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Pittsfield Man Arrested After Riot in U.S. Capitol

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield man is among those facing charges after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. 
 
David Lester Ross, 33, was recorded in the Metropolitan Police Department's listing for "Unrest-Related Arrest Data" on Wednesday, Jan. 6. He was the only Massachusetts resident charged as of Jan. 7 but his hometown was not provided. 
 
Boston.com reported Friday that he is a Pittsfield resident. 
 
Ross was charged with curfew violation and unlawful entry. He was picked up in the 100 Block of First Street NW in Washington, D.C., an area northwest of the Capitol building, according to police. The time he was arrested is not listed in the arrest data but Boston.com reports that police say he was arrested after 7 with a number of other people for refusing orders to abide by the curfew.
 
Police say Winter "without lawful authority, did enter and attempt to enter certain public property, that is, the United States Capitol Grounds, against the will of the United States Capitol Police."
 
It is not clear if he was involved in the mob that broke into the Capitol building during the counting of the electoral votes for president. 
 
Five people died in the attack, including one Capitol police officer. Numerous other officers were reportedly injured.
 
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, regarding the riot, said on Thursday that "anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts."
 
More than 50 people were arraigned on Thursday, mostly for curfew violations and unlawful entry. They were ordered to leave the District of Columbia with return dates set to face charges. Boston.com reports that Ross has a court date of June 10. His attorney is Darryl Daniels II.
 
A Facebook page for a David L. Ross shows him holding a firearm in his profile picture with a "Trump Pence" logo. There are posts of conspiracy theories, such as Bill Gates chipping people, and of supporting the president. He also apparently attended a Trump rally in New Hampshire in October. The page gives his history as having served in the infantry in the Army and the National Guard. It says he also worked at Family Dollar and Big Y and is originally from Catskill, N.Y. 
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Summer Wrapping Up for Pittsfield, Berkshire Students

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Students in Pittsfield and beyond are enjoying their last days of summer before classes begin. 

Most Berkshire County teachers return to work this month, and students follow in late August and early September. 

For Pittsfield Public Schools, staff returns on Aug. 26 and students' first day is Aug. 31; pre-kindergarten and kindergarten begin school on Sept. 2. 

Labor Day is on Monday, Sept. 7. 

"The summer is pretty much done, and we will be ready and excited to open the doors in about two and a half weeks,” Superintendent Latifah Phillips told the School Committee on Wednesday. 

Phillips is returning this year as the permanent superintendent.  She was appointed the interim superintendent last spring, and the School Committee voted to hire her permanently in June

This year also brings the middle school restructuring, moving fifth grade to the middle school level, and the retirement of Morningside Community School. 

Welcome night for Reid Middle School students new to the building is on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.; Herberg will have a sixth-grade welcome night at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 25, and at the same time on Aug. 26 for fifth grade. 

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