image description — Members of the Patrol Division arrived in under one minute and observed one of the possible suspects run back into the residence. The tenant of the apartment was able to get out of the residence and alerted police that two other people were in the home prior to the armed suspects entering.

Pittsfield Police Respond to Home Invasion, Possible Hostage Situation

Staff Reports 08:04AM / Saturday, July 17, 2021Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Police arrested two men on Broad St. at the scene of a reported home invasion after activating the Special Response Team

Pittsfield Police responded to 18 Broad St. around 6:30 pm on Friday to a reported home invasion involving two masked armed individuals.

Members of the Patrol Division arrived in under one minute and observed one of the possible suspects run back into the residence. The tenant of the apartment was able to get out of the residence and alerted police that two other people were in the home prior to the armed suspects entering.

Attempts to contact or locate those individuals were unsuccessful resulting in authorities having to consider this incident a potential hostage situation. Berkshire County Special Response Team Commander John Murphy was notified. He responded to the scene and activated the Special Response Team (SRT).

Broad Street was shut down in the immediate area and a perimeter was set up around the residence.

Around 8 pm two men exited the residence and were taken into custody by police for questioning. Another person believed to be in the home at the time of the incident was treated by EMS for a facial injury.

As of late Friday night detective bureau, drug unit and crime scene services were still in the process of identifying those involved and the roles they played in this incident.

Police report that this was not a random incident and there is no threat to the public. The Detective Bureau continues to speak with witnesses and review area video surveillance.

The majority of the Pittsfield Police Department's resources were committed to this incident. As a result, the department requested mutual aid from neighboring towns. Members of the Dalton Police Department, Lanesborough Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assisted with the response to police calls for service within the city during this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department Detective Bureau (413-448-9705), call the Tip line (413-448-9706), or send us a tip via text message by texting "PITTIP" and your message to 847411 (TIP411)

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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