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North Adams Firefighters Snuff Out Fire, Save Pet Duck
 The pet duck was unharmed in the blaze. |
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The Fire Department responded to a call for a structure fire at an apartment at 11 Hoosac Street at about 7 p.m. After seeing smoke and confirming it was, in fact, a structure fire they called in all off-duty staff, according to Lt. Joseph Beverly.
"The fire was in the kitchen and we were able to suppress it," Beverly said. "It got up into the tiles."
The two tenants were cooking and the grease caught on fire and spread into the ceiling. Beverly said the tenants extinguished the flames from the stove but were unable to snuff out the fire in the ceiling. Firefighters extinguished that within 15 minutes, he said.
Inside the apartment firefighters found the pet duck in an upstairs bedroom. Beverly said the duck was away from any smoke or flames. The duck was carried out of the apartment and given back to the tenants.
The tenants evacuated the building in time and there were no injuries.
The apartment, one of six in the complex, is uninhabitable because of smoke damage but the remaining apartments were untouched, Beverly said. He said the damage was "minimal."
Christine Girard, property manager at Heritage Apartments, said the apartment is insured. The tenants will be relocated in a recently vacated apartment in the sister building, 21 Hoosac St.
Pittsfield Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Child Rape
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Aaron Tarjick, 36, of Pittsfield was found guilty by a jury in Hampshire Superior Court on Tuesday on 17 counts of sexual acts toward two separate child victims — 13 of which occurred in Berkshire County.
Tarjick was found guilty on 11 counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts of forcible rape of a child and single counts of aggravated rape of a child, rape and abuse of a child and open and gross lewd and lascivious acts.
He was found not guilty on a single count of posing and exhibiting a child in a state of nudity.
Of those charges, a Berkshire County grand jury indicted him on eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, four counts of forcible rape of a child and a single count of posing and exhibiting a child in a state of nudity. The Berkshire County offenses occurred between 2006 and 2010 in Dalton and Becket.
Tarjick was arrested on August 18, 2010 after the biological father of one of the victim notified the state police that his 13-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted in Middlefield. The state police investigation revealed that Tarjick committed similar acts on the same victim and another victim in Dalton and Becket.
The investigation resulted to a search warrant being executed at the defendant's Middlefield home and subsequent arrest.
Tarjick was sentenced on Tuesday to 19 to 25 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised probation. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
"Justice has been served... I am grateful to the jury for their attentiveness and hard work. Sitting as a juror on a child abuse case is particularly difficult and this case was certainly no exception," Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Linda Pisano said in a statement. "My biggest praise goes to the victims who had the incredible courage to come forward and tell their very difficult story. The bravery of the victims has helped other children be safe."
Tarjick's wife, Mackenzie Tarjick, 34, also of Pittsfield is awaiting her trial on a single count of wanton or reckless endangerment of a child under 18. Her trial is scheduled for the summer.
North Adams Man Charged In Stabbing
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Mario Babbs, 25, had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf in Northern Berkshire District Court on Monday on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
Babbs is ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Friday. The victim, Cole DeSanty, was hospitalized at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and is being treated for multiple stab wounds.
According to court documents, DeSanty suffered "life-threatening injuries" including a collapsed lung, which needed to be surgically repaired, and a severed rib. He is also expected to suffer some vision and hearing loss as a result.
Police say DeSanty was found bleeding on Houghton Street shortly before noon on Saturday and was transported to North Adams Regional Hospital. Babbs was also being treated for a lacerated hand, which he told state police he suffered while repairing a car.
Police discovered a bloody 6-inch steak knife and a trail of blood after executing a search warrant at Babbs' Brook Terrace apartment.
DeSanty was later transported to Berkshire Medical Center after state police interviewed both DeSanty and Babbs. Police say DeSanty gave Babbs a ride home on Friday night and on Saturday morning, Babbs called DeSanty saying he left his wallet in the car. DeSanty said he did not have the wallet but drove over to Babbs' home so he could look.
After finding the wallet underneath the seat, Babbs invited DeSanty into his home, police said. Once inside, Babbs allegedly attacked DeSanty with a steak knife claiming DeSanty was stealing from him. DeSanty was able to break away from Babbs, which police say matches Babbs cutting his hand. Police also say the attack was drug related.
Superior Court Briefs: May 31
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Monica Christina Prus, 26, of Ledyard, Conn. pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
She was placed on two years probation. Two counts of distribution of oxycodone, two additional counts of conspiracy to violate drugs and and a single count of trafficking in oxycodone were dismissed by the state.
Prus conspired with others to sell oxycodone in North Adams on December 23, 2010.
Isaac Pizarro, 35, of Springfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Pizarro is currently being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on bail from a previous case. It is alleged that Pizarro conspired with others to sell cocaine in Pittsfield on April 11, 2012.
Marcus James, 29, of Springfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of trafficking in cocaine.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $15,000 cash or $150,000 surety bail. The incident allegedly occurred in Pittsfield on May 4, 2012.
Jason Campbell, 19, of Melrose had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed home invasion and armed robbery.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $7,500 cash or $75,000 surety bail. Campbell is accused of entering the home of a 26-year-old Dalton woman and took money from here on April 14, 2012.
David Brown Sr., 52, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly possessing visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.
He was placed on one year probation on the condition that the Probation Department is allowed to search his home to make sure he does not have a computer or have internet access during that period. He must also register with the Sex Offender Registry Board.
Brown possess child pornography in Pittsfield on June 3, 2010.
Derek Adams, 32, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Adams in being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on bail from a previous case. Adams allegedly conspired with others to sell cocaine in Pittsfield on April 11.
Superior Court Briefs: May 21 - May 23
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Trevor Pryce Jr., 30, of North Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
Pryce was ordered to serve two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction. Pryce assaulted 26-year-old Jahda Martin in Pittsfield on March 6, 2010.
Single counts of murder and intimidation of a witness were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, May 23.
Fred Greer, 38, of Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of rape and indecent assault and battery.
Greer was sentenced to one year to one year and one day at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the rape charge. He was placed on one year probation on the other charge.
The incident occurred in Adams on April 2, 1022 and involved a 56-year-old woman.
David Beckett, 49, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and battery on an elder and two counts of indecent assault and batter on a person who has attained 14.
He was sentenced to serve concurrent three to four year sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction.
The incident occurred in North Adams on December 28, 2010 an involved two women who are 19 and 66 years old.
An additional count of entering without breaking at night was dismissed by the state.
