Pittsfield Police Arrest Two Suspected in 'Ghost Gun' Manufacturing

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Police arrested Emmanuel Kodjo and Taylor Bartlett after an investigation centering around the illegal possession of firearms and the illegal manufacturing of "ghost guns."
 
On Thursday morning, Oct. 28, members of the Pittsfield Police Department, Berkshire County Special Response Team, and Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force executed simultaneous search warrants at 205 Lenox Ave. (apartment No. 3) and 122 Dewey Ave. (apartment No. 4) in Pittsfield.
 
As a result of an investigation and ensuing search warrant executions, 23-year-old Emmanuel Kodjo and 18-year-old Taylor Bartlett were placed under arrest and charged with unlicensed possession of firearms. Police say additional charges are expected.             
 
Illegally owned firearms and "ghost guns" are an ongoing problem in Pittsfield and beyond, according to police. Ghost guns are privately manufactured firearms that do not possess a serial number. The weapons are partially manufactured and can be assembled at home by a person with minimal knowledge and skill. 
 
The search of the two residences resulted in the seizure of firearms, firearm parts and accessories, ammunition, and manufacturing equipment. 
 
Both Kodjo and Bartlett are Pittsfield residents. 
 
Lead investigators for the case are Investigator Thomas Bowler and Officer John Virgilio. The investigation centers on the illegal possession of firearms and the illegal manufacturing of "ghost guns."
 
A school resource officer contributed information that was pertinent to this investigation. Other agencies who assisted with this investigation include the Berkshire County Sheriff's Department, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 
 
In recent months, Pittsfield Police have made seizures of illegally possessed firearms and ghost guns.
 
Anyone who wishes to provide additional information can do so by contacting PPD at 413-448-9700. 
 
Information can also be provided anonymously via the Detective Bureau Tip Line at 413-448-9706, or by texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411).

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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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