonazepam), conspiracy to violate drug law, and possessing to distribute a class D drug (marijuana). Luke Depriest, 33, of Oak Bluffs, was charged with being present where heroin is kept and conspiracy to violate drug law.
Two men are facing charges including assault to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after a fight Saturday night in Oak Bluffs.
Patrece L. Petersen, 40, of Edgartown and Darryl Baptiste, 35, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were arraigned Monday in Edgartown District Court after police said they were involved in a fight at the Ritz Cafe.
Mr. Petersen was charged with assault to murder, assault and battery and disorderly conduct, and Mr. Baptiste was arraigned on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (razor) and assault and battery.