Pittsfield Man Charged With Assaulting Two with Handgun

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After a standoff, a city man was arrested and charged for allegedly threatening and striking two people with a handgun over the weekend.

Solomon Jones III, 32, of Pittsfield has been charged with assault and battery, threat to commit a crime, and carrying a firearm and ammunition without a license.

Police were dispatched to a multi-family unit at 10 Francis Ave.  at about 7:40 p.m. on Sunday for a report of a person with a firearm. Upon arrival, officers said they encountered two people with facial injuries.

"Those parties reported that an altercation had occurred in the parking lot involving a party who then fled the scene and ran into one of the nearby apartments. That party was later identified as Solomon Jones III, age 32 of Pittsfield," according to a press release by Capt. Matthew Hill

"Mr. Jones had allegedly pulled out a handgun on the victims and began making threats. He subsequently struck both victims in the head with the firearm and kicked one of them while they were on the ground."

Jones was reportedly located inside the apartment and was ordered to come out, which he refused.



"After an initial standoff, entry was made and Jones was placed under arrest," Hill wrote. "A firearm was recovered from inside the apartment and seized by officers as evidence. The victims were transported to Berkshire Medical Center where they received treatment for their injuries."

Jones is being charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, threat to commit crime,
carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card, and improper storage of a firearm.


Tags: firearms,   

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Former Adams Police Chief Facing Fraud Charges

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The former chief of police in Adams was indicted Tuesday on fraud charges by a Berkshire County grand jury. He is accused of taking nearly $20,000 in overtime funds he didn't earn.
 
Kevin Scott Kelley, aka K. Scott Kelley, 46, was relieved of duty in September and placed on a paid leave of absence until December. Adams town officials declined to say if he was fired or resigned at that time. 
 
He is accused of submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims under a municipal traffic enforcement grant administered by the Office of Grants and Research in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, according to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. 
 
The alleged conduct began in or about January 2024 and continued through at least January 2025 and was reported by officers under Kelley's command.
 
The members of the Adams Police Department identified discrepancies in the reimbursement submissions and gathered evidence indicative of fraudulent activity. They subsequently requested assistance from the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit and the DA's Office. 
 
Based on the materials initially collected by Adams Police, State Police conducted a formal investigation, which concluded that the defendant submitted and received $19,123.15 in overtime compensation for dates on which he either absent from work or performed duties not consistent with the requirements of the grant program.
 
Kelley was sworn in on January 2021 to replace the retired Chief Richard Tarsa. He came with more than 25 years experience in law enforcement, most recently as police chief for Spartanburg (S.C.) Community College.
 
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