Boston Blotter: Hookers and the Scientific Method

--A Worcester doctor found himself in an awkward position when he was caught soliciting a hooker who turned out to be a cop. Dr. Peter Rice said he was "gathering information" for his research, which sounds like the lamest excuse ever. As outlandish as it sounds, we looked it up, and Dr. Rice really does study infectious diseases at UMass Memorial.

We are also endlessly amused that the entire incident took place on--ahem--Tainter Street. As a side note, Conrad M. Swartz, a local lawyer, also got busted, but he didn't have an excuse as interesting as Rice's.

--A Duxbury police officer is accused of beating up his girlfriend, who is also a police officer. The Globe reports that Sean Moran, 30, "smashed his girlfriend's head against a metal fence after an argument Saturday morning." In another dispute, Moran allegedly put a gun to his girlfriend's head. The girlfriend, who worked in Milton, finally got fed up and called the Milton police chief, and Moran was arrested.

--Two men robbed and stabbed another man in the South End last night, all for the chain around his neck. Despite being stabbed "several times in the neck and back area," the victim put up a fight, held on to his chain (uh, you might want to let that go next time), and hailed a cab for the hospital. Elsewhere, an officer shot a pit bull who bit two humans and another dog.

--Fabulously Out There's favorite corner store in East Boston got held up. She writes that some robbers should be more careful when picking their targets: "… this is probably one of the FEW Italian run corner stores in Eastie....and Italians...you know, they kind of stick together. That's all I am saying."

All charges alleged until proven under law. Image from UMass Memorial.