Cheshire Police Chief Arrested on Sex Solicitation Charges

Staff Reports04:11PM / Friday, November 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town's police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave after being arrested Thursday night on charges of soliciting sex for a fee.

The Board of Selectmen held an emergency meeting at 3 p.m. on Friday and appointed retired Chief Timothy Garner as an administrative consultant. According to a statement from the board, it is investigating options for an interim chief.

According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, 53-year-old Michael Alibozek of Adams was arrested by the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit and assisted by troopers from the Cheshire State Police Barracks.

Alibozek was taken into custody in the parking lot of Hoosac Valley Middle and High School at approximately 9:45 p.m. He had been communicating online with an undercover State Police detective, according to the DA's office.

Following the arrest, Alibozek was relieved of duty and placed on paid administrative leave by the town administrator and the Select Board Chair Shawn McGrath. His town-issued firearm and access to the police station were seized.

In a statement, the Board of Selectmen said, "The Town of Cheshire takes these matters seriously and is fully cooperating with the investigative and judicial processes. The Board of Selectmen has been informed and is addressing the matter in the best interests of the Town of Cheshire. Former Chief Timothy Garner has been appointed as an administrative consultant. The Board is working on investigating options for an Interim Chief.

"No further comments will be made by the Cheshire Police Department or the Town of Cheshire at this time."

Alibozek was hired as police chief in 2022 to replace Garner, after serving on the force for five years. A sergeant at the time, he was one of two finalists interviewed for the post.

The town of Cheshire has reported the matter to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

The defendant will be arraigned on Monday in Central Berkshire District Court.

He is the second county police chief to be placed on paid administrative leave. Adams Chief K. Scott Kelley was put on paid leave in September; the reason for that have not yet been made public. In Sandisfield, the Berkshire Eagle is reporting that the police chief there has been fired as of Tuesday. Michael Morrison was also the deputy fire chief and had been on paid administrative leave since July over inconsistencies in the Fire Department's payroll accounts; this did not relate to his role as police chief.

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Adams Man in Wednesday's Stabbing Incident Arraigned on Assault Charges

Staff Reports 01:00PM / Friday, January 30, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — An Adams man who called 911 on Tuesday night saying he had been stabbed was arraigned Friday on charges related to that incident and on outstanding warrants.

Philip White, 25, is accused of stabbing himself and calling 911 posing as a "friend." According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, an officer responding to the scene at 31 Commercial St. fired his weapon when the White was "observed approaching the officer in a threatening manner with an object in his hand." He missed, and no one was further injured.

White was initially held at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for a mental health evaluation and was reported in stable condition from his wounds, which were described as not life-threatening.

He was charged in Northern Berkshire District Court with assault with a dangerous weapon, to wit: cutting instrument, in connection with the Jan. 27 incident. He is being held without right to bail probation violation from charges of assault and battery, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct from an incident on Sept. 12, 2025.

White has three outstanding warrants which include three counts of trespass and one count of assault and battery on a family/household member. The court has additionally ordered an evaluation on his competence to stand trial and at the defense request, criminal responsibility.

A dangerousness hearing request is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4.

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said he will announce the findings of the full investigation into this incident, including the officer's discharge of his firearm, upon the conclusion of the investigation. The DA's Office said there would not be any additional comments at this time.

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