PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police seized a number of guns from a Linden Street home Friday morning. 

 

Police said the Berkshire County Special Response Team executed a "no-knock" search warrant at 108 Linden Street. The search was after an investigation in tandem with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 

 

Fabian Herandez, 34, of Pittsfield and Jeremy Paul, 39, of Pittsfield were arrested on firearm charges. During the search, police found a number of weapons including a sawed-off shotgun. 

WINDSOR, Mass. — A Cheshire man was killed Monday afternoon in an head-on collision on the Windsor/Cummington line on Route 9. 

 

State police are withholding identification of the 31-year-old man pending family notification. He was initially taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and then to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield where he was pronounced dead. 

 

The crash occurred at about 1:45 p.m. and involved four people. 

 

Preliminary investigation by Sgt. Dean Clement indicates that a 2000 Acura 32TL crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a 2013 Toyota Camry head on at the Windsor/Cummington line on Route 9. The victim was a passenger in the Toyota. 

 

The Toyota's driver, a woman, and a juvenile passenger as well as the 23-year-old man driving the Acura were all transported to BMC and then to Baystate.

 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section, and the Office of the Medical Examiner.  No charges have been filed at this time.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An unidentified man has been accosting walkers and joggers in in the city's southeast side since last Tuesday. 

 

None of the victims were injured in any of the reported incidents, police say, but there have been several complaints reported over the past week. It is unknown if the same man is responsible for all of the violations.

 

The suspect, in all instances, is described being in his 20s, of Caucasian or Hispanic decent, with dark hair, facial hair, and a thin to medium build.

 

Pittsfield residents are being asked to report any suspicious activity relating to persons matching the above physical description by immediately calling 911.

 

Additionally, the following safety tips are being published by Pittsfield Police as a reminder to all residents who are enjoying the outdoors by walking, jogging, or running:

 

• Plan your outing. Tell a family member or friend where you are going and the time you expect to be back.

 

• Know where telephones are located along the course or carry a cell phone.

 

• Wear an identification tag or carry a driver's license. If you don't have a place to carry your ID, write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside of your athletic shoe. Include any medical information.

 

• Don't wear jewelry or carry cash.

 

• Wear reflective material.

 

• Stay alert at all times. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are.

 

• Run or walk with a partner or a dog.

 

• Don't wear headsets. If you wear them you won't hear an approaching car or attacker. Listen to your surroundings.

 

• Exercise in familiar areas. Know which businesses or stores are open.

 

• Vary your route.

 

• Avoid unpopulated areas, deserted streets, and overgrown trails. Especially avoid poorly lighted areas at night.

 

• Run clear of parked cars or bushes.

 

• Ignore verbal harassment. Use discretion in acknowledging strangers. Look directly at others and be observant, but keep your distance and keep moving.

 

• Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles.

 

• Trust your intuition about a person or an area. React based on that intuition and avoid areas you feel unsure about.

 

• Be careful if anyone in a car asks you for directions — if you answer, keep at least a full arm's length from the car.

 

• If you think you are being followed, change direction and head for open stores, theaters, or a lighted house.

 

• Have your door key ready before you reach your home.

 

• Call police immediately if something happens to you or someone else, or you notice anyone out of the ordinary.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The husband of missing Clarksburg woman Joanne Ringer is the "sole suspect" in her disappearance, say authorities. 

 

Ringer went missing on March 2; her husband, Charles "Chad" Reidy, was found dead on April 7 in the couple's garage. 

 

"From the beginning, we have suspected foul play and have approached this as a homicide investigation and we have considered Joanne's husband, Chad Reidy, as the sole suspect," Berkshire District Attorney David Capeless said a press conference in Northern Berkshire District Court on Thursday. "Reidy's apparent suicide on April 7 has not changed that view."

 

Laura J. Reilly, 42, of Berkeley Street, Easthampton, described as Reidy's former girlfriend, was arraigned in the court shortly before the briefing on three counts of misleading investigators, an obstruction of justice, in providing erroneous information during the investigation of Ringer's disappearance.  

 

Capeless said she had been arrested Wednesday evening and arraigned on the three charges. He declined to speculate whether further charges would be forthcoming. 

 

Instead, he asked for the public's assistance in ascertaining the whereabouts of Ringer, Reidy and Reilly between Thursday, March 2, when Ringer failed to arrive at her new job in Easthampton, and Friday, March 3. 

