Thomas Cook

ADAMS, Mass. — A former Adams Police officer has been charged with trying to get a prescription filled falsely by using another man's identity.

According to a report on MassLive, 35-year-old Thomas Cook of Cheshire was charged in Westfield District Court for "uttering a false prescription, identity fraud, police or witness intimidation, receiving stolen property and attempting to commit a crime."

According to the police report, Cook tried to pass himself off as Todd Syrett, whom he had arrested in 2012. He dropped off a prescription for a stimulant known as methylphenidate (Ritalin, etc) at Westfield CVS and showed Syrett's driver's license to the pharmacist, the report said.

When the real Todd Syrett was texted that the prescription was ready, he contacted the pharmacy, which in turn contacted police, according to MassLive.

Cook was released on personal recognizance Judge Philip Contant after being arraigned.

Police Chief Richard Tarsa said on Wednesday night that Cook was no longer in the town's employ.

"He is no longer an employee of Adams or the Adams Police Department and he officially resigned Tuesday afternoon," he said.

Cook had been on the force for more than four years. He was hired to replace Officer Alan Vigiard, who was charged with possessing child pornography, then laid off because of budget cuts. He was reinstalled in 2010 in part because of a federal grant.

The state police reconstruction team is investigating a fatal accident that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Five Corners. Above, the headlight of a bus involved in the crash lies next to a barrel of flowers.

Update Thursday, Aug. 21:

WILLIAMSTOWN,Mass. — The driver of a small sedan was killed Wednesday afternoon after a collision with a bus.

The accident occurred at about 4:10 p.m. at the Five Corners intersection, where Route 43 crosses Route 7.

"It appears that the vehicle entered into the path of a Peter Pan bus," said Officer Shuan William.

The name of the victim, a man in his 50s, was being withheld at this time pending notification of kin. One person on the bus was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure but no one else was hurt in the incident.

Traffic was detoured over Brodie Mountain Road for several hours. Southbound traffic eventually was allowed to detour around the crash through Bloedel Park on the west side of Route 7.

The state police accident reconstruction team was investigating the crash.

It appeared the bus was southbound when the car entered its path on the west side. The driver's side was heavily damaged and piece that appeared to be part of the bumper was under a third car, a white sport utility vehicle, parked just north of the bus  next to the traffic island on east side of Route 7.

The bus incurred damage to the front end and pieces of its front bumper were scattered across the intersection. One of its headlights ended up on the lawn edging the store at Five Corners.

Williamstown Police and Fire responded to the scene. The road was still closed and vehicles had not yet been removed at 6:45. The area was expected to be closed for some time.

Lanesborough Fire and Police blocked Route 7 from the south end and detoured traffic toward Route 43. The Fire Department had borrowed a large electronic sign from the sheriff's department to warn motorists of the detour. Hancock Fire Department was on Route 43 blocking traffic there.
 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Here are copies of the police log from Aug. 16 until Aug. 18.

Pittsfield Police Log 8-16-2014

Pittsfield Police Log 8-17-2014

Pittsfield Police Log 8-18-14

The O'Connell's convenience  store was closed Monday morning while police investigated.

UPDATED: Tuesday, August 19 at 9:24 a.m.

Police say they are no longer searching for another suspect. However, they are still looking for witnesses.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 17-year-old man was shot at the intersection of First and Tyler Streets on Monday morning.

One juvenile has been arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.

Police have not released the name of the suspects or the victim.

Adams firefighters were on the scene of a structure fire early Sunday morning on Water Street.

ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters swiftly contained a house fire early Sunday morning, saving more than a dozen pets.

The Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire at 2:30 a.m. at 27 Water St.

Heavy smoke could be seen coming from the back of the two-story house, and some witnesses said flames were visible.

"The first arriving units were on the scene within three minutes, and the external fire was knocked down within five to seven minutes," Fire Chief Paul Goyette said. "Then the fire got into the voids of the structure so we had to do a lot of opening up."

 

Goyette said they were able to get everyone out of the house safely and rescue most of the pets in the house.

 

"Everybody got out OK," he said. "We also rescued 10 iguanas and one cat; two iguanas didn't make it."