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Pittsfield Police Seize 63 lbs. of Marijuana, Cash, Stolen Gun

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police patrolmen seized 63 lbs. of marijuana Tuesday.
 
The officers were following up on an investigation when they discovered the drugs, cash and a stolen gun. With assistance from the Detective and Narcotics Bureau, Police seized 63 lbs. of marijuana, a stolen handgun and about $40,000 in cash.
 
Police estimate the marijuana was worth $150,000.
 
     

Superior Court Briefs: Nov. 17 - Nov. 19.

Staff Reports
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, November 17.
 
Lois Aubin, 45, of Stamford, Vt. was found guilty of single counts of larceny over $250 and misleading a police officer or other person.
 
She was ordered to serve concurrent two to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. Aubin took approximately $7,000 from Corner Market in North Adams on August 17, 2013 and was not truthful with investigations when telling them what happened.
 
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, November 18.
 
Ernest Harvin, 38, of Williamstown pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and single counts of receiving stolen property over $250, illegal possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of a sawed off shotgun, illegal possession of a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, improper storage of a firearm, failure to stop for a police officer and operating a motor vehicle without an inspection sticker.
 
He was ordered to serve four to five years in state prison on the possession of heroin with intent to distribute charges. He was given 10 to 12 years to be served on and after the first on the possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony charges. Charges of possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, failure to stop for a police officer and operating a motor vehicle without an inspection sticker were placed on file. He was given concurrent time on the remaining charges.
 
In total, Harvin will serve 14 to 17 years. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Williamstown on September 5, 2013. A single count of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle was dismissed by the state.
 
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, November 19.
 
Nathaniel Greene, 58, of Lee pleaded guilty to single counts of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, his fifth offense, and operating a motor vehicle with a revoked license.
 
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail pending sentencing on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The charges stem from an incident in Lee on June 20.
 
Christopher Harrington, 35, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
 
He was ordered to serve 2 1/2 years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession of heroin charge. He was given three months at the House of Correction on the other charge.
 
The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on March 26, 2014.
     

Man Involved in Shooting At Pittsfield Big Y Dies

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A man shot in the Big Y parking lot earlier this week has died.
 
Anthony Gamache, 29, of Goshen died Wednesday, the district attorney's office confirmed on Thursday. Gamache had been shot Tuesday while in the Big Y parking lot on West Street. Police have charged an 18-year-old city man with firearm charges.
 
"We're waiting on the results of the autopsy," said Fred Lantz, of the district attorney's office, Thursday afternoon. 
 
The autopsy will be performed in Boston to determine the cause of death. 
 
Gamache was shot in the the leg and was driven by two others to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton to be treated for his injury. He reportedly needed surgery and was transferred to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
 
He was released and Wednesday evening reported feeling pain and he was rushed Cooley Dickinson, where he was pronounced dead.
 
The district attorney's office says 18-year-old Peter Campbell was charged Wednesday with a single count assault and battery, single count of possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card and a single count of discharging a weapon within 500 feet of a dwelling. He is being held without bail until a dangerousness hearing on Friday morning.
 
Pittsfield Police declined to comment on the incident.
     

Firefighters' Quick Response Saves Readsboro Home

Staff ReportsiBerkshires Staff
Fire Chief Adam Codogni, left, coordinates the response a woodstove fire on Route 100.

READSBORO, Vt. — A quick — and overwhelming — response to woodstove fire on Tuesday afternoon saved a local family's home.

"It went up to the second floor, we didn't use hardly any water," said Fire Chief Adam Codogni. "Got it all with fire extinguishers and water cans.

"It was very clean and neat."

The call came around 3 p.m. from the home at 2045 Route 100, near the intersection at Old Country Lane, as Readsboro Volunteer Fire Department called for mutual aid backup from surrounding towns. Stamford, Wilmington and Whitingham, and Clarksburg, Mass., sent trucks and personnel. North Adams Ambulance Service also sent an ambulance and the rehab trailer.

"The second alarm brings a lot of manpower and you need it," Codogni said. "It's during the day and everybody's working. We all came from work."

The fire from the first-floor woodstove went up the wall and slightly into the second floor above it. Temperatures were frigid as firefighters contained the blaze within the structure and opened the windows to air it out.

The family will not be able to return to the building immediately, Codogni said. "They have to get an electrician in there. They have burnt wires and we've got the power off."

Family members acted promptly in calling the Fire Department and getting safely out of the building.

"They're very lucky the called it in as quick as they did," he said. "They all got out and stayed out. They did a good job."

     

Fire Displaces Pittsfield Family of Five

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
The single-family home at 52 Seymour St. suffered damage because of the fire.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A family of five has been displaced following a fire that destroyed their Seymour Street home on Monday.
 
The family was not home at the time but the structure was damaged so severely that the building inspector has ruled it uninhabitable.
 
Two dogs that were inside during the fire were rescued by firefighters — one initially and then another while fighting the fire.
 
"We arrived on the scene at 10:49 a.m. and had heavy smoke showing across Seymour Street with fire on the backside of the house," Deputy Chief Michael Polidoro said. "There were no occupants home at the time. Both pets were rescued from the building."
 
Polidoro said the fire was called as a two-alarm in order to rotate the firefighting crews. All on-duty personnel responded first and later an on-call crew took over. After an hour and a half or so, the blaze was extinguished but firefighters continued to chase down hot spots.
 
"The fire took a lot of time to put out because it worked its way into the walls of an older structure and got into the attic area," Polidoro said. "The fire did extensive damage to the house. The occupants will not be able to live there."
 
He added, "it did become a double-alarm fire for manpower because we were trying to knock it down and chase it through the house."
 
The family — two adults and three children — rent from the owner John Giardina. The American Red Cross has been notified. As of 2 p.m., firefighters were helping to salvage the family's items that survived the blaze — but heat damage destroyed much of the single-family home.
 
The fire led to the closure of Seymour Street for more than three hours.
 
Polidoro said the rainy weather didn't play a role in fighting the fire. The cause is still unknown but inspectors are on scene in hopes to pinpoint it.
 
"The crews did a good job. They really worked hard today. It stretched them to their limits but nobody complained about it," Polidoro said.
 

 

     
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