A Lowell police officer was charged with raping prostitutes and soliciting prostitution while on duty.

Officer Aravanh Lakmany was indicted on Thursday, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.

Lakmany allegedly solicited several prostitutes beginning in 2009 during his night shifts for the Lowell Police Department. Prosecuters say he asked the women to get into his cruiser or personal car and drove them to a secluded area to engage in sexual acts.

The officer told one prostitute he would not arrest her if she had sex with him, according to prosecutors.

According to the Associated Press, a woman answered Lakmany’s home phone and said “no comment,” and hung up.

Three people were injured Friday morning in Lowell after a 2-vehicle crash involving a Trinity Ambulance Co. ambulance, police said.

Police responded to Branch and School streets at 9:30 a.m., said police Captain Randall Humphrey, in a statement.

According to Humphrey, the ambulance was responding to a medical emergency, but it collided with another vehicle at the intersection. The ambulance had its lights and siren activated at the time.

The ambulance driver, passenger, and the driver of the second vehicle were taken to local hospitals with non life-threatening injuries, Humphrey said. Their names were not released.

The driver of the second vehicle was cited for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.

This is a real first in Massachusetts, as the state makes an effort to reform some of its earmarked communities.

In Lowell, a brand new live/work loft community for artists, writers, dancers, musicians, etc. is being built in a restored textile mill, and a lottery will determine who gets to live here with rents ranging from an unheard-of $425 to $950 per month.

“The construction of the Appleton Mills redevelopment in downtown Lowell is a great example of the positive effect the arts can have on communities,” said Abby Goldenfarb, project manager at Boston’s Trinity Financial, which is overseeing the 10-year, $800 million project in this city.

Aside from its settlement in 1653, and the creation of Lowell National Historic Park in the 1970s, city fathers are calling the mill restoration one of the most significant developments in Lowell’s 356-year history.

Income restrictions apply, and there is a selection board/interview process once you’re selected.

There are 130 units of this sought-after artists housing.

“Finally, despite these difficult economic times, the support this project has received from equity investors and from the Commonwealth speaks volumes about the importance of the arts as an economic driver, in both the public and private sectors,” Goldenfarb said.

Visit liveappletonmills.com.

A Lowell woman has been charged in connection with the horrific December 1, 2009 crash in Chelmsford that killed a construction worker and left a second man needing a leg amputated, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Juanita McKenzie, 34 was charged with motor vehicle homicide, marked lanes violation, breakdown lane violation, and failure to change lanes for an emergency vehicle.

An arraignment date has not yet been set.

According to Leone, at approximately 10:30 am, McKenzie was traveling on Route 3 North in the middle travel lane when her vehicle suddenly crossed into the first travel lane and continued into the breakdown lane, which had been blocked off due to construction taking place on the highway. As the defendant’s vehicle entered the breakdown lane, it allegedly drove over several traffic cones before striking the first victim who was standing outside his vehicle in the construction zone. The defendant’s vehicle then pinned the second victim between McKenzie’s car and the first victim’s car.

Following the collision, the defendant’s vehicle allegedly spun out across two travel lanes, striking an additional vehicle. Both vehicles came to rest against the jersey barriers in the median strip of Route 3.

The first victim was transported by Life Flight to Beth Israel Hospital with serious injuries and, as a result of the accident, one of his legs had to be amputated. The second victim, identified as Anderson Cadell, 44, of Seabrook, New Hampshire, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the second vehicle that was struck was not injured and did not seek medical attention.

Lowell police found a vintage, possibly World War II era shell casing on Monday afternoon in a house basement on Fremont Street.

The property owner was cleaning out his basement when he found what he described as a 5-7 inch intact shell casing, Lowell police said.

The owner brought the device outside and called police. Police secured and area and called the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad.

The device was safely removed, and no one was hurt. Police did not say if the casing was dangerous or contained and explosives.

The 20th Lowell Summer Music Series runs July 14 to September 18 with artists like Joan Baez, Blues Traveler, Dar Williams and the Wallflowers performing in a close knit setting north of Boston.

Blast spoke with John Marciano, the director of the Lowell Summer Music Series, who gave us some insight on how the series is progressing, while Tad Kinchla of Blues Traveler gave some musicial input on being involved with the non-profit.

