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Michael Comeau's commendation for his efforts with the state police.

State Police Honor Berkshire Mountain Search Team

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Michael Comeau, Stephanie Buzzella and Michael Williamson were all honored for their efforts in the rescue.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Members of the Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue Team were honored recently by the state police for their efforts in finding an 87-year-old man who went missing last year for four days.
 
Stephanie Buzzella, Michael Williamson, and Michael Comeau were given a Commander's Commendation for dedication and actions by the state police in Framingham for their efforts in the October rescue.
 
The volunteer group joined state police in Washington last Oct. 19 to help find the man, who suffers from Alzheimer's. He had been seen leaving his Washington home at 6 p.m. that Friday wearing a windbreaker with blue, gray and orange colors and blue jeans.
 
State troopers used a K-9 unit, and air wing helicopter. The environmental police used an all-terrain vehicle. The Becket Police Department had two officers using thermal imaging cameras. CSX Railway operations were halted so the tracks could be searched but after a full day that Saturday, the man still wasn't located.
 
The next morning, efforts ramped up. Some 50 officers from the state police — including air wing and K9 - environmental police, CSX Railway, and both the Central Massachusetts and Berkshire Mountain search and rescue teams joined the hunt.
 
At 11:35 a.m., the State police helicopter located the man about a third of a mile from his home in a thickly wooded area. Three members of the Berkshire Mountain team and state troopers were guided to the man, who was later treated for dehydration and exposure after being taken out of the woods.
 
The 40-year-old team is a nonprofit organization with volunteers who specialize in search and rescue — from K-9 units to communications — for missing persons throughout the state and region. 

Tags: BMSAR,   missing persons,   search & rescue,   

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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