NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A North Adams man was killed after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a car on Church Street on Friday evening.
According to the North Adams Police, Steven Fortier, 49, was driving his 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound when he collided with a northbound car Friday night around 10 near 761 Church St. and near where the road forks between Church Street and Ashland Street. According to a press release from the Berkshire district attorney's office, first responders found Fortier lying in the roadway.
He was transported to Berkshire Medical Center's North Adams Campus, where he died from injuries.
Life Flight had initially been called to the scene.
The vehicle that collided with Fortier's motorcycle was a 2015 Audi driven by Joseph Thompson of Adams. Thompson is the director of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Jodi Joseph of Williamstown, also an employee of Mass MoCA, was a passenger in the vehicle. They did not suffer serious injuries, officials said.
The accident is still under investigation by the North Adams Police Department, State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office and troopers from the Crime Scene Service Section and the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section.
Traffic was rerouted during the accident. Church Street was reopened around 3 a.m.
According to Fortier's Facebook page, he was a self-employed Adams native and graduate of Hoosac Valley High School. Just three hours before the accident, he changed his cover picture to a photo of a motorcycle.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Egremont Elementary School took precautionary measures Tuesday morning as Police responded to a Williams Street home for a man threatening to harm himself.
Police said at 9:40 p.m. officers were dispatched to the address and learned that there was a summer program happening at Egremont School. The school took additional safety measures while police managed the nearby situation.
Walter Bradley, 38, of Pittsfield was reportedly threatening to do harm to himself with a gun. He then left the home and was stopped by police shortly after. Bradley was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, July 9.
Justin Senecal, 29, of Palmer pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery on a disabled person and a single count of caretaker abuse on a disabled person.
The case was continued without a finding for six months. Senecal assaulted a student while employed at Eagleton School on July 11, 2013.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, July 11.
Dennis Ducharme Jr., 27, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws, inducing or abetting a minor to distribute controlled substances, and intimidation of a witness.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 bail. The charges stem from an investigation into illegal drug activity in Pittsfield on May 16, 2018.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, July 12.
Nicholas Beauchamp, 29, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to five counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, five counts of larceny from a building, and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
He was sentenced to concurrent two and a half to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction.
Beauchamp broke into O'Brien's Market in Lenox on August 4, 2017; the American Legion in Pittsfield on August 20, 2017; and Angelina's Sub Shop in Pittsfield on September 15, 2017. He took ATMs from those locations. He also broke into O'Laughlin's Pub in Pittsfield on September 11, 2017 and took money. The other charges relate to his arrest in Pittsfield on September 28, 2017.
A single count of carrying a dangerous weapon was dismissed by the state.
Simone Farnum, 40, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of distribution of heroin, conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: distribution of heroin, distribution of cocaine, and conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: distribution of cocaine.
She was given an 18-month suspended sentence and placed on probation. The charges stem from the sale of heroin and cocaine in Pittsfield on August 17, 2017.
Rashard Garnett, 30, of Pittsfield was found guilty of a single count of possession of cocaine.
He was released pending sentencing. The charge stems from the execution of a search warrant on West Street in Pittsfield on March 22, 2016.
He was found not guilty of single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and drug violation in a park zone.
Jessica Trotter, 41, of Williamstown pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of cocaine - her second offense.
She was ordered to serve concurrent one-year sentences at the Hampden County House of Correction Chicopee Woman's Facility. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on April 2, 2018.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Vermont motorcyclist was injured Thursday afternoon after colliding with a pickup truck.
Police say just before 1:30 in the afternoon, John Bailey, 56, of Cheshire turned out of Unistress on Cheshire Road and collided with the northbound motorcyclist Cassius Bradford, of Stamford, Vt.
Bradford was transported to Berkshire Medical Center with injuries to his arms and legs "that appeared serious but non-life threatening," according to police. Bailey was not injured.
Pittsfield Police was assisted at the scene by the Massachusetts State Police and Lanesborough Police. It remains under investigation by the traffic unit and Police are asking anyone who may have seen the accident or the actions of the motorcycle prior to the collision to contact Office David Hallas at 413-448-9700 ext. 379.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police say a 21-year-old city man attempted to pull a gun on police officers Wednesday night.
According to Police, officers and the Berkshire County Sheriff's Department attempted to apprehend Brandon Griffin and 19-year-old Tyra Alado on a warrant at Costanzo's Package and Variety. Griffin was reportedly wanted in relation to a shooting incident on July 5.
Police say Griffin resisted arrested and struggled ensued. During that, police said Griffin accessed a located revolved from his waistband. Police added that Alado made attempts to prevent Griffin from being taken into custody as well.
Law enforcement was able to subdue Griffin and recover the weapon. There were no injuries.
Griffin is being charged with possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, vandalizing property, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card. Alado was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
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