WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A North Adams man was reportedly shot on Monday morning while hunting off Hopper Road.
Michael Pontier, 50, was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield by paramedics with Village Ambulance, according to Sgt. Scott E. McGowan. He reported that Williamstown Police responded to Hopper Road at about 7:25 a.m.
Pontier was later transferred to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center with serious injuries.
Although police did not say what was being hunted, turkey season opened on Monday.
Police said the individual responsible remained at the scene and is cooperating with law enforcement. No name was provided for the individual. The investigation is being conducted by state Environmental Police, the state police's Berkshire CPAC Unit and the Williamstown Police.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Tuesday, April 19.
Curtis Segura, 23, of Lee had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery, and single counts of kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and intimidation of a witness.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from an incident in Lee and Pittsfield where two men, ages 31 and 34, were assaulted. The incident allegedly occurred on January 26, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, April 20.
Dashaan Golden, 22, of Lee had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, two counts of armed assault with intent to rob, two counts of assault and battery, and single counts of kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and intimidation of a witness.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from an incident in Lee and Pittsfield where two men, ages 31 and 34, were assaulted. The incident allegedly occurred on January 26, 2016.
Kamara Pellot, 24, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on two counts of armed assault with intent to rob, two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery, and single counts of kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and intimidation of a witness.
She was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from an incident in Lee and Pittsfield where two men, ages 31 and 34, were assaulted. The incident allegedly occurred on January 26, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Thursday, April 21.
Jay Deeley, 50, of North Adams had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of unarmed robbery.
He was released on $1,000 bail. Deeley is accused of robbing the clerk at Xtra Mart in North Adams on January 1, 2016.
Derrick LaForest, 33, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and intimidation or a witness.
He was released on $25,000 cash or $250,000 surety bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on January 21, 2016.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters wrangled a small brush fire on the hill between Parker Street and the Porches early Thursday evening.
Lt. Michael Goodson said firefighters closed off the blaze and knocked down the approximately 1,000 square feet of fire.
"We knocked the parameter down around it," Goodson said. "It was hard because of the thick brush and steep terrain but we got it knocked down pretty quick ... we had it under control in maybe less than 10 minutes."
The fire was called in shortly before 6 p.m. and smoke could be seen from Marshall Street. The area affected was a brushy hillside surrounded by narrow Parker that runs between Houghton and North streets, Veazie Street, the Porches Inn property and the steep bankings on the edge of Bracewell Park.
The cause of the fire was not yet known but the police are investigating, Goodson said.
Scanner reports indicated that some children were being questioned about the fire.
Goodson said the small blaze wasn't helped by the dry conditions and urged residents not to burn at this time.
"Right now it is super dry and the state is not allowing any burning because of the dry weather conditions," he said. "Hopefully, people will listen."
Firefighters expelled nearly 1,200 gallons of water from a firetruck parked at the staging area. A second truck was on scene to supply extra water. Firefighters also used indian pumps to extinguish the flames.
North Adams Ambulance was on scene for support, however, there was no injuries or damage.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dry conditions led to a small fire under the loading dock of a Fourth Street furniture store Tuesday morning.
Firefighters were called to 177 Fourth Street at about 9:45 a.m. for a report of a structure fire. By the time they arrived, an employee had already snuffed the blaze out with a fire extinguisher.
"It turned out to be a smoldering fire in the back loading dock. Fortunately it was contained to that local area," Deputy Chief Mark Cancilla said. "One of the occupants from the woodworking shop grabbed a fire extinguisher, hit it. But we didn't know if it stretched into the walls so that's why we had to lay lines and put ladders up."
Multiple engines responded to the call to protect the building. The old warehouse structure is one Cancilla said could burn quickly if the fire had climbed into the walls, and on arrival there was smoke inside the building.
"This in an old building and once they get going, if you can't nip it in the bud, you can lose a building like this pretty quick," Cancilla said.
The building is safe and will be reoccupied, he said. The response did however force the closure of a small section of Fourth Street. A hydrant was located across the street and Police were on scene to close the road so that no one would drive over or into the hose. The road was reopened about an hour later.
Cancilla said he did notice some cigarette butts on the ground nearby and suspects that is what caused the fire. He said he's seen many fires start in such weather conditions in similar ways. The conditions are such that no burning permits are allowed.
"We've got very low humidly today, you've got wind, so it doesn't take much when it is this dry for a fire to get going like that," Cancilla said.
He reminds residents to make sure cigarettes are disposed of properly.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Tuesday, April 12.
Stephanie Carsno, 31, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - her second offense - and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at her home on March 4, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Thursday, April 14.
John Hobart III, 31, of Housatonic pleaded guilty to seven counts of larceny over $250, five counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, and single counts of possession of burglarious tools, receiving stolen property over $250, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.
He was ordered to serve concurrent three to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the breaking and entering and larceny charges. HE was given concurrent one-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charges.
Hobart admitted to breaking into numerous building in Great Barrington between October 14, 2015 and January 11, 2016. HE also admitted to stealing property from Stockbridge on December 12, 2015 and leaving the scene of a property damage accident in Stockbridge on January 18, 2016.
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