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Superior Court Briefs: Dec. 13 - Dec. 14
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Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, December 13.
Mackenzie Colvin, 24, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with intent to rob, two counts of assault and battery, and a single count of unarmed robbery.
He was ordered to serve concurrent three to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the unarmed robbery and assault with intent to rob charge. He was given concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charge.
Colvin robbed Kirk's Variety Store in Pittsfield on January 25, 2017.
Single counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and resisting arrest were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Thursday, December 14.
Tyree McKinnon, 38, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - possession of suboxone with intent to distribute - his second offense - and possession of clonazepam - his second offense.
He was released on $1,500 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Houghton Street in North Adams on November 3, 2017.
Chastity Phoenix, 36, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
She was released on personal recognizance. The charge stems from the execution of a search warrant at her home on November 3, 2017.
Special Response Team Called To Lanesborough Home
Bailey Road was closed from Route 7 to Noppet Road nearly all day.
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Bailey Road was closed for close to eight hours Tuesday after a man barricaded himself inside a home.
Police said a Bailey Road resident called at about 11 a.m. to report that another household member was "shooting in the house and out the window." The reporting party then fled to a neighbor's house.
Lanesborough Police, state police, and the Berkshire County sheriff's department set up a perimeter around the house and police, with the help of Lanesborough's Highway Department, shut down Bailey Road from Route 7 to Noppet Road. Traffic was diverted throughout the day around Brodie Mountain Road.
The Berkshire County Special Response Team was called and relieved the initial responders. Police then made multiple attempts to reach the individual through crisis negotiators with the Special Response Team and the State Police Crisis Negotiators Unit but were unsuccessful.
For hours, police could be heard through a megaphone calling on a man to exit the home. After nearly six hours without contact with the individual, the Special Response Team entered the residence.
The scene was then turned over to detectives with the state police assigned to the Berkshire County district attorney's office, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Unit.
Bailey Road was re-opened to traffic at about 7 p.m. Officers from Lanesborough, Pittsfield, Lee, Lenox, North Adams, Adams, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Berkshire County Sheriff's Department assisted on the scene.
Sandisfield Town Garage Burns to the Ground
SANDISFIELD, Mass. — WesternMassNews.com is reporting that the Sandisfield Town Garage burned to the ground Sunday morning.
According to news reports, the five-alarm fire was reported shortly after 9 a.m. and was "fully engulfed" when firefighters from multiple companies arrived at the scene.
Sandisfield's Fire Chief Ralph Morrison told Western Mass News that highway crews had been at the building locking up just minutes before the fire is believed to have started.
The first snow storm of the season had rolled through the Berkshires beginning Saturday morning, dumping up to 6 inches of snow across the region.
Sandisfield's four highway trucks were in the building and are now considered a total loss. Western Mass News is also reporting an Otis fire vehicle was involved in an accident on its way to the scene.
Superior Court Briefs: Dec. 4 - Dec. 6
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Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Monday, December 4.
Nicholas Beauchamp, 29, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime and two counts of larceny from a building.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail.
Beauchamp is accused of breaking into Becket General Store in Becket on September 3, 2017 and Angelina's Sub Shop in Pittsfield on September 15, 2017 and taking an ATM from both locations.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Tuesday, December 5.
Jeremy Paul, 40, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, and a single count of possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
He was ordered to serve 18 months at the Berkshire County House of Correction.
The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his Linden Street home on April 28, 2017. A single count of armed career felon was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, December 6.
Brian Whittaker, 33, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of cocaine.
He was ordered to serve concurrent three to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the possession of heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws charges. He was given a concurrent 10-day sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession of cocaine charge. He will begin his sentence on January 8, 2018.
The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 25, 2016.
Adams Fire Snuff Out Columbia Street Fire
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Mutual aid companies also arrived at the scene.
ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire department quickly knocked down a small fire at 246 1/2 Columbia St. on Wednesday.
Fire Chief John Pansecchi said the call came in late morning and once firefighters arrived at the single-family home, they were able to contain the blaze to one room that was used for storage by the owner.
"Knockdown was fairly quick once we got there and after we just had to do some overhaul," Pansecchi said. "It was pretty much contained in one room and there was some smoke and water damage."
Pansecchi said although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it does not appear to be suspicious.
There were no injuries and they were able to retrieve a pet cat.
"There was a cat missing and they do like to hide but once things calmed down we were able to retrieve it," he said.
Pansecchi said because the call came in during the day when manpower is often an issue for volunteer departments, North Adams, Clarksburg, Savoy and Cheshire were automatically toned.
"They all arrived but we did not need them," he said.
He said the other departments did offer support and covered the station while the Adams Fire Department put out the fire.
Adams Ambulance and Police Department were also on scene.
