HARTFORD, Conn.

Transgender teen incident criticized as ‘public shaming’

The state Office of Child Advocate has criticized state child welfare officials for their handling of a transgender girl held at a Connecticut detention center for boys.

The child advocate’s agency on Wednesday called the July 13 announcement by the Department of Children and Families of a fight the previous day involving her and four others that led to her being moved a psychiatric treatment center a “public shaming.”

It said DCF may have a conflict of interest as guardian for the girl identified publicly as Jane Doe and as a systems manager for juvenile services.

The 16-year-old girl, who was born a male and identifies as a female, was initially kept at an adult prison, which was criticized by her lawyer and civil liberties activists.

ROCHESTER, N.H.

Probation officer justified in fatal shooting, state says

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office has concluded a probation officer was justified in using deadly force against a man shot at a Rochester mobile home park.

Authorities say the March incident began when three officers from the Department of Corrections and a Strafford County sheriff’s deputy went to visit 35-year-old Benjamin Shannon, who hid when told to come out and then told them he had a gun and was going to kill Jason Wirth, a probation officer.

Wirth ended up shooting Shannon, who pointed a black object at him.

It turned out the object was a black cellphone. Wirth later died at Maine Medical Center.

The attorney general’s office said it was reasonable for Wirth to think Shannon had a gun and was going to use it.

BARRE, Vt.

Third Republican launches campaign for governor

Republican Scott Milne has formally launched his campaign for Vermont governor, accusing incumbent Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin of a radical style of governing and promising a more moderate approach.

Milne addressed a crowd of about 80 of the Republican party faithful, including former Gov. Jim Douglas, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott and others at the Aldrich Public Library in Barre.

Milne said his late entrance into the campaign is an advantage because it will allow him to keep up momentum and get by with a much smaller supply of campaign cash than Shumlin has.

He faces Emily Peyton and Steve Berry in a Republican primary, the winner of which will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Shumlin and a little-known challenger, H. Brooke Paige of Washington.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Man arrested for stealing, grounding tugboat in June

East Providence police say they’ve arrested a man for stealing and grounding a tugboat last month, and more arrests may be on the way.

The Providence Journal reported that 48-year-old Richard A. Maisano of Warwick was charged with one count of felony receiving stolen property.

Capt. Richard Frazier said more arrests are pending.

The 40-foot vessel named the Theodore was stolen from an East Providence marina June 3. It was found partially submerged with no one on board.

Fishermen told the authorities they saw at least two people on board, and that the boat was going in circles.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Hospital will pay $150,000 for losing consumer data

A Rhode Island hospital has agreed to pay $150,000 in Massachusetts after losing backup tapes that contained the personal information of more than 12,000 Massachusetts residents.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced the agreement with Women and Infants Hospital in Providence on Wednesday. It was approved by a judge on Tuesday.

The hospital in 2012 discovered it had lost 19 backup tapes from its prenatal diagnostic centers in Providence and New Bedford. They contained ultrasound images and data including names, birth dates and some Social Security numbers.

Coakley said the loss of the tapes put Massachusetts consumers at risk.

Under terms of the settlement, the hospital has agreed to audit its data security measures and make improvements.

Official pleads no contest in altercation over ladder

A Newport city councilman has pleaded no contest to assaulting a contractor over a ladder.

State police said Councilman Michael Farley was arrested Wednesday on a simple assault charge for allegedly assaulting a contractor who was working at his neighbor’s home in June.

The altercation occurred after Farley accused Kevin Schiavone of stealing a ladder from his property. Schiavone said he thought the ladder belonged to his client.

SEABROOK, N.H.

Two officers fired, two punished in alleged assault

Two Seabrook police officers caught on tape roughing up a suspect at police headquarters have been fired and two others have been punished.

Foster’s Daily Democrat reported that officers Mark Richardson, who was seen slamming the suspect’s head into a wall, and Adam Laurent, who pepper-sprayed the suspect, were fired. Richardson has also been charged with assault in connection with the Nov. 11, 2009, encounter at the Seabrook police station.

In surveillance video, Richardson is seen shoving then-19-year-old Michael Bergeron into a wall. Bergeron had been charged with driving while intoxicated and possession of drugs. Other officers said Bergeron was struggling and uncooperative when Richardson forced him into the wall.

A third officer, Keith Dietenhofer, was suspended for two days and Lt. John Wasson was demoted to patrolman.

— From news service reports