An image of the viewers at the Eastern Summit, the empty decking and an image of a similar viewer provided by state police.
FLORIDA, Mass. — State Police are investigating the theft of two scenic viewers that were stolen from the Eastern Summit on Route 2.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Talitha McCarthy-Johnson indicates that two commercial binocular units, which were located next to the Eastern Summit Gift Shop, were cut from their platform and taken sometime between Feb. 27 and March 7.
The two binoculars, manufactured by Tower Optical, are constructed of bronze and cast iron and weigh approximately 305 pounds each. These binoculars are considered collectibles, given the relatively low number manufactured.
If you have any information relative to the whereabouts of these items, contact the State Police Barracks in Cheshire at 413-743-4700.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 6.
Zachary Santoro, 29, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and abuse of a child and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14.
He was ordered to serve four to six years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution on the rape and abuse charges and given concurrent four to five years on the indecent assault and battery.
The charges stem from incidents that occurred in Lanesborough between June 1, 2014 and August 7, 2014. The alleged victim is now 18 years old.
Mackenzie Colvin, 24, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of assault with intent to rob, two counts of assault and battery, and single counts of armed robbery while masked, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and resisting arrest.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail. Colvin is accused of robbing Kirk's Variety Store in Pittsfield on January 25, 2017.
Jacob Hebert, 21, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on three counts of aggravated rape in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a 21-year-old woman on January 10, 2017. He had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, operating to endanger, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle allegedly on the same day.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail.
John Jones Jr., 21, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on three counts of aggravated rape.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. Jones is accused of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman on January 10, 2017.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 7.
Dale Crittelli, 36, of Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
His case was continued without a finding for one year. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on May 6, 2016. A single count of trafficking in heroin was dismissed by the state.
Kristina Crittelli, 32, of Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Her case was continued without a finding for one year. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on May 6, 2016. A single count of trafficking in heroin was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 8.
Kyle Forbes, 23, of Dalton had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of distribution of cocaine and possession of cocaine - his second offense.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $500 bail. The charges stem from the sale of cocaine to an undercover police officer in Pittsfield on January 31, 2017.
Earl Howard, 23, of Springfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,500 cash or $25,000 surety bail. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Cheshire on January 29, 2017.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, March 10.
Michael Cowan, 52, of Little Rock, Ark. was found guilty by a jury of seven counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.
He was ordered to be held without bail until sentencing on March 15, 2017. Cowan was found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl who is now 15 years old in Lee between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011.
He was found not guilty of a single count of rape of a child with force and the state dismissed a single count of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.
Timothy LaFave, 28, of Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of burning a dwelling house, breaking and entering in the nighttime, and violation of a restraining order.
He was ordered to serve three to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Cedar Junction on the burning a dwelling and breaking entering charges. He was given a concurrent one-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charge.
The charges stem from an incident in North Adams on October 3, 2015. A single count of cruelty to animals was dismissed by the state.
Dayanlee Bracero-Quirindo, 20, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Her case was continued without a finding for one year. The charge stems from the execution of a search warrant at her home on October 8, 2015. A single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute was dismissed by the state.
Lexus Perez, 21, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, distribution of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in connection with a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on June 6, 2016.
He pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws in connection with the execution of a search warrant on his home on October 8, 2015.
He was ordered to serve three to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the possession of heroin, distribution of cocaine, and possession of cocaine charges. He was given two the three years on the other charges.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 27-year-old homeless man allegedly using the parking meter kiosks to leave a threat on a vehicle.
Police say Joshua Tagge was charged with threat to commit a crime and a civil rights violation for allegedly printing a ticket reading "KILL THE JEW" where the license plate number would be and placing it on the window of Virginia O'Leary's vehicle.
The kiosks ask for users to type in their license plate, which is then printed onto the receipt ticket.
O'Leary reported that the ticket was left on her windshield on Feb. 27. She said she had parked on North Street and found the ticket and brought it to the Police Department.
Officer Sean Klink reviewed video collected from businesses and identified Tagge. Tagge apparently admitted to printing the receipt for "shock value," police said.
He allegedly printed a second one which read "F*** Nugget" (with intent to add an s to make that plural) on another.
Tagge will be summonsed to court on the two charges and the matter has been forwarded to the attorney general's office.
ARLINGTON, Vt. — A Sunderland man was arrested on Wednesday in the murder of an 81-year-old Arlington woman in January.
State police said Timothy Butler, 31, was arrested at about 3 p.m. while in a vehicle at Arlington Recreation Park. Butler was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Shaftsbury barracks for processing.
The body of Helen Jones was found in her Buck Hill Road home on the night of Jan. 4. A subsequent autopsy showed that she died from multiple stab wounds.
Police found evidence of a forced entry into home and investigations were looking at burglary as a possible connection to the crime.
This investigation, led by the Major Crime Unit, is ongoing as detectives continue to conduct interviews and gather evidence in this case. Following the arrest, detectives executed a search warrant at Butler's residence located on North Road in Sunderland.
"This case was solved because of the dedicated focus and tireless efforts of state police detectives, troopers, [State's Attorney] Erica Marthage and the Bennington County state's attorney's office," Public Safety Commissioner Thomas D. Anderson said. "The Major Crime Unit was formed two years ago so that highly trained detectives are able to quickly and singularly focus on the most serious and horrific crimes committed in Vermont. The arrest in this case clearly shows the value of the Major Crime Unit in apprehending and bringing to justice those who prey on the most vulnerable Vermonters."
Butler was taken to Marble Valley Correctional Facility and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, March 9, at 2 p.m. in Bennington County Superior Court's Criminal Division on charges of first-degree murder and burglary. A press conference will be held at the courthouse immediately following arraignment.
POWNAL, Vt. — A local man was killed on the New Jersey Turnpike on Wednesday after his motorcycle broke down.
Thomas Snow, 52, was apparently struck by a tractor trailer truck while trying to move his Harley-Davidson off the highway, according to several news reports out of New Jersey.
New Jersey State Police said Snow was in the northbound lane and trying to move the motorcycle across the highway from the left shoulder to the right when the truck hit him in the righthand lane.
The accident occurred about 1:30 a.m. in Hamilton, south of the Route 195 Exit. He was taken to a hospital and died not long afterward.
Police say no charges have been filed in the accident, which is under investigation.
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