Morningside Initiative to Hold Neighborhood Watch Meeting

PITTSFIELD, Mass. —  This Thursday, the Morningside Initiative's Crime Prevention and Public Safety subcommittee will hold a neighborhood watch meeting. People who live, work or own property in the Morningside Initiative area are invited to attend the meeting, which will be held at the Morningside Community School cafeteria, 100 Burbank St., from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Morningside Initiative area includes East Street from Park Square up North Street to Springside Avenue to Benedict Road, to Tyler Street ext. to Woodlawn Avenue, Kellogg Street to Fourth Street around Silver Lake Boulevard, back on East Street returning to Park Square. (If that sounds confusing, here's a map).

For more information, contact Ashley James at 413-448-9678.
 

Pittsfield Issues Motorized Vehicle Reminder

The City of Pittsfield has issued a reminder that the use of motorized off-road vehicles is prohibited within city parks, conservation areas and school grounds.  According to the City, numerous residents have complained regarding this issue, and the City "intends to address the problem aggressively," with the Pittsfield Police Department "strictly enforcing this and other park rules and regulations."

 Fines for unauthorized use of off-road vehicles within the parks can be up to $200 per offense, and more if malicious damage occurs.  Residents are encouraged to contact the Pittsfield Police Department if they observe off-road vehicles operating on any city lands. For more information, call 413-499-9344.

Three More Arraigned in Martin Murder

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two more people were arraigned Monday morning in the murder of 26-year-old Jahda M. Martin, who was stabbed outside a Pittsfield nightspot in the early hours of March 6, 2010. Martin later died of his injuries at Berkshire Medical Center.

Allen McGraw, 26, was arrested Sunday and Crystal Gonzalez, 21, on Friday evening. They both appeared before Judge Frederic Rutberg in Central Berkshire District Court.

McGraw, of Kingston, N.Y., had not-guilty pleas entered in his behalf on single counts of murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. Rutberg ordered him held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without the right to bail. He is scheduled to appear in district court for a pretrial hearing on April 8.

Gonzalez, of Springfield, had not-guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of accessory after the fact to murder and accessory after the fact to assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. She was ordered held at the House of Correction on $25,000 bail. She is scheduled back in court for a pretrial hearing on April 14.

Police say McGraw, Terrance W. Brown, Trevor L. Pryce Jr. and John C. Spratling stabbed and assaulted Martin in the Burger King parking lot by Wendell Avenue Extension. Martin, of Hamlin Street, Pittsfield, was a star athlete at Lee High School, from which he graduated in 2002. He later attended Long Island (N.Y.) University.

Brown, 26, was arrested in Springfield on the night of March 10 and returned to Pittsfield on Thursday morning, when he was charged on single counts of murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered, also by Rutberg, to be held at the House of Correction with out right to bail. Brown is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on April 8.

It is alleged that Gonzalez was operating the vehicle carrying Brown when he was arrested in Springfield on the Pittsfield warrant.

Pryce and Spratling were arraigned on March 8.

Two Charged in Pittsfield Stabbing

Updated 3:17 p.m., March 8: Two men were arrested and charged with the Saturday morning stabbing death of Jahda M. Martin.

Trevor L. Pryce Jr., 28, of Spring Street, North Adams, and John C. Spratling, 26, of Cherry Street, Pittsfield, were arraigned on single counts each of murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.

The two appeared before Judge Paul Vrabel on Monday morning in Central Berkshire District Court. Both had not-guilty pleas entered on their behalf and were ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without the right to bail.

They are scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on April 8.

Investigators have also applied for and received an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Terrance W. Brown in connection with Martin's death.

An autopsy to determine the cause of Martin's death has not yet been scheduled.

Once a star athlete at Lee High School, the 2002 graduate had also played basketball while attending Long Island University.

Pittsfield Man Slain in Stabbing

Original post, March 7, 9:42 a.m.: A Pittsfield man died Saturday evening after apparently being stabbed earlier Saturday in an altercation near the Burger King on First Street.
 
The Berkshire district attorney's office said that Jahda M. Martin, 26, of Hamlin Street, was rushed to Berkshire Medical Center by ambulance in the early morning hours after police received several 911 calls at about 1:40 a.m. reporting a stabbing in the fast-food restaurant's parking lot on Wendell Avenue Extension. Police and emergency medical technicians found Martin at the scene.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that the lot is commonly used for parking by patrons of nearby Club Groove and that police said Martin had left the bar when the altercation occurred. This is the city's first homicide of the year.

An autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke. The date and time of the autopsy have yet to be determined.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information regarding this incident to call the Pittsfield Police Department at 413-448-9700.
 
The investigation is being conducted by members of the Pittsfield Police Department, state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office, state police from the Crime Scene Services Section and members of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force. 

Drug Ring Suspects Arraigned in Pittsfield

Eight people, arrested after early morning drug raids Wednesday in Pittsfield, Richmond and Adams were arraigned before Judge Rita Koenigs on Wednesday afternoon in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield.

Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless said those arraigned Wednesday were arrested in the culmination of the first phase of a large-scale, ongoing investigation. He said additional warrants and arrests are expected. According to Capeless, investigators have seized more than 150 grams of cocaine,  more than 25 pounds of high-grade marijuana, over 100 oxycontin pills, methadone tablets, one .380 caliber handgun and $50,000 in cash.

Those arraigned were:

• Michael Cargill, 34, of Swamp Road, Richmond: Single counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine), possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws (possession of marijuana with intent to distribute).

• Richard B. Carnevale Jr., 31, Brown Street, Pittsfield: Not-guilty pleas entered on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine), trafficking in OxyContin, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws (possession of marijuana with intent to distribute)

Both men were ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $500,00 bail and both will be back in court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• Michael King, 52, of Elm Street, Adams: Single counts of trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine).

• Shane Whalen, 30, Dalton Avenue, Pittsfield: Not-guilty pleas entered on single counts of trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine).

Both King and Whalen were ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 bail and to return to court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• David B. LaPlante, 31, Orchard Street, Pittsfield: Single counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine), possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card.

Koenigs ordered that he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 bail. He, too, will be back in court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• Tracey Gagne, 48, Elm Street, Adams: Not-guilty pleas entered on single counts of trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine),

She was ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail and will be back in court on March 8 for clarification of counsel.

• Frank LeClair, 49, Goodman Lane, Pittsfield: Single counts of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws (possession of marijuana with intent to distribute).

Koenigs ordered that he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. He will be back in court on March 29 for a pretrial hearing.

• Katie Lynne Powers, 24, Swamp Road, Richmond: Not-quilty pleas entered for single counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws (trafficking in cocaine) and possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute.

Koenigs ordered that she be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1,000 bail. She will be back in court on March 29 for a violation of probation.
 
The investigation is being conducted by the Berkshire County Drug Task Force and state and federal investigators.