REGIONAL DIGEST.

COLUMN: REGIONAL DIGEST

1 arrested, 2 sought in robbery

NORTHBRIDGE - An employee of the China Pacific Restaurant was arrested yesterday and police issued warrants for two others in connection with the robbery of cash and lottery tickets from the restaurant during the early morning of Oct. 20.

Jun X. Peng, 19, of 35 Winthrop Ave., Apt. 2, Quincy, was charged with being an accessory before the fact.

Police said Mr. Peng was identified through a store surveillance videotape in the South Shore area while attempting to cash the lottery tickets. He was later identified as a China Pacific employee.

The others - an unidentified juvenile and an unidentified man - allegedly broke into the restaurant at Route 122 and Linwood Avenue through the front door early on Oct. 20. After they got into the restaurant, the two suspects stole cash and a substantial amount of state lottery tickets.

Subsequently, investigators received information that led to the arrest warrants for the juvenile and man. Both will be charged with breaking and entering nighttime (felony), larceny and breaking and entering depository.

Detective Donald J. Roy and Detective Sgt. John D. Ouillette investigated.

City notified of free cash

MARLBORO - The state Department of Revenue, Division of Local Services, notified the city yesterday that the available funds - or free cash - as of July 1 were $5,046,562. This figure represents an increase of almost $2,000,000 above the fiscal 2006 figure of $3,057,484.

"I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the city's finance team, consisting of Comptroller Tom Abel, Collector Deb Puleo, Assessor Tony Trodella and Auditor Diane Smith for their excellent work in closing the city's books," Mayor Nancy E. Stevens said.

1 hurt in Route 146 crash

UXBRIDGE - State and local police responded to a two-car accident early yesterday morning on Route 146.

The crash was reported at 6:40 a.m. on Route 146 southbound. According to a preliminary report from the state police, the collision involved a 2005 green Toyota Camry driven by Dianne Stankus, 57, of Oxford, and a 2007 Dodge Magnum driven by 49-year-old David Fulgham of Worcester.

One person was taken by Uxbridge ambulance to a local hospital. It appears that the drivers were alone in their vehicles at the time of the crash. The scene was cleared at 7:43 a.m.