Crime

Police make arrest after former Fall River mayor stabbed, seriously injured

Will Flanagan was rushed to a local hospital Monday with significant injuries, Fall River police said.

Former Fall River Mayor William Flanagan in 2010. Debee Tlumacki for the Boston Globe, File

Fall River police have arrested a person of interest accused of seriously injuring the city’s former mayor, Will Flanagan, in a Monday evening stabbing. 

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The Fall River Police Department has not yet publicly identified the suspect, who was apprehended around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Fall River police said emergency crews responded to the 100 block of Hartwell Street around 5 p.m. Monday following multiple calls about a man who had been stabbed. Upon arrival, they realized the alleged victim was Flanagan, who served as the city’s mayor between 2010 and 2014.

Flanagan is now CEO of Cosmopolitan Dispensary on Hartwell Street, per his LinkedIn page. He was rushed to a local hospital Monday with significant injuries, Fall River police said in a statement. Flanagan was in serious but stable condition at the time, according to police.

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In a later news release from the police department and Mayor Paul Coogan, city officials said they are “deeply saddened” by the incident. 

“My thoughts and prayers are with Former Mayor Will Flanagan, his family, and friend,” Coogan said. “The full support of the Mayor’s Office is with the Fall River Police Department as they work tirelessly to bring justice in this case.”

Police Chief Kelly Furtado said her department was working “diligently” to identify and apprehend a suspect in “this senseless act of violence.”

“We will exhaust every resource to ensure justice is served,” she added.

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The department attributed Tuesday’s arrest to teamwork and “prompt communication.” 

“We would like to thank all of the detectives and officers who worked tirelessly into the early hours of the morning to collect evidence, review camera footage, and obtain witness statements, all of which led to the swift apprehension of the suspect,” Fall River police said in an update.

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Abby Patkin

Staff Writer

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

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