Massachusetts | Mr. Etienne, he was banking on the Fall River Police “sleeping on it.” But We didn’t.

Just before Christmas, approximately 50 mattresses were illegally dumped in the area of Innovation Way, creating a significant mess in our industrial park and an unnecessary burden on the community.

Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of Officer William Medeiros, Officer Matthew Belben, and Officer Kris Sousa, this case did not get brushed aside or “slept on.”

Through careful investigation, officers were able to identify distinguishing features on the mattresses and pair that information with video surveillance, ultimately leading to the identification of a vehicle involved. That vehicle turned out to be a U-Haul, rented by Hemson Etienne. The investigation also led us to contact our friends at the Massachusetts State Police who had previous encountered the U-haul on a traffic stop.

The investigation revealed that Etienne was hired by a local hotel undergoing renovations to properly dispose of the mattresses. Clearly, that was not the case. Instead, the mattresses were illegally dumped, shifting the cost and cleanup responsibility onto the City.

Unfortunately for Mr. Etienne, he was banking on the Fall River Police “sleeping on it.” But We didn’t.

Illegal dumping is not only disrespectful to our community, it’s illegal, and we will investigate it thoroughly. This case is a great example of how persistence, teamwork, and attention to detail lead to accountability.

Etienne was criminally charged and the City will be seeking restitution for the labor and cost to dispose of the mattresses. He has also been officially confirmed as an illegal dumper and, in a rare achievement no one should aspire to, has proudly received our Seal of Certification.

Before hiring someone to get rid of bulky items, do a little homework. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is and there’s a decent chance your old mattress is about to become someone else’s roadside problem.