PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters pulled one man from flames after the apartments above Tahiti Takeout caught fire early Thursday morning.

 

The department responded to the blaze shortly before 4:30 a.m. and upon arrival there were heavy flames shooting out of the back of the building. Firefighters were told there was one person unaccounted for and launched an interior search, finding one man in the flames.

 

"Upon arrival they found heavy fire in the back of the building. Our crews found out some of the occupants were outside of the building  and one occupant was unaccounted for. Our crew went in and made a rescue," Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said. 

 

Lt. Michael D'Avella and probationary firefighter Jarrett Robitaille pulled the man from the building. He was then transferred to Berkshire Medical Center and later transported to Worcester for further treatment for burns. The other six occupants in the apartments were unharmed.

 

The department then fought the fire that gutted the second floor.

 

"It took us a little bit to get it down but it was knocked down through aggressive interior firefighting. We did have to open the roof. We did have to call mutual aid today from the towns of Dalton and Lenox," Czerwinski said. 

 

The cause of the fire is still unknown but the chief says it started on the upper floors, and not from the restaurant. The restaurant did sustain water damage.

 

"We believe it started on the second floor. There is little damage to the first floor and the kitchen area. We have no reason to believe it was a kitchen fire that extended upward,"  he said.

 

The state fire marshal is on scene with Pittsfield Fire and Police investigating the blaze. The fire was reported early in the morning and Wahconah Street was closed in the section surrounding the restaurant. That section is expected to remain closed throughout the day while investigators are on scene. 

 

"Our guys did a great job this morning. There was a rescue right off the bat and that is always a challenge for any crew at 4:30 in the morning," Czerwinski said. 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

 

Brian Schaffer, 60, of Lee, pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of child pornography.

 

He was given a two-year suspended sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction and placed on three-years probation.

 

Schaffer was in possession of child pornography in Lee on August 1, 2015.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

 

Russell Allison, 43, of Pittsfield, had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a loaded firearm, armed career felon, and assault by means of a dangerous weapon.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. The charges stem from an incident in Pittsfield on October 4, 2016.

 

Clinton Jennings, 32, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of aggravated rape, threat to commit a crime to wit: murder, and breaking and entering in the daytime. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. The incident allegedly occurred in Pittsfield on September 26, 2016 and the alleged victim is a 27-year-old woman.

 

Reymon Delacruz-Batista, 27, of Pittsfield, pleaded guilty to single counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and illegal ownership of a firearm.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent three to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the trafficking in cocaine and heroin charges. He was given a concurrent two-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charge.

 

The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his Dalton Avenue home on June 18, 2015. A single count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony was dismissed by the state.

 

Jarritt White, 35, of Pittsfield, was found guilty of single counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, and improper storage of a firearm.

 

He was released on personal recognizance pending sentencing. On Thursday, he was sentenced to one-year of a two-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the illegal ownership of a firearm and placed on two-years probation on the other charge. He was also given a $1,250 fine.

 

While was found not guilty of single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on West Housatonic Street on July 3, 2015. 

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Nov. 16.

 

Dylan Ducharme, 21, of Pittsfield, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and single counts of assault and battery, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.

 

He was sentenced to two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the illegal possession of a firearm charge. He was placed on probation for two years on the assault by means of a dangerous weapon charge. He was given concurrent time on the other charges.

 

The charges stem from an incident on Hull Avenue on May 14, 2016. A single count of illegal possession of a loaded firearm was dismissed by the state.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, Nov. 28.

 

Leonel Osmin Olmedo, 27, of North Adams was found not guilty of two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14 and a single count of rape.

 

Olmedo was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old woman in North Adams on January 27, 2016 and February 8, 2016.

 

Roselin Dadak, 28, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of breaking and entering a building during the daytime with intent to commit a felony.

 

She was released on $500 bail. Dadak is accused of breaking into the home of a 27-year-old woman in Pittsfield on September 26, 2016. 

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday,Dec. 1.

 

Alan Vigiard, 51, of Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of possession of child pornography and a single count of dissemination of child pornography.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 bail. The incident allegedly occurred in Adams on May 27, 2016.