 

Ringer, 39, was last seen at her home on Hall's Ground in Clarksburg on March 2, but never showed up at her new job driving a taxi in Easthampton. Her green 1999 Volkswagen Jetta was discovered on Exeter Street in Easthampton, less than a half-mile from Reilly's address, on Monday, March 6.

 

"We had kept hope that Joanne Ringer would be found alive. But seven weeks have passed since her disappearance and she has made no contact with family or friends, particularly with her 19-year-old daughter, Savanah, and animals that she loved were left without care at home," Capeless said. 

 

He would not go into specifics other than to say information authorities had received pointed to Reidy. 

 

"Obviously we don't rule out any possibility, but he has been the suspect from the start," Capeless said.

 

A number of Ringer's friends and relatives have said Reidy was abusive but Capeless declined to confirm that or whether Reidy had left a note. Reidy's death is so far considered a suicide although autopsy results are pending; the manner of his death has not been revealed.

 

Investigators have been searching around the couple's Clarksburg home, a rural wooded area on a dead-end road, and other areas of interest with the help of Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue. Capeless noted turkey hunting season begins on Monday is asking hunters to be observant.

 

"We are not asking the public to conduct searches," he said. "But to be aware during normal activities and report anything suspicious and leave the investigating to professionals."

 

Reilly had not-guilty pleas entered on her behalf and her case was continued to a pre-trial conference on May 22. She was released on $1,500 bail. 

 

The investigation has also been assisted by the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force, the Berkshire County sheriff's office, Clarksburg Police Chief Michael Williams, North Adams Police Director Michael Cozzaglio, Easthampton Police Chief Robert J. Alberti, Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper, and their officers.

 

"Returning Joanne Ringer to her family is the most important thing we can do," Capeless said. "We have been focused on that from day one."

Cases heard before Judge Daniel ford on Tuesday, April 18.

 

Sandra Ramirez, 60, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine in connection to the execution of a search warrant on her Francis Avenue home and a single counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws for allegedly conspiring to sell cocaine between September 1, 2016 and January 6, 2017.

 

She was released on personal recognizance.

 

Francis Taikowski Jr., 25, of Warrensburg, N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed robbery while masked and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. The charges stem from an alleged robbery of the Xtra Mart in Great Barrington on March 23, 2017.

 

Danielle Brown, 40, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in connection with the execution of a search warrant on Elizabeth Street on January 6, 2017 and a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws in connection to allegedly conspiring with others to sell cocaine between September 1, 2016 and January 6, 2017.

 

She was released on personal recognizance.

 

Cases heard before Judge Daniel ford on Wednesday, April 19.

 

Steven Winters, 34, of Lenox had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on eight counts of distribution of heroin and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $20,000 cash or surety bail. 

 

Winters is accused of selling heroin and conspiring with others to sell heroin in Lenox between November 8, 2016 and March 5, 2017.

 

Joseph Frusciente, 28, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of distribution of heroin - his second offense - and possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail. Frusciente is accused of selling heroin and conspiring with others to sell heroin in Pittsfield between February 27, 2017 and March 8, 2017.

 

Josaiah Bynum, 19, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his Howard Street home on February 28, 2017.

 

Mike Bedford, 42, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single counts of armed robbery while masked.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 cash or surety bail. Bedford is accused of holding up the Greylock Federal Credit Union Branch on North Street on December 30, 2015.

 

Steve Trybus, 47, of Lanesborough had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, three counts of rape and abuse of a child, and a single count of indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or older. Those are in allegedly related to incidents involving a woman who is now 23 in Pittsfield between March 3, 2006 and March 2, 2009.

 

He also had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, and single counts of rape and abuse of a child, open and gross lewdness, and intimidation of a witness relating to alleged incidents involving a woman who is now 18 in Pittsfield between February 18, 2005 and February 17, 2006.

 

He was released on personal recognizance.

 

Cases heard before Judge Daniel ford on Thursday, April 20.

 

Varian Lefebvre, 23, of Holyoke had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, improper storage of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,500 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Brayton Hill Terrace in North Adams on December 6, 2016.

 

Tracey Santiago, 27, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on three counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, two counts of distribution of heroin, and a single count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

 

She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction on $20,000 bail. 

 

Santiago is accused of selling heroin and conspiring with others to sell heroin in Pittsfield between February 27, 2017 and March 8, 2017.