PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An aggressive fox was put down over the weekend after several attacks.
The Pittsfield Police Department's Patrol and Animal Control Units responded to multiple calls involving an aggressive fox in the outer Williams Street area on Friday night, May 4, and Saturday morning, May 5.
The department responded to or investigated three separate incidents involving one dog and two people who were bitten.
During the Saturday morning incident, the fox was put down by patrol officers and the remains have been transported to the state lab for testing.
Anyone who may have witnessed aggressive behavior by a fox in this area, or who may have been exposed to this animal, should contact the Department's Animal Control Officers at 413-448-9700, Ext 335.
Pittsfield Bank Robbery Suspect Nabbed in Boston
Staff Reports On: 03:49PM / Thursday April 05, 2012
Updated Friday, April 6, 2012 at 2:54 p.m.:
Brenda Santos had a not guilty plea Friday morning in Central Berkshire District Court on a single count unarmed robbery. Santos is being accused of robbing Greylock Federal Credit Union on March 30.
Judge Rita Koenigs ordered that Santos be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $250,000 cash or $2.5 million surety bail. Santos is scheduled to return to court on May 4.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Police said a woman suspected in Friday's robbery of the Greylock Federal Credit Union was arrested Wednesday in Boston after her companions were reported for suspicious activity.
Brenda Santos, 22, and her alleged accomplice in the Greylock robbery, Brandon Wood, 31, were arraigned Wednesday in Brookline District Court.
Both are described as being homeless in Boston but Wood is believed to be from the Pittsfield area.
Santos is being charged with unarmed robbery of the Greylock branch on Elm Street. Wood is charged with being an accessory before the fact and accessory after the fact of the Greylock robbery.
Santos, Wood and William Curtin, 26, of Dedham, are also facing conspiracy charges, according to the Boston Globe, regarding suspicious activity at two Boston area banks on Wednesday.
The Globe reports that a man wearing a hooded sweat shirt, sunglasses and hat left the Brookline Bank on Beacon Street after being asked to remove his glasses but met with an individual dressed in similar fashion outside. Another Beacon Street bank reported later in the day that a man of the same description was acting suspicious.
Police tracked the suspects to a hotel and found evidence of the Pittsfield bank robbery. Santos was arrested at the same time.
The Boston office of the FBI violent crimes task force and the Brookline Police Department are cooperating in the investigation.
Pittsfield Woman Critically Injured In New York Car Crash
Staff Reports On: 03:28PM / Wednesday April 04, 2012
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city woman in in critical condition after a three-vehicle collision in upstate New York on Tuesday evening.
According to a report on Masslive.com, Allana Lewis, 27, was taken to Berkshire Medical Center after the 4 p.m. crash in Amenia, N.Y.
New York Police say Lewis was a passenger in a southbound car that was hit head-on while travelling on Route 22. The northbound car was pushed into southbound lane after being rear-ended by a FedEx van.
All three drivers were taken to Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Conn. The other drivers injuries were not considered life threatening. Lewis was later transferred to Berkshire Medical Center, according to MassLive.
The van driver was ticketed for following too closely.
Pittsfield Woman Dies In Apartment Fire
By Andy McKeever On: 12:08PM / Sunday April 01, 2012
Investigators determined that the fire was accidental and caused by improper disposal of smoking materials.
Mayor Daniel Bianchi received a briefing of the incident from Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Orchard Street fire that killed a city woman early Sunday morning is being considered an accident.
The body of Claudette Roberts, 59, was discovered by firefighters in her first-floor apartment at 91 Orchard St.
"Right now there are no flags pointing to it as suspicious," said Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski at the scene. "We're looking for an accidental cause. Most of the fire was contained to the apartment of origin."
The three-alarm blaze was reported by a number of 911 calls at about 4:16 a.m. Czerwinski said they were notified that someone was likely still in the apartment and firefighters mounted "an aggressive attack" on the unit.
It was not clear when the fire began but smoke was pouring out onto the porch and flames could be seen in the unit when firefighters arrived.
There was heavy fire damage to Roberts' apartment on the right side of the three-apartment building and to the rear of the second-floor. Czerwinski estimated the damage at about $100,000 but thought the building was salvageable.
Four people living in the other two apartments had to flee the building. The Red Cross was aiding them in finding shelter for the short-term. Roberts lived alone.
A state fire marshal was at the scene and North Adams Fire Director and Wire Inspector Stephen Meranti was inspecting the wiring at the city's request. The investigation is being conducted by the office of the fire marshal, the Pittsfield Fire and Police departments and the state police Crime Scene Services Section.
The Dalton Fire Department also responded to the scene and Lenox and Lanesborough provided backup.
According to the district attorney's office, Roberts' body will be taken to the office of the chief medical examiner in Boston, where an autopsy will be performed, likely on Monday.
There was some damage to the second floor apartment so the residents are displaced.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are looking for a woman who robbbed the Greylock Federal Credit Union branch located at 71 Elm St. on Friday afternoon.
The woman, dressed in dark clothing and wearing a baseball style hat and sunglasses, entered the branch about 4:30 p.m., according to police. She did not display a weapon and fled the bank with an undisclosed sum of money shortly afterward.
Several witnesses reported the suspect ran from the bank and in the direction of Harry's Supermarket. Somewhere near the supermarket, she possibly entered a dark colored sedan and left the area.
All available patrol units responded to the scene and secured the bank and performed an area search for the suspect and witnesses. Pittsfield detective and Crime Scene personnel responded as well. Greylock Federal Credit Union personnel are cooperating fully with the Police Department in the investigation.
The investigatin is ongoing and police are actively pursuing all leads. Any citizen with any information pertaining to this robbery is urged to contact the Pittsfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.
