Those Charged In Recent Pittsfield Shootings Are Detained

11:55AM / Tuesday, May 31, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — All individuals Pittsfield Police charged in four shootings between February and April have been detained and each defendant is currently in custody.

On Friday, the court found that Keyondre Taft possessed a danger to the community and that he be detained pre-trial. He is one of six people police arrested and charged in shootings between February and April.

Taft and two others are currently detained pre-trial without the right to bail on charges related to the April 26 shooting on Brierwood Lane.

Michael Rose remains in custody without the right to bail in the Feb. 1 homicide of Jeric Black.

Terrell Ortiz remains in custody without the right to bail on a charge of assault and battery with a firearm related to the March 3 shooting on West Street.

Laquan Johnson is in custody without the right to bail in the April 4 homicide of Stephan Curley.

The police never charged Johnson as the shooter in the previous Glenwood Avenue drive-by shooting but did charge him with illegal possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property as the passenger in a vehicle. Johnson was convicted of both charges, and the District Attorney's Office requested a jail sentence of at least one year. Defense counsel requested probation. The court imposed a two-year sentence but suspended it and placed Johnson on probation.

Additionally, David Moody received a guilty conviction in the Glenwood Avenue case. He is currently serving 2 1/2 years in state prison for that crime.

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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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