Dugan Arnett

Carly's story came to my attention three years ago when an email she sent landed in my inbox. The subject line, written in all caps, was I NEED HELP.

Carly's story came to my attention three years ago when an email she sent landed in my inbox. The subject line, written in all caps, was I NEED HELP.

Carly grew up in New Bedford, and like so many others, her dad worked on the water. That's my dad. She points to a cherished photo of him, posing in front of a boat.

Carly grew up in New Bedford, and like so many others, her dad worked on the water. That's my dad. She points to a cherished photo of him, posing in front of a boat.

Carly and her dad were close. And when he died in his early 50s, she was devastated. To cope, she started using drugs. Eventually, she turned to heroin. By the summer of 2014, she was deep into addiction. And that's when she met a cop named Jared Lucas. He approached her one day while she was leaving the beach and started flirting.

Carly and her dad were close. And when he died in his early 50s, she was devastated. To cope, she started using drugs. Eventually, she turned to heroin. By the summer of 2014, she was deep into addiction. And that's when she met a cop named Jared Lucas. He approached her one day while she was leaving the beach and started flirting.

She was right. And even though she was engaged at the time, Carly and Lucas, who was a New Bedford detective, started sleeping together.

She was right. And even though she was engaged at the time, Carly and Lucas, who was a New Bedford detective, started sleeping together.

Carly says that Lucas would always steer the conversation toward her fiancé, Stephen Ortiz, an alleged drug dealer, who she was cheating on with a New Bedford police officer.

Carly says that Lucas would always steer the conversation toward her fiancé, Stephen Ortiz, an alleged drug dealer, who she was cheating on with a New Bedford police officer.

It got so intense that Carly started to feel like Lucas was obsessed with her fiancé.

It got so intense that Carly started to feel like Lucas was obsessed with her fiancé.

This affair went on in secret for years. Until one explosive night in 2017. It was Stephen's birthday. They were just about to set off for a night on the town. Carly was sitting in the car.

This affair went on in secret for years. Until one explosive night in 2017. It was Stephen's birthday. They were just about to set off for a night on the town. Carly was sitting in the car.

Suddenly, the car was surrounded by cops.

Suddenly, the car was surrounded by cops.

What seemed like an army of cops descended on them.

What seemed like an army of cops descended on them.

It was an incredible scene. She and her fiancé in cuffs, and the police officer she'd been sleeping with, standing off to the side, watching it all go down.

It was an incredible scene. She and her fiancé in cuffs, and the police officer she'd been sleeping with, standing off to the side, watching it all go down.