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Woman Struck By Train in North Adams
Update Nov. 7, 2018: The woman struck by the train has been identified as Lindsay Bolte, 29, of North Adams. She incurred serious injuries, including to her leg, but is expected to recover. Two other women were on the trestle with her at the time but were escaped unharmed.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A woman was struck by a train while crossing the trestle near American Legion Drive early Tuesday evening.
According to police, she incurred life-threatening injuries and was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. Her identity is not being released at this time.
The woman was in a group of three on the trestle as the train approached shortly before 6 p.m. The other two individuals were able to get off in time and were uninjured.
The train reportedly blew its whistle a number of times to alert the group. It reached the little tunnel before stopping. The tracks are owned by Pan Am Railways and freight trains run through the city usually twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening.
The trestle goes over the Hoosic River and connects the east bank, off American Legion Drive, to the west bank under the Hadley Overpass to Western Gateway Heritage State Park.
Police had blocked off the parking lot by Freight Yard Pub and Christopher Columbus Drive. Yellow tape cordoned off the area next to the tracks on the Heritage Park side. Railway personnel arrived on the scene around 7 p.m.
Further information was not immediately available and the incident is under investigation.
Pittsfield Police Asking To See Dashcam Videos To Help Solve Shooting
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are looking for any dashcam videos recorded Saturday morning.
Police are investigating a shooting incident in which a 30-year-old man was critically injured before 9 a.m. Saturday morning in the area of Spring Street and Willow Street. Police are now asking anybody driving a motor vehicle equipped with a dashcam that morning to let officer see it - regardless of where in the city it was recorded.
"The PPD is requesting that anyone operating a motor vehicle equipped with a 'Dashcam' video recording system, within the City of Pittsfield, during the morning of the 3rd between 8 AM and 10 AM, contact the Detective Bureau to make arrangements for the video to be reviewed by an investigator," Police wrote in a statement to the media on Tuesday.
"We are interested in obtaining any and all video recordings from that time period, even if the vehicle was not operating in the immediate area of the shooting."
Police are asking those with recordings to contact the department at 413-448-9705 and leave a message with contact information if an officer does not answer.
"We have made significant progress in this case already, due to the observations of witnesses and their willingness to help us seek justice for this victim. We ask that others come forward as well with this current request for assistance," Police said.
Police are also still seeking any additional information that can be provided through the same phone number, the tips hotline at 413-448-9708, by texting the message to 847411, or through private messages on Facebook.
Superior Court Briefs: October 17 - October 30
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Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, October 17.
Brian Dillard, 32, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, leaving the scene of personal injury accident causing death, leaving the scene of property damage accident, use of a motor vehicle without authority, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail.
Dillard is accused of driving a motor vehicle which collided with a motorcycle in Pittsfield on August 24, 2018. Alan Keefe, 49, of Pittsfield died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Jacob Ferry, 24, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and a single count of possessions of cocaine with intent to distribute.
The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on August 1, 2018.
Marc Tucker, 39, of Florida had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in fentanyl and conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: trafficking in fentanyl.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Lanesborough on September 13, 2018.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, October 25.
Christopher Rathbun, 29, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine.
He was ordered to serve concurrent one-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Lee on October 10, 2017.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, October 29.
William Burdick III, 41, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in fentanyl, and conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: trafficking in fentanyl.
He was released on $2,500 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Lanesborough on September 13, 2018.
Shaina Sayers, 31, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
She was released on $2,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at her home on August 1, 2018.
Angela Stracuzzi, 36, of Lanesborough had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in fentanyl and conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: trafficking in fentanyl.
She was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Lanesborough on September 13, 2018.
John Tobin, 48, of Rensselaer, N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on nine counts of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14, six counts of rape and abuse of a child, and single counts of enticing a child under the age of 16, posing a child in the nude, disseminating harmful matter to a minor, and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
He was released on $12,500 bail. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in Williamstown between January 15, 2018 and April 19, 2018 and involved a 15-year-old girl.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, October 30.
Joshua Burke, 25, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from an incident on Elm Street in Pittsfield on June 8, 2018.
Christopher Connors, 25, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed assault with intent to rob, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from an incident on Elm Street in Pittsfield on June 8, 2018.
Trevor Pemble, 28, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of assault and battery by discharging a firearm, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
He was released on $15,000 bail. The charges stem from an incident on Elm Street in Pittsfield on June 8, 2018.
Man Dies Following Pittsfield Shooting
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Updated: The district attorney's office said 30-year-old David Green Jr. died from a gunshot wound to the neck on Wednesday. The case is now being investigated as a homicide.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A man was found with a potentially life-threatening gunshot wound just before 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Police were alerted to the shooting by a ShotSpotter activation near the intersection of Spring Street and Willow Street. There they encountered the 30-year-old man, who has not been identified.
Officers performed life-saving measures on the man, and he was later transported to Berkshire Medical Center for treatment.
Anyone who may have witnessed, or who may have information about this incident, is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705. Information can be provided anonymously via the Detective Bureau, the Drug Tips hotline at 413-448-9708, or by texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411).
The investigation is being conducted by members of the Pittsfield Police Department with the assistance of the Berkshire County sheriff's department and Massachusetts State Police.
Pittsfield Man Being Charged for Illegal Firearms, Ammunition Cache
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police have arrested a local man with illegally possessing firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Mathew Sylvia, 32, of Linden Street was found in possession of eight firearms (rifles, shotguns and handguns) as well as a flare gun that was modified to fire shotgun rounds, say police. Sylvia also possessed more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition in both handgun, shotgun and rifle calibers (.22, .25, .357, .38, 9mm, .45, 7.62 x39, .410, 20ga and 12 ga).
According to police, Sylvia does not possess a valid License to Carry (LTC) or Firearms Identification Card (FID).
A tip that Sylvia was going to receive a large shipment of ammunition came on Oct. 19, while detectives were investigating the homicide of William Catalano, who was stabbed outside his Robbins Avenue home on Oct. 15.
Detectives applied for and received several search warrants that authorized both the seizure of more than 60 pounds of ammunition that was at a local shipping company, as well as a search of Sylvia's residence. Multiple firearms and more ammunition were seized by investigators at the residence.
Additionally, Sylvia possessed multiple high capacity feeding devices (magazines) for multiple firearms.
He will be charged with multiple counts of possession of firearms and ammunition without an FID, improper storage of firearms, and possession of large capacity feeding devices.
Sylvia was taken into custody by Central District Court Probation personnel based upon the investigation, which constituted a violation of his existing probation conditions.
The Pittsfield Detective Bureau received assistance in the case from the state police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
