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Pittsfield Police: Multi-agency Operations Lead To 32 Arrests
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A series of four police operations have led to some 32 arrests over the last three weeks.
The operations consisted of highly visible patrols in areas identified as higher crime areas in the Morningside and Westside neighborhoods. Police say the series of operations were done both in response to recent violent crimes in the city and the anticipation of dangerous driving behavior during the holidays.
The first three operations were performed by the city's Police Department with help from the Berkshire County sheriff's office and the state police. The final operation was on Friday and involved the Police Department, the sheriff's office, state police, District Court Probation Office, and the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
Police conducted strong traffic enforcement while at the same time serving a number of arrest warrants. Probation checks, efforts to seek out 10 individuals in violation of sex-offender registration status, efforts to verify addresses of other sex offenders, and inspections of licensed establishments with a recent record of capacity or over-serving complaints were all conducted at the same time.
Authorities say Saturday's "One Team One Mission" led to 14 arrests, including two for operating under the influence of alcohol and one out-of-state sex offender registration violation. Police say 340 grams of cocaine estimated to be worth $34,000 and numerous illegal pills were seized. In total there were 171 citations issued for moving violations.
Combined, all four operations led to 32 arrests, six criminal summonses, 428 traffic stops, 14 criminal motor vehicle summonses, 253 motor vehicle citations, and 145 verbal warnings issued. The previous three operations were performed on Friday, Nov. 16; Tuesday, Nov. 20; and Wednesday, Nov. 28.
Police say it is the largest operation conducted in the city since 2016.
The department said the traffic enforcement operations are based on the principles of "Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety." The local crime analysts looked at calls for services and crime data from throughout 2018 to identify locations and time for deployment of the operations.
Pittsfield Fire Stops Kitchen Small Blaze On Appleton Avenue
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters snuffed out a small kitchen first in an Appleton Avenue apartment.
Deputy Chief Daniel Garner said at about 10:37 a.m. Monday morning firefighters responded to 65 Appleton Avenue for a fire alarm activation. Firefighters found light smoke showing from the rear of a second-floor window.
The Engine 6 crew forced entry into the unoccupied unit and found a small kitchen fire extending into the cabinets. The fire was extinguished and Truck 2 provided ventilation to the unit.
The damage is estimated to be minor and there were no injuries. The occupants will not be displaced.
Superior Court Briefs: Dec. 5 - Dec. 6
Cases heard before Judge Mark Pasquariello on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
Lance Burke, 40, of Bronx, N.Y. entered a not guilty plea on a single count of murder.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. He will return to court on January 4, 2019.
Burke was arrested on November 20, 2018 in New York on a warrant for the November 3, 2018 shooting death of 30-year-old David Green Jr. in Pittsfield.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
Raekwan Jackson, 22, of Springfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
He was placed on probation for six months on the drug charges and the unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle charge was placed on file. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on March 21, 2018.
Jason McFadden, 38, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, four counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, three counts of improper storage of a firearm, and single counts of armed career felon, illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, improper storage of a large capacity firearm, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at McFadden's home on September 28, 2018.
Mathew Sylvia, 32, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on nine counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, seven counts of illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, and single counts of improper storage of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and attempt to commit a crime to wit: possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $75,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on October 19, 2018.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Debra Milesi, 57, of Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident resulting in death, motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and operating negligently, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
She was released on $1,000 bail. Milesi is accused of operating a motor vehicle in Adams on September 29, 2018 when she struck 38-year-old Jerome Berard. Berard was transported to the hospital and later died on October 7, 2018.