PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters snuffed out an attic fire on Dawes Avenue Tuesday night.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Andrew Stephenson, firefighters were called to 53 Dawes Avenue at about 10:30. Upon arrival a small fire was located in the attic and a man was injured.
"One occupant burned his hands trying to control the fire. He sought medical attention," Stephenson wrote in a report on the incident.
The fire was apparently caused by "improper disposal of a cigarette" and one room, which was used for storage, was damaged. However, the home is likely habitable, Stephenson said, depending on inspections on Wednesday.
"The fire was brought under control and extinguished shortly after arrival by fire crews," Stephenson wrote.
The man who was injured sought medical attention from County Ambulance on scene but ultimately provided his own transportation to the hospital. The house is occupied by three people, all of whom found alternative housing Tuesday night. No firefighters were injured in response.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Monday, April 4.
Laquan Johnson, 20, of Pittsfield entered not guilty pleas on single counts of second degree murder, armed assault with intent to rob, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and illegal possession of a firearm.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Johnson is accused of shooting 29-year-old Anthony Gamache in the leg in the Big Y parking lot on November 14, 2014. Gamache died the next day.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Tuesday, April 5.
Peter Campbell, 19, of Pittsfield entered not guilty pleas on two counts of armed assault with intent to rob, and a single count of second degree murder.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Campbell is accused of shooting 29-year-old Anthony Gamache in the leg in the Big Y parking lot on November 14, 2014. Gamache died the next day.
Damian Ivas, 40, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of threatened use or presence of explosives, chemical or biological agents causing evacuation or disruption, and a single count of threatened use or presence of explosives, chemical or biological agents.
He was released on personal recognizance. He is currently being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on other charges. Ivas is accused of making several bomb threats on January 7, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, April 6.
Matthew Rivera, 22, of Lee had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of armed assault with intent to rob, two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery, and single counts of kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and intimidation of a witness or other person.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from an incident in Lee and Pittsfield where two men, ages 31 and 34, were assaulted. The incident allegedly occurred on January 26, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Thursday, April 7.
Steven Cote, 45, of Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of operating under the influence of alcohol - his fifth offense- negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license for an operating under the influence offense, and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
He was ordered to serve two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the operation under the influence charge. He was given six-months on the operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license charge. He was given concurrent two-year sentence of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle charge. And, the open container charge was placed on file.
In total he will serve three years at the Berkshire County House of Correction.
The charges stem from an incident in North Adams on December 11, 2015.
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — A Pittsfield man has been arrested in connection with a break-in at a Stockbridge Road restaurant after leading police on a chase across several South County towns.
Chief William Walsh said the Great Barrington Police Department, working collaboratively with neighboring police, arrested the man on Wednesday.
Nathan P. Lopes, 22, of Tyler Street has been charged with:
• Breaking and entering into a building during the nighttime to commit a felony
• Larceny over $250
• Possession of a stolen vehicle
The arrest of Lopes is part of an ongoing investigation into break-ins and larcenies from several buildings and businesses in multiple communities late Tuesday evening into Wednesday, including Egremont and West Stockbridge. Additional charges may be forthcoming.
At approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Egremont Police received a call from county dispatch of a possible break-in at a house on Seekonk Cross Road. At the same time, Egremont Sgt. Hans Carlsen was investigating a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Mom's Restaurant on Route 23 in Egremont.
That officer informed dispatch that Seekonk Cross Road was located in Great Barrington. Great Barrington Police Officer Victor Zucco was unable to find the house on Seekonk Cross Road, and it is now believed that the operator of the suspicious vehicle at Mom's made a fake call to thwart police.
While searching for the house break-in, Zucco observed taillights in the distance and attempted to catch up with the vehicle. The vehicle, a pickup truck, kept driving away and Zucco lost sight of it. Both Zucco and Carlsen continued to search for the truck and crossed into Alford. While on East Road, Carlsen saw the truck in front of him going at a high rate of speed and he attempted to stop it. The truck crashed into a tree whereupon the operator fled on foot while throwing away wads of cash.
The suspect, identified as Lopes was captured, subdued, and placed in handcuffs. He was then transported to Fairview Hospital for minor facial injuries. The truck was a total loss.
State police from the Lee Barracks were called to investigate the accident as the incident was now in West Stockbridge.
Lopes was found to be intoxicated and operating the vehicle with a suspended license, and he will face additional charges from the state police.
Around 9 a.m., police at the accident scene in West Stockbridge notified Great Barrington Police that they found receipts from the Xicohtencatl Mexican Restaurant on Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington. Officer Adam Carlotto went to the closed restaurant and found an open window and fresh footprints. The owners later confirmed that they were missing money.
Police also recovered a large amount of cash, some beer and more receipts from Xicohtencatl while inventorying Lopes' possessions after his arrest.
