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Superior Court Briefs: April 18 - April 20
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Cases heard before Judge Daniel ford on Tuesday, April 18.
Sandra Ramirez, 60, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine in connection to the execution of a search warrant on her Francis Avenue home and a single counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws for allegedly conspiring to sell cocaine between September 1, 2016 and January 6, 2017.
She was released on personal recognizance.
Francis Taikowski Jr., 25, of Warrensburg, N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed robbery while masked and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. The charges stem from an alleged robbery of the Xtra Mart in Great Barrington on March 23, 2017.
Danielle Brown, 40, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in connection with the execution of a search warrant on Elizabeth Street on January 6, 2017 and a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws in connection to allegedly conspiring with others to sell cocaine between September 1, 2016 and January 6, 2017.
She was released on personal recognizance.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel ford on Wednesday, April 19.
Steven Winters, 34, of Lenox had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on eight counts of distribution of heroin and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $20,000 cash or surety bail.
Winters is accused of selling heroin and conspiring with others to sell heroin in Lenox between November 8, 2016 and March 5, 2017.
Joseph Frusciente, 28, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of distribution of heroin - his second offense - and possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail. Frusciente is accused of selling heroin and conspiring with others to sell heroin in Pittsfield between February 27, 2017 and March 8, 2017.
Josaiah Bynum, 19, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his Howard Street home on February 28, 2017.
Mike Bedford, 42, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single counts of armed robbery while masked.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 cash or surety bail. Bedford is accused of holding up the Greylock Federal Credit Union Branch on North Street on December 30, 2015.
Steve Trybus, 47, of Lanesborough had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, three counts of rape and abuse of a child, and a single count of indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or older. Those are in allegedly related to incidents involving a woman who is now 23 in Pittsfield between March 3, 2006 and March 2, 2009.
He also had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, and single counts of rape and abuse of a child, open and gross lewdness, and intimidation of a witness relating to alleged incidents involving a woman who is now 18 in Pittsfield between February 18, 2005 and February 17, 2006.
He was released on personal recognizance.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel ford on Thursday, April 20.
Varian Lefebvre, 23, of Holyoke had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, improper storage of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,500 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Brayton Hill Terrace in North Adams on December 6, 2016.
Tracey Santiago, 27, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on three counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, two counts of distribution of heroin, and a single count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction on $20,000 bail.
Santiago is accused of selling heroin and conspiring with others to sell heroin in Pittsfield between February 27, 2017 and March 8, 2017.
Pittsfield Police Arrest Man After Chase On Pomeroy Avenue
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Another gun was seized after a police pursuit on Wednesday.
Police say at about 5:37 a.m. officers attempted to stop a vehicle on Pomeroy Avenue. The driver, Adam Masefield, 30, of Pittsfield allegedly fled from officers.
Later he pulled over near Herberg Middle school and fled on foot. While being chased Masefield allegedly tossed a loaded handgun to the ground.
He was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, operating a motor vehicle after a suspension, and numerous motor vehicle offenses.
This is the second police chase this week. On Monday four individuals were arrested on firearm charges after attempting to escape a traffic stop.
Crane Operator Killed in Vermont Construction Accident
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SEARSBURG, Vt. — A Maine man was killed when the crane he was operating hit a live electrical wire on Tuesday morning.
David Sprague, 59, of Windham, Maine, was working at a construction site on Putnam Road, off Route 8, when he drove his crane under a series of high tension power lines at about 11:00 a.m. The crane struck one of the lines, electrocuting Sprague.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and an autopsy will be performed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Green Mountain Power responded immediately and quickly rendered the scene safe, according to state police. Troopers were also assisted on scene by Wilmington Fire Department, Bennington Fire Department, Deerfield Valley Rescue and Bennington Rescue.
Four Arrested on Gun, Drug Charges After Pittsfield Car Chase
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four people were arrested on firearm and drug offenses following a traffic stop Monday evening.
Police say the department's anti-crime unit conducted a motor vehicle stop on Lincoln Street at about 7 p.m. As the officers approached the vehicle, it took off at a high rate of speed. Police pursued the vehicle and saw a firearm thrown out of the window.
Eventually, the driver pulled the vehicle over near the intersection of Fourth Street and Curtis Street.
Javan Rodriguez, 20, of Pittsfield was the driver of the vehicle. The passengers were Carey Pilot, 44, of Pittsfield, Samuel Thomason, 21, of Lenox, and Thomas Tobin, 43, of Pittsfield. There was also a juvenile, identified as Pilot's daughter, in the vehicle.
The four adults were all arrested and charged with numerous crimes.
North Adams Fire Battles Eagle Street Blaze
Flames were pouring out of the second floor of the building.
The second floor of the large circa-1900 home at 243 Eagle was in flames when the first emergency responders arrived at the scene.
"We come around the corner and it was very obvious we were going to need the entire department," said Lt. Michael Sherman, who responded with C group, the shift on duty. An all-call was made to bring in off-duty firefighters.
The owner, listed as Sandra Thomas, made a 911 call, said Lt. John Paciorek. She was able to exit the building and get her pets, a dog and two cats, out of the house as well.
Thomas recalled seeing smoke and fire in the house as she made her way out with the last cat.
"There was fire showing on the second floor of the building ... they advanced hose lines to the second floor to extinguish it," said Paciorek. "At the same time, there was fire showing on the first floor in the back and that was extinguished as well."
As the fire was contained in the front of the building, flames burst through a back window on the first floor in the back along Liberty Street. It took at least an hour to bring the blaze under control.
Paciorek said it wasn't clear yet what the path of the fire was or what caused it. The blaze is still under investigation and the state fire marshal's office has been contacted.
However, he said, "it is not deemed suspicious at this time."
The call came in at 9:53 p.m. and the fire wasn't fully out until after 11 p.m. Eagle Street was blocked by emergency equipment from Hall Street to the fork at Franklin Street. Emergency vehicles lined Eagle Street and the Fire Department's ladder truck was situated on Liberty Street.
North Adams Ambulance Service responded as did the city's Wire & Alarm Department. Mayor Richard Alcombright also visited the scene.
Firefighters began cleaning up the scene around midnight and planned to keep a fire watch through the night.
"It's a good group of guys. They knew the job. they got in there and got the brunt of the fire down," Sherman said. "Then going in and getting to the hot spots. ...
"The guys on the Fire Department did their job and did it well."
