Former Ambulance Manager Ordered to Repay $240K

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The former general manager of Village Ambulance pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing $240,000 from the service over a five-year period.

Albert Miller, 59, pleaded guilty to a single count of larceny, an ongoing and continuing offense.

He and his wife, Cara Miller, 58, who was the service's office manager at the time, were accused of overpaying their salaries and using the service's credit card.

The couple first entered not-guilty pleas to the charges in February.

On Wednesday, Albert Miller changed his plea to guilty and was placed on three year's probation and ordered to pay the $240,000 back in restitution by Judge Daniel Ford.

Cara Miller's case is still pending.

The Millers were fired after an audit uncovered irregularities in the service's books in 2011.  The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office.

Williamstown Couple Arraigned on Larceny Charges

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two former employees of Village Ambulance in Williamstown were arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Berkshire Superior Court on larceny charges.

The married couple, Albert H. Miller, 59, and Cara J. Miller, 58, had not guilty-pleas entered on their behalf before Judge John Agostini, who released both on personal recognize.

The Millers are accused of stealing some $240,000 from the nonprofit ambulance service over a period of five years, until their dismissal in December 2011. Albert Miller was the general manager.

Albert Miller is charged with one count of larceny, ongoing and continuing offense and Cara Miller also with one count of larceny, ongoing and continuing offense, and one count of embezzlement.

The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office.

Williamstown Closes Spring Street For 'Beeping' Package

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Spring Street was shut down for just short of an hour Wednesday morning after the Post Office received a suspicious beeping package.

Police report that Spring Street was closed at 9:20 a.m. investigate the package because it was emitting a series of beeping sounds. The town's main shopping street was closed as police and firefighters inspected the item.

Chief Kyle Johnson said the noises were coming from an electronic game from what was a care package from a Williams College student's parents. Williams College Security found the student and determined what the package was.

The road was reopened shortly after 10 a.m.

North Berkshire Men Injured in Vermont Rollover

POWNAL, Vt. — A Williamstown, Mass., man may face charges of driving under the influence after a rollover accident early Sunday morning injured himself and a passenger.

Allen Whitney, 23, was operating a 2006 GMC Sierra on Route 346 in North Pownal, near the New York State line, at about 3:27 a.m. when the vehicle left the roadway and rolled over multiple times.

According to the report by State Trooper Justin Walker, "The truck was nearly unrecognizable as it had rolled approximately 500 feet after leaving the roadway."

Whitney was able to exit the pickup truck but his passenger, Brady Kuzia, 25, of Clarksburg, Mass., had to be extricated from the vehicle. Both men were transported to Southwest Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.

Walker said Whitney told him that they were driving home from Hoosick Falls, N.Y., at the time of the crash. The conditions were cold and clear and the road was wet.

Whitney, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered multiple lacerations to his body, face and head. Kuzia, who was wearing a seat belt, also had multiple lacerations an a possible fractured leg.

During the investigation, Walker suspected that Whitney was under the influence of alcohol and he was processed for suspicion of driving under the influence. Blood results are pending as well as other charges in this case. Investigation is ongoing, but the police report stated "speed was also clearly a factor in this crash."

Williamstown Crash Sends Three To Hospital

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Three people were taken to Berkshire Medical Center after crashing into a telephone pole on Cold Spring Road.

Police say a 1996 Honda Civic registered to a woman from Pittsfield crashed into the utility pole near Mezze's Bistro and Bar on Route 7 at about 11:44 a.m. Williamstown Police, Fire and Village Ambulance Service were all dispatched and the Jaws of Life was used to extricate the driver.

The driver and two passengers were transported to BMC in Pittsfield with non-life threatening injuries. Police said the accident is still under investigation but non-criminal charges are probable.

Police are not yet releasing the names of those involved but say none of them have life-threatening injuries.

The crash split a utlity pole and Cold Spring Road was closed to all traffic from the time of the crash until about 1:30 p.m. when one lane was reopened. National Grid and Verizon were called in to replace the pole.