Fall River business owner accused of illegal dumping after FRPD investigation

A local business owner is being accused of illegal dumping near the city’s water supply.

According to police, on June 18th, Officer William Medeiros of the Fall River Police Department’s Environmental Police Unit discovered several paint containers illegally dumped on protected watershed property near Blossom Road and Yellow Hill Road.

Unfortunately for the suspected dumper, one of the paint cans still had an order number attached. Officer Medeiros traced the purchase, reviewed nearby surveillance footage, and identified a commercial painting van in the area the previous afternoon.

The vehicle’s owner later acknowledged being its sole operator and offered to “make it right.” By then, however, the City had already removed and properly disposed of the debris including hazardous materials to protect the municipal water supply.

The suspected dumper, Carl Cote, will be summoned to court for illegal dumping and held responsible for the City’s cleanup and disposal costs.

FRPD released the following statement:

“The lesson here is simple: If you’re going to call your business “Meticulous Painting,” you may want to be equally meticulous about disposing of your paint cans properly.

“Please dispose of paint and other hazardous materials legally. Our Environmental Police Unit will continue working to protect Fall River’s watershed and yes, we check the labels.”