PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man accused of armed robbery of La Fogata Restaurant and a Becket man accused of a series of break-ins both entered not guilty pleas in Berkshire Superior Court on Friday.

Michael Swenson III, 19, of Tyler street had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on one count of armed robbery while masked and two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. He ordered to be help on $50,000 bail.

Swenson allegedly covered his face with a bandana and robbed the restaurant shortly after it closed last weekend with what was described as a black handgun. However, other reports stated that the gun that was used was a pellet gun. 

Michael Pieri, 25, of Becket entered not guilty pleas in Berkshire Superior Court on an array of charges.

Pieri is charged with 15 counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, six counts of larceny over $250, 15 counts of malicious destruction of personal property over $250, eight counts of larceny in a building,  four counts of receiving stolen property over $250, and single counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition with a firearm identification card, improper storage of a firearm and common and notorious thief.

Judge Daniel Ford released Pieri on personal recognizance.

The charges stem from a spree of house break-ins in Becket between November 23, 2010 and July 11, 2011.

Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Monday, August 15.

William McFadden, 27, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and drug violation in a school zone.

McFadden was sentenced to one year at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the marijuana charge and two year sentences on the school zone violation. He was placed on three years probation on the cocaine charges.

McFadden was in possession of cocaine and marijuana when he was arrested in Pittsfield on May 7, 2009.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department is reporting a new scam circulating by text message:

PPD has received several phone calls from citizens concerned about a text message that they had received. The text message is from the Credit Union Center and it is an alert that their credit card was going to be deactivated. It asks that they call 413-347-3925 and enter their 16-digit credit card number. Once the number is entered they'll speak to someone who asks for their pin to verify the account. This is a scam.

If you have suffered a financial loss because of this scam please file an online report or contact the Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The three-car accident in front of the Spruces on Tuesday afternoon sent the three people involved to the hospital.

According to police, Elin Ozdemir, 79, of Emerald Lane, the Spruces, was stopped in the eastbound lane of Main Street waiting to turn left into the mobile home park at about 3:20 p.m. when she was struck from behind by a 2002 Honda Odyssey operated by Nicole Deblois, 38, of Dalton.

The collision pushed Ozdemir's 1992 Plymouth Acclaim into the westbound lane of Main Street, where she was then struck by a westbound 2010 Ford Escape, operated by Lenore Freeman, 61, of Williamstown.

Ozdemir's Plymouth ended up perpendicular to Main Street in the middle of the roadway. Deblois' Honda ended up on the eastbound sidewalk at the intersection with Hamel Avenue. Freeman's Ford veered right, jumped the curb, and traveled across the Spruces lawn, coming to rest near the fence of the Spruce's pool.

Williamstown Police and Fire, along with Village and North Adams Ambulance services responded to the scene. The Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to assist in extracting Ozdemir from her Plymouth.

All three operators were the sole occupants of their vehicles and all three were transported to North Adams Regional Hospital. None of the injuries appeared to be life threatening.

All three vehicles were towed from the scene, each with extensive damage. Deblois was cited for following too closely.