PITTSFIELD, Mass. - A city woman crashed her vehicle into the drive thru of the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank on Dalton Avenue Monday after suffering from a medical condition.
Police say Helen Gagnon, 57, of Pittsfield was traveling westbound Monday afternoon when "she suffered from an apparent medical condition." Her 2011 Chevrolet sedan veered off the road, through landscaping, and collided with the drive thru.
Gagnon was transported to Berkshire Medical Center by County Ambulance. The crash is still under investigation and anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Officer James McIntyre at 413-448-9700.
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Cheshire Police Department is asking for residents with any information to contact the station about vandalism at the school playground.
According to a post Monday afternoon on the department's Facebook page the new playground equipment at Cheshire Elementary school has been vandalized.
The post read:
"Someone has vandalized the new playground equipment that numerous volunteers spent countless hours erecting. Now those same volunteers are spending their Columbus Day scrubbing and cleaning the equipment."
The police are investigating and urge residents with any information call the cruiser cell phone at 413-446-3920 or the station at 413-743-1501 and leave a message.
"In such a close tight knit Community, we cannot allow for this to happen again," read the post. "Thanks for your help and a BIG thanks to the volunteers over there cleaning it up."
Last year the Cheshire Parent-Teacher Group inquired of the Selectmen about the possibility of replacing old equipment.
The playground committee needed to raise $12,000 for the equipment that would be matched by the playground developer.
After receiving a William and Margery Barrett Fund grant for $8,000, in addition to $4,000 of raised money, the playground committee was able to install the playground.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Kyle Forbes, 22, of Dalton had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of unarmed robbery, stealing by confining, and larceny from a building.
He was released on $1,000 cash or $10,000 surety bail. The charges stem from the robbery of the Shell gas station in Dalton on July 19, 2015.
Jeffrey Petryk, 55, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of possession of child pornography.
He was released on $500 bail. Petryk is accused of being in possession of child pornography on January 6, 2015.
John Squires III, 31, of Dalton had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of unarmed robbery, stealing by confining, larceny from a building and intimidation of a witness.
He was released on $1,000 cash or $10,000 surety bail. The charge stem from a robbery of the Shell gas station in Dalton on July 19, 2015.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Timothy Dayton, 49, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of operating under the influence of alcohol - his third offense - and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license in connection with an incident in Pittsfield on February 4, 2015.
He also had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on a single count of operating under the influence of alcohol - his third offense - negligent operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of leaving the scene of property damage, single counts of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and failure to stop for a police officer in connection with an incident in Lenox on September 11, 2015.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, Sept. 28.
Lynn Stracuzzi, 40, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin.
She was given a one-year suspended sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction and placed on one-year probation. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Cherry Street on March 20, 2014.
Single counts of drug violation in a school zone and conspiracy to violate drug laws were dismissed by the state.
Marquis Williamson, 28, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin.
He was ordered to serve 18 months at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession charge and placed on one-year probation on the distribution charge. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Clarksburg on July 22, 2014.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Oct. 1.
James Colbert, 54, of Williamstown pleaded guilty to single counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.
He was ordered to serve two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the assault and battery charge and given two-years probation on the other.
The incidents occurred in Williamstown on March 20, 2015 and involved a 31-year-old woman.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — North Adams Police have arrested two people after a motor vehicle stop early Thursday morning uncovered nearly 1,000 bags of heroin.
Officers and detectives executed a motor vehicle stop on Blackinton Street at approximately 12:55 a.m. on a red Chrysler sedan bearing Massachusetts registration 648EL9.
The operator of the motor vehicle was identified as Courtney Schnopps, 21, of Protection Avenue, who was found to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The passenger of the vehicle was identified as 22-year-old Matthew Capek of Blackinton Street.
Officers on scene had prior information from confidential informants that Schnopps and Capek were traveling to Hartford, Conn., to purchase a large quantity of heroin and transport it back to North Adams for sale. Schnopps and Capek were separated and, according to police, gave elusive answers that were not corroborated.
A K9 was uncovered bags of heroin in the vehicle and Schnopps and Capek also had heroin found on them during their arrest, said police, that matched the same packaging found in the vehicle. Some 990 bags of heroin were seized, with a street value of about $9,740.
There was no money or drug paraphernalia located in the vehicle.
Police said Schnopps and Capek both admitted under questioning to making a trip to Hartford. Capek claimed that the amount of heroin found in the vehicle was for his own personal use, according to police.
Bail for Capek was set at $2,000 and Schnopps was held without bail due to the outstanding warrant.
Both will be charged with possession with intent to distribute Class A substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
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