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Man Dies Following Assault at Pittsfield YMCA Apartments
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 44-year-old man died Sunday after being assaulted in the apartments operated by the Pittsfield Family YMCA.
Joseph Wirtes, 44, was allegedly assaulted by Brian Signor at the apartments Sunday morning. Wirtes was transported to Berkshire Medical Center following the assault and was pronounced dead later that day.
Signor, 27, also of the YMCA's 292 North St. residence, was arraigned on Monday on a single count of aggravated assault and battery, according to the district attorney's office. He pleaded not guilty and is being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 cash or surety bail.
Further charges may be forthcoming, according to the DA, pending the results of an autopsy being conducted on Monday by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke.
FBI: MS-13 Member Arrested In Pittsfield
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An alleged member of a violent international street gang was arrested Thursday morning in Pittsfield by the FBI.
Efrain Vasquez-Yanez has been charged with conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and Pittsfield Police took Vasquez-Yanez into custody without incident Thursday.
He was indicted in U.S. District Court in Boston along with 55 others of the La Mara Salvatrucha — or MS-13 — gang in January. Last week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. But no money will be paid out in this case, according to FBI officials.
The 33-year-old Vasquez-Yanez was born in El Salvador and was last seen in July in Everett. The FBI obtained information related to a connection to Pittsfield, which led to his arrest on Thursday.
The January indictment issued out of Boston accuses the gang members of various crimes including murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking. The FBI says Vasquez-Yanez received "homeboy status" within the gang, which the FBI says is granted only to members who commit a murder and or inflict serious physical injury on a person in the name of the gang. He allegedly served as "protection" for interstate transport of cocaine loads.
The FBI's wanted poster said he was considered armed and dangerous.
Superior Court Briefs: Sept. 12 - Sept. 15
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Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, September 12.
Casey Hall, 31, of North Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin.
She was ordered to serve 327 days at the Hampden County House of Correction, Chicopee Woman's Facility with credit for time served.
The charges stem form the execution of a search warrant at 56 Orchard Street in Adams on October 22, 2015.
A single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, September 13.
Benjamin Fielding, 27, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin.
He was ordered to serve 18 months at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charge stems form an incident in Pittsfield on June 8, 2015.
Two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and drug violation in a school zone were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 15.
Kate Frissell, 35, of Hinsdale had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction Chicopee Woman's Facility on $25,000 bail.
Frissell is accused of selling fentanyl laced heroin to 39-year-old Shawn Filiault on February 5, 2016. Filiault died after ingesting the drug. She is also accused of being in possession of heroin with intent to sell when she was arrested on July 8, 2016.
Superior Court Briefs: Sept. 2 - Sept. 9
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Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, Sept. 2.
James Tarjick Jr., 44, of Becket pleased guilty to two counts of receiving stolen property over $250.
On January 14, 2015 Tarjick was in possession of stolen items take from housebreaks that occurred throughout the state in the past several years.
He also pleaded guilty to four counts of unarmed burglary, nine counts of larceny over $250, three counts of receiving stolen property over $250, and two counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the nighttime.
Those charges stem from house and motor vehicle breaks in Berkshire County between October 29, 2010 and September 21, 2013.
Sentencing will be done at a later date. He was ordered to be help in custody until then.
Five counts of receiving stolen property over $250, and single counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the nighttime and being a common receiver of stolen goods were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Aaron Tarjick, 40, of Windsor pleaded guilty to 25 counts of larceny over $250, 13 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the nighttime, nine counts of breaking and entering in the night time, seven counts of unarmed burglary, three counts of larceny of a firearm, and single counts of larceny of a motor vehicle and larceny under $250.
The charges stem from a series of housebreaks in Berkshire County between October 22, 2010 and November 13, 2012. He was ordered to be held without bail until sentencing on Sept. 22.
A single count of breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the nighttime was dismissed by the state.
James Tarjick Sr., 63, of Windsor pleaded guilty to nine counts of receiving stolen property over $250.
He was in possession of items stolen during housebreaks in Massachusetts over the last several years. The charges were continued without a finding for two years.
A single count of receiving stolen property over $250 was dismissed by the state.
Nancy Tarjick, 61, of Windsor pleaded guilty to 9 counts of receiving stolen property over $250.
She was in possession of items stolen during housebreaks in Massachusetts over the last several years. The charges were continued without a finding for two years.
A single count of receiving stolen property over $250 was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
Brian Ducksworth, 25, of Hartford, Conn. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $15,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at 522 West Shaft Road in North Adams on July 26, 2016.
Dylan Litchfield, 23, of Peru had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of mayhem, armed assault with intent to murder, and aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. The charges stem from an incident in Savoy on June 13, 2016 and involved a 27-year-old man.
Michael Litchfield, 43, of Hinsdale had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail. Litchfield is accused of selling fentanyl laced heroin to 39-year-old Shawn Filiault, who died after ingesting the drug, on February 5, 2016. He was also in possession of heroin with intent to sell when he was arrested on July 8, 2016.
Gavin Mahar, 23, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
The charges are in connection of a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on June 27, 2016. Mahar was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail.
Joshua Stimpson, 29, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $15,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on June 27, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Cathleen Crawford, 37, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin and possession of cocaine.
The charges are in connection with the execution of a search warrant on her West Street home on September 16, 2015. She was ordered to serve 129 days at the Hampden County House of Correction Chicopee Woman's Facility with credit for time served waiting for the disposition of her case.
Two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, two counts of drug violation within a park zone, and single counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and improper storage of a firearm were dismissed by the state.
Alysha Orvis, 26, of Savoy had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
The charges are in connection with a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on June 27, 2016. She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction Chicopee Woman's Facility on $1,000 bail.
Courtney Tatro, 21, of Clarksburg had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
The charges are in connection with a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on June 27, 2016. She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction Chicopee Woman's Facility on $2,500 bail.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, Sept. 9.
Tyler Sherman, 24, of Cheshire pleaded guilty to single counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.
He was ordered to two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the assault and battery charge. He was given a concurrent one-year sentence on the other charge.
Sherman assaulted a 21-year-old man in Adams on March 11, 2016. A single count of strangulation or suffocation was dismissed by the state.
Caleb Sherman, 24, of Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and threat to commit a crime.
He was ordered to serve concurrent two-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and assault and battery charges. He was given a concurrent six-month sentence on the charges.
Sherman assaulted a 21-year-old man in Adams on March 11, 2016. A single count of strangulation or suffocation was dismissed by the state.
Pittsfield Police Officer Fired for Misconduct
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield police officer has been fired for "multiple misconduct charges."
Officer Dale Eason, a 20-year veteran of the force, had been on leave since May after a scuffle with an elderly woman in her home last year.
A terse press release from Chief Michael Wynn said Eason had been terminated on Wednesday after a "lengthy internal investigation and a local civil service hearing."
Eason had arrested Phyllis Stankiewicz, 88, after he and another officer entered her home after being sent to the wrong address for a disturbance. A confused Stankiewicz had allegedly threatened them with a small paring knife and, when disarmed, had slapped Eason on the wrist. Eason then put her on the ground and arrested her. All charges against Stankiewicz were dropped.
"The City of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Police Department take any and all acts of police misconduct by our personnel extremely seriously. Service as a police officer requires a high degree of public trust. On those rare occasions, as is the case here, that trust is violated, severe sanctions must be imposed," said Wynn in the statement.
