Latest news with #Middleboro
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Massachusetts optician harassed for "FRAMED" license plate during Karen Read trial
A Middleboro optician thought her vanity license plate was a cute tongue-in-cheek ode to her job until it became a rallying cry from for Karen Read supporters. Now the owner of the license plate "FRAMED" is getting shouted at and her car vandalized. "I've had people like literally speeding up to me on the highway, to like catch up to my driver side window to give me the thumbs up and stuff," said Lauren Downey. She has had the vanity plate for three years now, but during the Karen Read trial, her supporters have started to have her plate put on banners and wearable merchandise. One man in New Hampshire got the same plate for that state, and he wears it around his neck outside the courthouse. Supporters of Karen Read gather before the murder trial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. Mark Stockwell / AP "My husband is over there, and he couldn't believe it," Downey said. "He's seeing the plate in real life. We saw it on t-shirt." The plate has also been all over social media. Car keyed twice The controversy surrounding the trial has carried home with Downey. Twice now, someone has keyed her car because of the plate. She has had people screaming obscenities at her or even run across parking lots to praise her plate. At times, her children are in the car. "People are giving me the middle finger in a parking lot or at an intersection," said Downey. "I would love to think they are that excited over glasses that would be great." Lauren Downey's "FRAMED" license plate. CBS Boston Downey put in for the license plate three years ago. It was supposed to be a play on her job as an optician who helps people find the correct eye glass frames. It also wasn't the only name she submitted. "When you sign up for a vanity plate, you submit for three different options and then the registry chooses which one you receive," said Downey. "I can change my plate, but that may not make sense at this point." The retrial of Karen Read is now in the jury's hands. Downey is waiting until the trial is over before fixing the damage to the car in case something else happens.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- CBS News
Man dumps soda, chips on floor of Massachusetts computer repair store in strange encounter
The owner of a Middleboro computer repair store is trying to spread the word about a man's strange behavior, in case other businesses are targeted too. Employee Owen Murdoch has seen some interesting customers at Central Square Computer Repair in Middleboro, yet his interaction with a man on Friday still has him and other employees fearing for their safety. "He just came in all of a sudden 30 minutes to closing," Murdoch said. He showed up with no computer, just a soda and a bag of chips. "I don't know, I might need a computer repair. Is it just you two?" the man asked during the encounter captured on surveillance video. Man claimed he had an IBM "Of course, he also claimed he had an IBM, which IBM hasn't been in business for years and years at least in the consumer market," Murdoch said. That's when he asked if he could sit down and have a snack. "He keeps asking me weirder and weirder things like, 'are you the only one here?'" Murdoch said. As the questions continued, they began to lean toward the shop's owner Chris Van. "The owner doesn't work here? Oh where is he?" the man asked. "You don't know where Chris is? Oh man that sucks." Van said he was fearful for his employees. "When something like that is going on, you can feel the tension," Van said. Not knowing what the man may do, another employee stepped in to help Murdoch. Dumped chips, soda on ground "Red flags are going off in my head, I'm thinking what does this guy want from me?" Murdoch said. Without a computer to be repaired, he was asked to leave. That's when it really escalated. He dumped the chips on and soda on the ground before walking out the door. "He also stomped on them to make sure it was harder for us to clean up," Murdoch said. Van fears another shop could be next. They filed a police report. Police said they are investigating it as a mental health issue.
