Massachusetts State Police make arrest in Hawthorne Country Club fire

DARTMOUTH — Massachusetts State Police Thursday arrested a man in connection with the fire that left a former country club in Dartmouth a total loss, said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Dartmouth Fire District 2 Chief Erick Turcotte.

31-year-old Shawn Medeiros was taken into custody Thursday morning by members of the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office and the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section. He was booked at the Dartmouth Barracks on one count of burning a building, charged in a Bristol County grand jury indictment.

The charges stem from a May 7, 2023, fire at the shuttered Hawthorne Country Club on Tucker Road. The fire was first reported at about 1:30 p.m. and consumed the structure before it was finally extinguished about two hours later. Based on preliminary findings, investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set and began seeking the public’s assistance. The investigation continued since that time, culminating in Thursday morning’s indictment and arrest.

Medeiros was arraigned Thursday in Bristol County Superior Court.

The grand jury probe was headed up by Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan.

According to Sandy Quadros Bowles of Dartmouth Week, the former country club at 970 Tucker Road was placed under agreement with Toll Brothers for $3 million before the fire. Plans for the property had not been finalized, but senior housing is a possibility.