New Bedford Police Sgt. Fernandes Found Not Dangerous
NEW BEDFORD — A decorated member of the New Bedford Police Department was found not to be a danger to the community at a dangerousness hearing on Wednesday.
Sgt. Joshua Fernandes was ordered to return to McLean Hospital, a psychiatric care facility in Belmont, MA. If there was no immediate availability at the hospital, Fernandes was to remain held without bail, according to a spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.
Fernandes was also ordered to refrain from contacting his ex-wife and her friend, who was unnamed in court proceedings. He must also wear a GPS monitoring device. If there is an issue with the use of the device within McLean Hospital, Fernandes is instructed to contact his probation officer by phone.
Sgt. Fernandes was arrested in Seekonk by Massachusetts State Police on Saturday after he allegedly stole his ex-wife's minivan from the parking lot of a restaurant where she was meeting with a friend. Fernandes is alleged to have slashed the tires of the friend's car before taking the minivan to a rest area and smashing the windows.
Fernandes is scheduled to return to court on June 7 for a pretrial hearing. He faces charges of violating a restraining order, two counts of assault and battery (stemming from a prior incident), damage to property, and larceny of a vehicle.