Pittsfield Man Facing Drug, Assault Charges

11:47AM / Wednesday, January 14, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man was taken into custody on Tuesday evening after allegedly threatening others in his North Street apartment.

Ixander Pereira, 22, was arrested after police say they discovered bags of material "consistent" with heroin on his person.

Pereira was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm) and possession of a class A substance (heroin) and is expected to be arraigned in Pittsfield District Court today. No firearm was recovered.

Police responded a call about an "unwanted subject" in the 500 block of North Street at approximately 6:34 p.m.

The responding officers were told that someone had been threatened by a man with a firearm, and that there were multiple people, including the potential suspect, within a particular apartment.

Because of the information regarding the presence of a firearm and the number of people inside the residence, additional officers, including members of the anti-crime unit, also responded.

Officers were allowed into the apartment, and Pereira was taken into custody without incident.

Tags: assaults, drug charges,

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Residents, Officials Say 'No' to Proposed Berkshire Gas Rate Hike

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
07:12AM / Saturday, February 07, 2026

The hearing included representatives from state's rate division, the hearing officer and Department of Public Utilities Commissioners, at right, Chair Jeremy McDiarmid and Liz Anderson

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local officials and residents argued against Berkshire Gas's proposed 22 percent increase on the average customer's bill during a public hearing on Wednesday evening at Berkshire Community College.

State Sen. Paul Mark and state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, John Barrett III and Leigh Davis stood before members of the state Department of Public Utilities in "strong opposition" to the rate hike.

The Berkshire delegation joins Gov. Maura Healey, local higher education institutions, and community members who find the increase, estimated to be about $54 a month for residential heating, unaffordable for a vital service.

"While there was a time that this was our hometown Berkshire Gas, in reality, it is not anymore. This is a multinational company. It's a multinational company whose CEO makes $3.23 million a year. That's $62,000 a week," Farley-Bouvier said.

"Now that is more than what most people in Berkshire County make in a year."

The proposed increase has been attributed to capital investments and rising operational costs, and Barrett said a significant driver of those costs is the Gas System Enhancement Program, which "has raised serious concerns for years."

GSEP costs passed down to ratepayers have increased by more than 300 percent without clear evidence of proportional improvements in safety or leak reductions, he added, and the Attorney General's Office is reviewing those concerns as they relate to Berkshire Gas's 2026 GSEP spending.

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