PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police were busy in the wee hours of Sunday morning as officers responded to an armed robbery, an arson incident, and a shooting within a span of two hours.

 

Police say it began at about 12:30 a.m. when a black man, described as being 5-feet-10-inches tall robbed Alltown at gunpoint. The man escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. Anyone with information regarding that incident is asked to contact Detective Glenn Civello at 413-448-9700, Ext. 538.

 

Less than a half-hour later, police and firefighters responded to 82 Wendell Ave. for a report of a structure fire. There was a small fire on the porch that appeared to have been deliberately set, according to police. Witnesses said a man ran from the porch and then fled the area on a bicycle. He was described as being in his mid- to late 20s and wearing dark clothing and a long sleeve t-shirt. 

 

About an hour after that, at 1:44 a.m., a ShotSpotter activation sent officers to the area of Dewey Avenue and Madison Avenue.

 

Officers found several shell casings at the scene, "evidence that an individual may have been injured" and a vehicle struck by gunfire. However, no information was received confirming anyone of being shot — no injured party found nor reported at any area hospital. Anyone with information on that incident is asked to call the Pittsfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are investigating shots that were fired in the Greylock Valley Apartments neighborhood on Thursday night.

 

"Officers did respond to the area of Angelli Street and Grant Street for report of several shots fired," wrote Police Chief Jason Wood in an email. "There is evidence leading us to believe a firearm was discharged."

 

The report of shots being fired was called into the police at 9:27 p.m. but no one who could implicated in the shooting was at the scene when police arrived. Wood did not say what evidence was found.  

 

"Fortunately, at this time, there does not appear to be any injuries to persons or property," he said. 

 

The incident is still under active investigation by the North Adams Police Detective Bureau and the state police Crime Prevention and Control Unit.

PERU, Mass. — A 53-year old woman who went missing from Hinsdale was found dead in a wooded area in Peru.

 

Jacqueline Coutinho went missing in May and a K9 search, foot patrols and a helicopter were unable to locate her. Authorities searched for weeks to no avail.

 

On Tuesday, loggers found a body in the woods about one mile off of Curtin Road. 

 

A cause of death has not been revealed but there were no signs of foul play, according to authorities. 

 

"Investigators have not uncovered any indications of foul play in Ms. Coutinho's disappearance or death, nor do we believe that there is any threat to public safety connected with this sad loss," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said in a prepared statement. 

 

"We send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Coutinho. The District Attorney's Office deeply appreciates the extensive efforts made by law enforcement and volunteers during the search and recovery efforts."

 

The skeletal remains of Coutinho were found around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed her identity on Wednesday. 

 

Coutinho was last seen on Smith Road at about 10:15 that May morning. She had been in Hinsdale for only about a prior month and was there with her sister.

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A woman accused of lying to police during the investigation into the death of Asiyanna Jones was arraigned on Wednesday.

 

Dayanlee Bracero-Quirndo, 23, is being charged in Berkshire County Superior Court with two counts of misleading a police officer. She had previously been indicted in the case but failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for her arrest. Bracero-Quirndo turned herself in to authorities.

 

She is the fourth person to face charges in relation to the 2017 shooting of the 22-year-old Jones on Dewey Avenue. A grand jury also indicted Carey Pilot, 46, Gary Linen, 39, and Elizabeth Perez, 27, on a charge of first-degree murder. The three are being held without bail. Pilot is facing an additional charge of intimidation of a witness and Perez is facing an additional charge of misleading police.

 

"The District Attorney's Office will continue to work in partnership with Pittsfield Police Department to hold these individuals responsible for the death of Asiyanna Jones and for obstructing justice," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said in a prepared statement. 

 

Jones was sitting in a vehicle in the area of 242 Dewey Avenue on October 2, 2017, when she was struck in the head by a bullet shortly before 11 p.m. 

PERU, Mass. — The remains of an unidentified woman were found in a wooded area about one mile off Curtin Road on Tuesday morning.

 

The woman has yet to be identified by authorities and Hinsdale and Peru Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. The body is being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston for an autopsy.

 

The District Attorney's Office said loggers found the remains.

 

While not identified by authorities, the location is not that far from where Jacqueline Coutinho was last seen. Coutinho went missing from Smith Road in Hinsdale in May. She was visiting her sister in Hinsdale at the time and police launched a lengthy search for her to no avail. 

 

Conducting the investigation are members of the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit, the Hinsdale Police Department, the Peru Police Department, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, state troopers from the Cheshire barracks and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Assisting in search and recovery efforts were members of the Hinsdale Fire Department and Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue Team.