PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State police on Monday night arrested three people on drug charges after a traffic stop on Brown Street. 

 

Sgt. Jorge Berrios, who is assigned to Troop B Berkshire Community Action Team (CAT), stopped a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze at about 7:45 p.m. for a motor vehicle violation. Berrios also learned, just prior to stopping the vehicle, that the registered owner has a suspended driver's license.

 

The driver, Clinton E. Jennings, 35, of Pittsfield, was not the registered owner and is unlicensed, according to state police. With the assistance of Troopers Amy Shaughnessy and Justin Dauplaise, who are also assigned to the CAT, the driver as well as two passengers, Traylee M. Harrington, 25, and Nicholas J. Mathes, 24, both of Pittsfield, were found to be in possession of heroin.

 

In total, approximately 1,000 bags of heroin was located in the vehicle, as well as several items with cocaine residue in Harrington's possession. All three were placed under arrest and transported to state police barracks in Cheshire for booking.

 

All three were charged with trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws; Jennings is also charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and improper turn, and Harrington with possession of Class B drug (cocaine).

 

Jennings was held on $10,000 bail. Harrington and Mathes posted $40 bail, pending their arraignment. All three were scheduled for arraignments on Tuesday in Central Berkshire District Court.

ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire Department quickly snuffed out a dryer fire before it extended into a Summit Avenue home Thursday afternoon.

 

Firefighters responded a little after 1 p.m. to a  single-family home at 13 Summit Ave. for a fire that was called in as a dryer fire and possible structure fire. 

 

Fire Chief John Pansecchi said department was out on another call when the Summit Avenue report came in. He said the assistant chief was first on the scene. 

 

"We showed up, there was smoke coming out of the back door and we thought it was in the structure," he said. "Manpower was an issue to start with. I was doing double duty as command and operating the truck and running supplies but we got inside quick and knocked the hell out of it."

 

Pansecchi said Cheshire and Clarksburg were alerted along with North Adams Fire Department. He said because they were able to control the fire so quickly they called off Clarksburg, which had been requested to cover the fire station. North Adams was on scene with its Engine 2 and Cheshire ended up covering the fire station. 

 

Adams Ambulance was also on scene.

 

Pansecchi said the washer and dryer were total losses. Both were both charred and on the front lawn. He said other than that, the homeowner is just looking at some smoke and water damage.

 

He said dryer fires always have the potential to become overwhelming fast.

 

"This was seconds away from being the whole structure," he said. "Everyone did a good job and we appreciate the mutual aid."

 

The trucks started packing up a little after 1:30 p.m.

 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Cole Avenue during trick-or-treating hours showed no signs of visible injury, police reported Friday morning.

 

Chief Kyle Johnson said the person struck was transported by Northern Berkshire EMS to the satellite emergency facility at Berkshire Medical Center's North Adams campus as a precaution.

 

The driver involved was cited by police for a lights violation. The driver was operating with just the vehicle's daytime running lights illuminated after sunset, Johnson said. 

 

The chief said it is his understanding that the pedestrian involved was a trick-or-treater. He could not provide the age of the individual.

 

According to the police log referenced by Johnson on Friday morning, the pedestrian attempted to cross between parked cars.

 

"There's no reference to a crosswalk in the paperwork I've seen," he said.

 

Witnesses told iBerkshires.com that it was not raining at the time of the accident, and Johnson confirmed Friday morning that it did not appear weather was a factor in the incident.

 

A number of communities, including North Adams and Pittsfield, postponed trick-or-treating hours to Saturday because of the expectation of heavy rain and high winds, neither of which arrived until after midnight. There was, however, light and misty rains throughout the evening.