BLAST: So, John, can you tell us a bit about the history of the music series?

JOHN MARCIANO: Sure, 20 years ago, Peter Aucella created the Summer Music Series. He was Executive Director of the Lowell Historical Preservation Commission, and now is Assistant Superintendent for the National Park Service. It was 100 percent paid for by the Commission. And it was created to be one of the revitalization efforts in Lowell to help bring Lowell back. It started…with local artists, and small roots. Everything was free.

The Lowell Preservation Commission doesn’t exist anymore, so the question was: What do we do with the Lowell Summer Music Series? It was getting to become popular and iconic in Lowell. It became a self sustaining, not for profit music series, that had to pay for itself to survive. Its about great entertainment in great prices in the smallest outdoor venue you’re going to see any of these artists at.

It’s helping to make Lowell a great place to live and to visit.

BLAST: Who comes up with ideas for artists to perform?

JM: What we do is we poll the audience. Our website is lowellsummermusic.org, and you can click on the survey and throw in your personal suggestions and we will get those.

BLAST: That’s great! And funding is through sponsors?

JM: Absolutely, we’ve got a number of national sponsors. Our main sponsors are Wholefoods and organic food bases. Positive type things that go well for the National Park Service.

Sponsors include 92.5 The River, Project 7, Apple & Eve, Honest Tea and Jim’s Organic Coffee. And the sponsors contributions are very evident.

Eastern bank helps get kids under 12 for free. Can you think of any other music (event) where kids under 12 go for free with their parents? We’re seeing a boost in popularity because…people are more concerned about the most for their dollar. Quality and value. So much more for so much less. Family atmosphere and environment!

BLAST: It seems that the Music Series has been getting bigger names from the music industry over the years. How has it turned in that direction, or why?

JM: We focus on blues, folk, rock or classic rock and roots music. And so that’s kind of the genres we bring in. And in those genres we try to get the very best acts that we can, that can attract a wide variety of concert goers. I want to hire acts that are very popular and that will sell well. I’m not thinking so much on demographics. Michael Franti and Spearhead is very different from Joan Baez. Each has their own audience and demographics. Spearhead goes into our roots audience, and Joan Baez has her folk audience.

The Lowell Summer Music Series has two main presenters-Lowell National Historic Park and the Lowell Festival Foundation, our non for profit organization. Those two entities make this non for profit series happen!

BLAST: What else would you like us to know about this concert series?

JM: There is also a kids series at 11 a.m. Free fun for kids — the show is free, the drinks are free and there are free art activities. Today we had about 750 people. Imagine being a mom or daycare provider and seeing how cool it is to see that the music is free, the art is free and the food and drinks are free!

Blues Traveler had not played the Lowell Summer Music Series before, but Tad Kinchla only had good things to say about the vibe and organization.

BLAST: What do you like about performing at a non-profit, self sustaining program?

TAD KINCHLA: As often as possible it’s nice to get involved in non-profit gigs. It always makes for a cool vibe. There’s a different vibe than your basic gig in New York City.

BLAST: What are you guys looking forward to for this gig?

TK: In the summer we prefer playing outside. It’s a better experience, and it’s less crowded. It’s one of the nicer experiences for us.

BLAST: And you will be performing at the end of the month?

TK: Yes! And we’d like to get back to the Northeast.

Blues Traveler stopped in Lowell last summer with Live and Collective Soul and will be performing at the series on July 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Police in Lowell got thrown for a loop Wednesday night after their neighbors to the north, the Pelham, N.H. police department, called to report a 1984 Chevy Impala with Lowell Fire Department markings and a Massachusetts fire license plate was being driven erratically around an auto shop’s lot.

Lowell Police reacted, putting out a “be on the lookout for” notice, and rumors started that a fire department car had been stolen. It turned out, however, that the fire department had sent the old, decommissioned fire car to the auto shop to be painted for possible loaner use in a movie being filmed in the area, according to a Lowell police officer.

Apparently, the auto shop decided to have some fun with the car and took it for a spin around their lot, catching the eyes of the local cops.

No charges were filed, but a police source said the fire department will take their paint business elsewhere.