Early Wednesday morning, a Pittsfield resident called the Pittsfield Police Department to report his truck stolen. The truck turned out to be the same truck that Lopes was operating.
Police from Great Barrington, Pittsfield, Egremont, and state police and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section all worked together Wednesday on the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Lopes is being held on $7,500 bail at the Great Barrington lockup and will be arraigned in Southern Berkshire District Court on Thursday morning.
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Police arrested a Bennington, Vt., man whom they believe is responsible for a number of recent car breaks.
On Tuesday, police arrested 29-year-old Nicholas Leonard at the Weathervane Motel on a number of charges related to the string of car break-ins. Leonard is being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,500 bail and will be arraigned on Wednesday.
"A concerned citizen knew we were looking for him and said they saw him at the Weathervane," said Chief Timothy Sorrell.
Leonard is being charged by Lanesborough Police on four counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, two counts of larceny under $250, and single counts of uttering, larceny over $250, and forgery. Pittsfield Police and Vermont authorities are also expected to file charges relating to similar incidents in those areas.
"Numerous stolen items were found in the room from various break-ins in Pittsfield and Lanesborough," Sorrell said.
The chief said Leonard had been suspected in the recent car breaks. Just three days earlier, Lanesborough Police used Facebook to warn citizens to lock their car doors to protect their property.
Leonard was apparently seen on video in one of the breaks, according to Sorrell. He also alleged that Leonard had stolen a checkbook, wrote checks for cash, and provided identification when he went to cash them.
Prior to Tuesday's arrest, there were default warrants: one from 2011 in Williamstown for 20 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle and one from 2015 in North Adams for failing to provide a DNA sample — Massachusetts requires those convicted of a felony to provide one.
In 2011, Leonard was charged with breaking into vehicles in Bennington and Pownal, Vt., and in Williamstown. He was accused of some 41 car break-ins and stealing more than $10,000 worth of various items.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 22.
James Morrison, 24, of Great Barrington pleaded guilty to four counts of breaking and entering in the daytime, four counts of larceny over $250, and single counts of larceny over $250 from a person 60 years old or older, fraudulent use of a credit card, misuse of a credit card, and credit card fraud under $250.
He was ordered to serve concurrent two and a half o four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on all charges except misuse of a credit card and credit card fraud. On those charges he was given concurrent one-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction.
The charges stem from housebreaks in South County between July 31, 2015 and September 15, 2015.
Single counts of receiving stolen property over $250 and fraudulent use of a credit card were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 24.
Duane Carr, 27, of Bronx N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute and a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
He was released on $2,500 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on February 22, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 29.
James Miller, 48, of North Adams pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14.
He was given concurrent two-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction on three of those charges and placed on five-years probation on the other. The incidents involved a 24-year-old woman in North Adams between November 4, 2013 and December 25, 2013.
Merredith Futrell, 34, of North Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
She was ordered to serve 30 days at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charge stems from the execution of a search warrant on Bracewell Avenue on November 3, 2015.
Single counts of trafficking in a class B substance and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 30.
Antoine Crichlow, 37, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of rape, and single counts of strangulation or suffocation, assault and battery on a family member, intimidation of a witness, and threat to commit a crime to wit: assault and battery on a public employee.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. Crichlow is accused of assaulting a 31-year-old woman in Pittsfield on January 13 and January 14, 2016 and threatened a Pittsfield Police officer on January 14, 2016.
Robin MacDowell Jr., 30, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaking and entering in the night time, seven counts of larceny over $250, two counts of larceny under $250, two counts of larceny over $250, and a single count of breaking and entering in the day time.
He was ordered to serve concurrent two-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction on all charges except the two counts of larceny under $250, for which he was given a concurrent one-year sentence.
The charges stem from a number of breaks in Pittsfield between August 10, 2015 and September 12, 2015. Eight counts of unarmed burglary were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 31.
Russell Allison, 43, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense - possession of heroin - his second offense - and possession of cocaine - his second offense.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,500 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle incident in Pittsfield on December 23, 2015.
Lionel Ortiz, 34, of Hartford, Conn. had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of armed robbery.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $15,000 bail. He is accused of taking money from a clerk at Lipton Mart on South Street in Pittsfield on February 23, 2015.
Vincent Thaxter, 38, of Hartford, Conn. had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single county of armed robbery.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. He is accused of taking money from a clerk at Lipton Mart on South Street in Pittsfield on February 23, 2015.
Joseph Walker, 42, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on January 21, 2016.
Michael Abdalla Jr., 54, of Lee pleaded guilty to a single count of misleading a police officer or other person.
Agostini accepted a plea and continued the case without a finding for two years provided Abdalla abide by conditions imposed by the Probation Department and donate $5,000 to a local charity.
Abdalla failed to provide video tape evidence from Michael's Restaurant to police related to a motor vehicle homicide investigation on April 4, 2015 in Stockbridge.
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