Update: July 14, 2011 at 12:21 a.m.:

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It was a long day for Washington Avenue resident Cynthia Colegrove, a day that she spent crying, praying and waiting for updates on her sister and her 4-month-old nephew who were reportedly kidnapped and involved in a multi-state manhunt.

After 9 p.m., Colegrove received a relieving phone call informing her that her sister and nephew were safe.

Police were on a manhunt all day Wednesday looking for 25-year-old Loretta Colegrove and her 4-month-old son, who were reportedly kidnapped by Matthew Slocum following a fatal fire in Eagle Bridge, N.Y. that left three dead.

"I spent most of the day crying and freaking out," Cynthia Colegrove said Wednesday night. "I really love my sister."

Colegrove said her sister walked out of the woods barefoot holding the baby, and shortly thereafter Slocum surrendered to police outside a home in Gilsum, N.H.

Now Colegrove just has to wait to see her sister and bring the family together again. When Loretta Colegrove does return, family friend Michelle Johnson wants her to know that they will all be glad to see her.

"I hope she knows we will be there as family and friends," Johnson said. "We will all be there for her."

While they could not have predicted the events that unfolded, Cynthia Colegrove said the family had reservations about Slocum before. She said that as recently as a month ago, Loretta Colegrove reached out to the family for support.

"I was very, very worried about her. He's very violent...We didn't like how he was treating my sister," Cynthia Colegrove said. "She told us things about him. She wanted help...I was very, very concerned about my sister and how dangerous he could be."

Another family member did not want to speak to the media earlier in the day for fear of her own and Loretta Colegrove's safety while the manhunt was still in progress.

Updated: July 13, 2011 at 8:25 p.m.: Adams Police Chief Donald Poirot said that the suspect spent "only 10 minutes" in the town this morning.

The Amber Alert was initially reported out of Adams because that was where Slocum was last seen at 5 a.m. After investigation, police said the suspect had only stopped in to ask an acquaintance for money and quickly left.

"We are not anticipating any return visits," Poirot told the Board of Selectmen Wednesday night. "The suspect that was allegedly involved in that had touched base in Adams... They were here for about 10 minutes, looking for money. They didn't get it and they left."

According to multiple reports, the vehicle has reportedly been found in Wednesday evening Gilsum, N.H. but there is no sign of the occupants.

Family members of Loretta Colegrove living in North Adams did not wish to speak to the media Wednesday afternoon but said they are very worried for Colegrove's safety.

Updated: July 13, 2011 at 8:25 p.m.: Adams Police Chief Donald Poirot said that the suspect spent "only 10 minutes" in the town this morning.

The Amber Alert was initially reported out of Adams because that was where Slocum was last seen at 5 a.m. After investigation, police said the suspect had only stopped in to ask an acquaintance for money and quickly left.

"We are not anticipating any return visits," Poirot told the Board of Selectmen Wednesday night. "The suspect that was allegedly involved in that had touched base in Adams... They were here for about 10 minutes, looking for money. They didn't get it and they left."

According to multiple reports, the vehicle has reportedly been found in Wednesday evening Gilsum, N.H. but there is no sign of the occupants.

Family members of Loretta Colegrove living in North Adams did not wish to speak to the media Wednesday afternoon but said they are very worried for Colegrove's safety.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The police officer that shot a Dalton man in November will not face criminal charges.

Pittsfield Police Officer Christopher Colello shot 36-year-old Michael Barry three times in the woods behind his Washington Mountain Road home in Dalton on Nov. 3.

District Attorney David F.Capeless announced Tuesday that an investigation was completed and that none of the officers involved will face criminal charges.

The investigation was conducted by Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant Brian Foley, a member of the investigative unit assigned to the district attorney’s office and the commanding officer on the Berkshire County Drug Task Force.

Barry is still facing charges of single counts of attempted murder, attempted arson, aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and vandalizing property as well as two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. Barry had threatened to kill himself and others, police said.

On Nov. 5 he had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on those charges.

According to the district attorney's office, Barry was shot by Colello when he jumped up and made a movement that caused the officers to fear he was drawing a weapon in the woods behind the home shortly after 1 a.m. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery at Berkshire Medical Center.

A press release from the district attorney's office at the time states the incident occurred when Dalton Police responded to 104 Washington Mountain Road shortly after midnight because of reports of a drunken man pouring gasoline over the garage.

When Officer Deanna Strout arrived on the scene she encountered Barry, who then ran into the woods behind the residence.

Additional officers from Dalton and the Pittsfield Police Department, including a K-9 Unit, were dispatched to assist in the search for him. Colello was assisting on mutual aid, according to Capeless

Witnesses at the residence reportedly told police that Barry had been at a Dalton bar late Tuesday night and, after arriving home intoxicated, began smashing and throwing items and saying he wanted to die. He poured gasoline on himself and in the garage and threatened to start a fire and kill himself and others, witnesses told police.
 
Barry was located in the woods shortly after 1 a.m. by Colello and Pittsfield K-9 Officer James Losaw when the shooting occurred.

Capeless did not comment on the status of the charges against Barry.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — At least one person was injured after a small plane crashed on takeoff from Great Barrington Airport on Tuesday evening. The victim was taken to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, according to YNN.

There were reportedly two people in the Piper Cub.

The crash was reported shortly after the plane took at 6 p.m. by FireGround360. It apparently came down across the line in Egremont near Route 71.

Egremont firefighters were called to the station; scanner reports stated the plane was 400 to 600 feet from the runway and "in trees" near Pumpkin Hollow Road.

No further information was immediately available.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Police Department is investigating three robberies that have occurred in the last three weeks.

On Sunday, June 12, the Convenience Plus on Linden Street was robbed at gun point.  The suspect was described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall, with black hair and a beard.  The suspect was described as wearing all black.   The weapon was described as a black handgun.

On Saturday, June 18, the Convenience Plus on Tyler Street was robbed at gun point.  The suspect was described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds.  The suspect was described as wearing a gray fleece jacket, blue and gray striped pajama pants, and a bucket style hat with an argyle pattern which was black, white, and gray in color.  The weapon was described as a black handgun.

On Friday, June 24 the CVS on West Street was robbed.  The suspect stated he had a gun but he did not display it.  The suspect was described as a black male, approximately 5’10” – 6 feet tall, and weighing approximately 170 pounds.  The suspect was described as wearing a blue nylon pullover jacket, blue jeans, white sneakers, and a pink hat.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to contact the Pittsfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.

Cases heard before Judge May Lou Rup on Thursday, June 23.

Vanessa Alicea, 21, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of cocaine, one count of distribution of benzylpiperazine, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, four counts of drug violation in a school zone and one count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Alicea was sentenced to two to three years in state prison at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the cocaine charges. She was given concurrent three to four year sentences on the school zone charges and she was given concurrent sentences on the remaining charges.

The charges stem from incidents that occurred in Pittsfield between January 7, 2011 and May 5, 2011.