Pittsfield Man Fined For Illegal Asbestos Removal

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — DEP has fined a city man for illegally removing asbestos from a home on Circular Avenue.
 
The Department of Environmental Protection fined Robert Clum $27,100 for removing the material from 65 Circular Avenue in August of last year. The work, removing and disposing of asbestos pipe insulation, potentially exposed the residents to asbestos fibers, DEP says. Clum does not have a contractor's license to the work nor did he notified the state regarding it.
 
DEP says Clum was hired by the homeowner to remove the insulation from the basement of the two-family home. He did the work without techniques to prevent the air-borne release of asbestos, DEP said. Following the work, a proper abatement was done by a licensed contractor with DEP's oversight.
 
"n this case, an elderly resident was clearly taken advantage of by an individual unqualified to remove asbestos material," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield.
 
"It is essential that asbestos abatement be performed by a licensed contractor to ensure that there is no risk to human health and safety or the environment."
 
Property owners and contractors are asked to contact DEP with any questions about the materials, notification requirements, proper removal, handling, packaging, storage, and disposal procedures. 
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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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