State Police Traffic Stop Turns Up Bags of Heroin

State Police say the confiscated 83 bags of heroin as the result of a traffic stop on State Street in North Adams.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A North Adams woman is facing multiple drug charges after a routine police stop turned up 83 bags of heroin.

State Police arrested Cassandra McInnis, 26, at about 5:25 p.m. on Saturday.

Trooper Thomas Cusak of the Cheshire Barracks said he was on patrol on State Street when his attention was drawn to McInnis' 1999 Chevrolet sedan. As a result of a motor vehicle stop and subsequent investigation by Trooper Cusak, with the assistance of Trooper Zachary Wood, McGinnis was arrested and charged with the following:

1) Possession with Intent to Distribute Class A Narcotics (heroin)
2) Intent to distribute narcotics within a school/park zone
3) Being present where heroin is kept
4) Conspiracy to violate the narcotics law
5) Various motor vehicle violations

McInnis was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

Police Seeking Man Wanted for North Adams Assault

Editor's note: According to North Adams Police, Joshua Allen was not arrested by New York State Police on Monday. This information was given erroneously because of a "communication error." There is still a warrant out for Allen's arrest.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  A man wanted in connection with a machete attack in North Adams has been apprehended by New York State Police.

North Adams Police reported shortly after 4 p.m. Monday that Joshua Allen, 27, had been taken into custody after a nearly three-day search.

A warrant for Joshua Allen, 27, was issued Saturday after Allen allegedly attacked his domestic partner in the early morning hours at their Montana Street residence and fled. He was believed to be driving a gray or silver 2002 Toyota Celica with no license plates to New York State, where he reportedly had connections.

A police alert cautioned people not to approach Allen if sighted but to immediately contact police.

Allen is described as white, standing 6-feet and weighing approximately 200 pounds. Anyone with information on Allen's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the North Adams Police Department at 413-664-4944 (press option 1).

He is expected to be arraigned on charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a knife), strangulation, malicious destruction of property and cruelty to animals.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Police, which described the victim as a commuter student, contacted city police after learning of the off-campus incident.

The incident is under investigation by the North Adams Police Department and Berkshire County district attorney's office.

Suspicious Blaze Destroys Vacant North Adams House

A vacant single-family home on Beaver Street went up in flames Friday morning.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Officials are investigating a suspicious blaze that destroyed a vacant house on Beaver Street early Friday morning.

Firefighters, the state fire marshal's office and Fire Director Stephen Meranti were looking through the burned-out structure later Friday morning. A tree that had fallen over the roof at 60 Beaver St. several months ago was still there — although the roof was gone and the tree heavily charred.

Meranti said the fire is considered suspicious. "There were no utilities connected," he said.

The call came in for a fully involved structure fire at about 3 a.m. Friday, Meranti said, and the police officer who arrived first at the scene confirmed the building was ablaze.

Heavy flames could be seen shooting from the roof and windows when firefighters arrived, he said, and the officer in charge, Lt. John Paciorek, called for a second alarm.

"No entry was attempted," Meranti said. "Our first concern was to protect the area — this was a defensive action."

The house sits near the intersection with Route 2; the only other structure near it is a two-family home to its north. The overgrown yard was only slightly singed although Meranti said more was burned behind the building.

It did not take long to contain the blaze and firefighters were familiar with the house's layout having entered when the tree fell on it earlier this summer. Meranti said the building was empty.

The owner of record, according to the Registry of Deeds, has last been Michael and Diane Kemp. Meranti said they had been notified.

What was left of the structure was to be knocked on Friday for safety reasons.

Two-Car Accident Detours Traffic in North Adams

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A two-car accident on West Main Street backed up traffic around West Main, Brown and River streets on Thursday afternoon.

According to police a late model black Ford Focus was headed west on West Main when it stopped for a bus in front of it. A white Honda Accord with New York plates apparently did not notice the Ford stopping and plowed into the back of it.

No one was hurt in the accident and the airbags in the Honda went off.

The accident occurred around 3 p.m. just east of Grimes Street. The roadway was limited to one lane and westbound traffic was allowed through and eastbound detoured over Brown Street. The cars were towed from the scene around 3:30 and the road reopened shortly after.
 

North Adams Police Searching for Armed Robbery Suspect

The suspect in an armed robbery at Cumberland Farms was caught on video.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A man armed with a black and silver handgun robbed the Cumberland Farms on Union Street (Route 2) on Wednesday night.

Police say the suspect walked through the front door of convenience store at about 11:33 p.m. and told the clerk to give him all the money. The clerk put the till on the desk and the suspect grabbed the cash and fled.

The suspect is being described as possibly a white or Hispanic male. He was wearing a black and white skull mask, black basketball shorts with a lighter stripe down the side, a black hooded sweat shirt that was inside out and dark colored basketball sneakers.

He may be associated with a small silver sedan.

The city and state police are investigating the armed robbery and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the North Adams Detective Bureau at 413-662-3105.