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Pittsfield Man Charged With Attempted Murder, Kidnapping
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield man is facing charges of attempted murder and kidnapping related to a shooting early Tuesday morning that left another man in critical condition.
The court has impounded all information regarding the shooting, including the name of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the shooting, until Sept. 25.
Kevin Nieves, 19, of Robbins Avenue was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday morning on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder; illegal possession of a firearm; kidnapping; and assault and battery. He was ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Corrections without the right to bail. Nieves had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf.
Nieves, who will be back in court for a pretrial conference on Sept. 20, is accused of shooting the 19-year-old victim near Ashley Reservoir in Washington at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday. The victim, from Cheshire, was taken to Berkshire Medical Center and underwent surgery. He was listed in critical condition on Tuesday.
He appeared before Judge Jacklyn Connly of Northampton District Court in Hampshire County.
Nieves has prior charges related to domestic assaults, one last year and one in February for which bail was also revoked. Nieves is accused of assaulting his girlfriend in February and was ordered to enter an anger management program; that case had been continued without a finding until Aug. 27.
Anyone with information relevant to the shooting is asked to contact state police detectives at 413-499-1112.
Pownal Man Charged With Making Threatening Call to SVMC
BENNINGTON, Vt. — A Pownal man is being charged with calling in a bomb threat that caused Southwestern Vermont Medical Center's Pownal campus to declare a lockdown last week.
Allen L. Spaulding, 33, of Route 7 was charged with false public alarm violation and ordered to appear in Superior Court's Criminal Division on Oct. 1.
Spaulding is accused of making a threatening call via a cell phone on Aug. 14 at about 9:24 a.m. to the facility on Route 7 just north of the Massachusetts line. According to State Trooper Shawn Sommers, Spaulding was "located at a later date" and issued the citation to appear in court.
Update: Arrest Made In October Mountain Shooting
PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Police arrested a Pittsfield man for a shooting on October Mountain.
Kevin Nieves, 19, was arrested shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. He will be charged with single counts of armed assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, kidnapping, and assault and battery. He is expected to be arraigned in court Wednesday morning.
Police say at about 1 a.m. authorities responded to a report of the 19-year-old Cheshire man being shot near the Ashley Reservoir. He was transported to Berkshire Medical Center where he underwent surgery and is currently listed in critical condition.
The district attorney's office issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 413-499-1112.
Pedestrian Killed After Being Hit By Train In Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A pedestrian was reportedly killed while walking on the training tracks.
Authorities have not released information regarding the incident but that the accident happened shortly after 6 p.m. near Center Street. The pedestrian was reportedly walking on the tracks and the Amtrak train heading from Boston to Chicago was unable to stop in time.
None of the passengers or crew were injured in the collision.
Smoking Materials Blamed for Fire at North Adams American Legion
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Smoking materials are believed to be the cause of a fire at the American Legion on Saturday night that forced the closure of the club.
A fire was reported as being in the walls of the American Legion Drive structure shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday. At least two dozen people were evacuated from the building and firefighters were quickly on the scene — the fire station is across the street from the post.
The blaze appeared to be concentrated in the wall of the exit on the north end of the building, where a disposal container for cigarettes is located. Firefighters cut through the wall and up to the ceiling of the one-story building. The fire was considered contained by about 8:30 p.m. but firefighters were still using axes to open up the wall and spraying it with water.
Fire Director Stephen Meranti said the building had to be closed because of smoke and the use of a fire extinguisher. The building was going to be ventilated and the building inspector would determine if it was suitable to reopen.
Patrons, who gathered under nearby trees to avoid the rain, were told they would be allowed back to recover their belongings once some of the smoke was removed.
No one was injured but the north entrance incurred significant damage from the fire and the efforts to contain it.