Around the Region: Stoneham Police Capt. Arraigned; Masked Robberies in Malden; Drug Arrest in Arlington

Here's some of the top recent stories from just beyond Medford's city lines:

State Trooper Arrested in Stoneham Appears in Court: State Trooper Thomas McCarthy, 47, was arraigned Wednesday in Lynn District Court on charges stemming from an arrest in November. McCarthy attempted to plead guilty to charges of failing to stop for a police officer and crossing the double yellow line, but it was rejected after prosecutors told a judge they may choose to charge McCarthy with operating under the influence of alcohol, according to the Boston Herald.

Police in Malden received two reports of masked and armed robberies the week leading up to Christmas, according to the police log. One was a bank robberies at the Stoneham Savings Bank on Charles Street on Dec. 20, the other occurred on Main Street Christmas Day.

- After a thirty-nine year career in education, with 25 of those years in Wakefield, Dr. Paula Mullen, principal of the Galvin Middle School, announced last November she will retire as of January 31st, 2012. "This has literally been the most difficult decision I have ever made in my life," said Dr. Mullen in her retirement statement. "This job has been nothing but a joy to me." Assistant Principal Therese Jarmusik will serve as the interim principal from February 1st through the end of the school year. Jarmusik has served as assistant principal at the GMS since 2000. An interim assistant principal will be appointed on January 2nd.

Arlington Police on Monday arrested a man with several warrant drug charges out of South Boston District Court. Kevin P. MacNeil, 25, no address listed, was arrested at Maria’s Pizza, 86 Massachusetts Avenue about 1 p.m. An Arlington police officer recognized MacNeil while he was walking into the restaurant with a group of people.