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Third Pittsfield Man Facing Charges Related To October Mountain Shooting
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A third man is being charged in the October Mountain shooting.
Daquan Douglas, 24, from Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder, kidnapping, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
He is the third individual to face charges in the early morning shooting near the Ashley Reservoir that left a 19-year-old Cheshire man in critical condition.
Judge Jacklyn Connly ordered Douglas to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail until Sept. 10 when there will be a dangerousness hearing in Westfield District Court.
Police arrested Douglas on Tuesday at Dower Square. Previously Kevin Nieves, 19 from Pittsfield, and Luis Delvalle-Rodriguez, 23, from Pittsfield were arrested and are facing the similar charges related to the case. Both entered not guilty pleas and are being held without bail.
Nieves is facing single counts of armed assault with intent to murder; illegal possession of a firearm; kidnapping; and assault and battery. Delvalle-Rodriguez is facing single counts of armed assault with intent to murder; kidnapping; and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
The 19-year-old victim from Cheshire was critically injured and has been hospitalized since the shooting at about 1 a.m. in the early hours of last Tuesday.
North Adams Man Charged In Fatal Hit And Run Accident
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 32-year-old North Adams man was arraigned Friday on charges related to the fatal accident last week that killed Alan Keefe of Pittsfield.
Brian Dillard is accused of crashing a stolen pickup truck he was driving into the 49-year-old Keefe, who was operating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, on Linden Street and then fleeing the scene. The accident occurred at about 5:40 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24.
He was arrested by North Adams Police on Thursday evening on an outstanding warrant and transferred to Central Berkshire District Court on Friday afternoon to answer to the motor vehicle homicide charges.
Dillard was ordered to be held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction on two counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and single counts of leaving the scene of property damage, leaving the scene of personal injury and death, and motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation.
According to the probable cause report filed by Pittsfield Police in District Court, Dillard was an employee of Cariddi Auto Sales and allegedly took one of the shop's trucks to purchase heroin in Pittsfield. Police say Dillard had picked up his paycheck in North Adams but nobody say how he left the property.
Dillard allegedly hit Keefe's motorcycle while driving a shop-owned truck and then left it on South John Street and fled on foot.
When contacted by police that his vehicle had been found connected to the crash, Cariddi Auto Sales owner Guy Cariddi said he was unaware the vehicle was missing that Friday. The truck was apparently at the business at 5 p.m. when he had left for the day, unsecured with the keys in it. He later confirmed it was missing and reported it stolen to the North Adams Police Department.
Police received a number of statements from witnesses at the scene and then posted a photo of the truck on Facebook asking for any information about the driver.
Two witnesses provided statements with descriptions that matched Dillard, according to the police report. One witness said he had seen the vehicle in the neighborhood multiple times. Another woman provided a statement that she had been asked, and provided, Dilliard a ride back to North Adams. A co-worker of Dillard reported the two had gone separate ways that evening to purchase heroin and reconvened in North Adams later. Another witness identified Dillard from a series of mugshots provided by the North Adams Police.
On Tuesday, North Adams Police made an arrest in a breaking and entering case, also involving Cariddi's Auto Sales, and the man arrested provided a statement that he was friends with Dillard and was told about the situation.
Dillard had previously had his licenses revoked for an operating under the influence of drugs charge in 2016. In 2015, he also had two guilty findings of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
Superior Court Briefs: Aug. 27 - Aug. 29
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Monday, August 27.
Erica Emerling, 29, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of aggravated rape of a child with force, aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, and posing a child in a sexual act.
She was released on personal recognizance. The incidents allegedly occurred in Pittsfield on January 1, 2018 and involved and 18-month-old boy.
Seton Janulis, 32, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
The charges are in connection with a motor vehicle stop in Savoy on January 23, 2018. She was released on personal recognizance.
Chad Lutz, 39, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
The charges are in connection with a motor vehicle stop in Savoy on January 23, 2018. He was released on $1,000 bail.
Robert Donnelly III, 34, of North Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin - his second offense - and possession of a Class E substance.
He was ordered to serve 18 months at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession of heroin charge and given concurrent six months on the other charge. The charges stem from an incident in North Adams on August 14, 2017.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Tuesday, August 28.
Ronald Sanford III, 28, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and a single count of home invasion.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $40,000 bail. The charges stem from an incident in North Adams on September 19, 2017 when a 39-year-old man was assaulted.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, August 29.
Arthur McCowan, 30, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and a single count of home invasion.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from an incident in North Adams on September 19, 2017 when a 39-year-old man was assaulted.
Arson Ruled on Three Boylston Street Fires in Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three fires on Boylston Street have all been ruled arson.
Authorities are now asking for any information on the series of fires — and even offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that helps solve the case.
"All of these fires were intentionally set. We ask anyone with information to contact the toll-free Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229. All calls are confidential," said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey in a statement released on Wednesday.
The most recent blaze was at 26 Boylston St. was on Aug. 26, when a vacant structure was set on fire. Prior to that, there were structure fires at 24 Boylston and at 32-34 Boylston.
"An intentionally set fire causes concern in the community and an arrest is the quickest way to help the community return to normal," Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said in a statement.
Second Suspect In October Mountain Shooting Arrested
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A second suspect involved in the October Mountain shooting was arrested.
Luis Delvalle-Rodriguez, 23, of Lenox Avenue was arrested on a warrant by Pittsfield officers on Circular Avenue Monday morning.
He was arranged in Westfield District Court on Tuesday where he had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder, kidnapping, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
Judge Bruce Melikian ordered he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail until a dangerousness hearing on Sept. 11.
Delvalle-Rodriguez is accused of assaulting a 19-year-old man near the Ashley Reservoir in Washington on August 21, 2018.
Police had already arrested 19-year-old Kevin Nieves, of Robbins Avenue, last Tuesday at Dower Square. He had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday morning on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder; illegal possession of a firearm; kidnapping; and assault and battery. He was held without bail and his attorney waived a dangerousness hearing.
The 19-year-old victim from Cheshire was critically injured and has been hospitalized since the shooting at about 1 a.m. in the early hours of last Tuesday.
The case is being particularly kept private. The records have been impounded, a rarity. The cases are being moved to Westfield because of conflicts of interests in Pittsfield.
Both Nieves and Delvalle-Rodriguez have criminal records. Nieves has two past domestic abuse accusations against him and Delvalle-Rodriguez has domestic violence, assault and battery, and motor vehicle theft accusations in his past.