PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are seeking information in the wake of several reports of a man acting aggressively toward, or possibly assaulting, women. 

 

The incidents may be related as a number of witnesses have provided similar descriptions of a man calling to them to get into his vehicle. Some have reported two men in the car. 

 

The suspect is said to dark-skinned, standing about 6-feet-tall, with short hair and accent described as possibly Jamaican or African. The individual was seen operating, or as a passenger of, an older tan or silver Toyota Camry (or similar vehicle).

 

In one case, a victim reports that the individual described above tried to physically force her into the vehicle, but she was able to strike him and flee.

 

The Pittsfield Police asks that anyone who may know the identity of the above man, or who has knowledge of recent similar cases, to contact the Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705. Tips can be left anonymously by telephone, texted to Tip411 or via the Facebook page.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two people have been displaced from their Lakeway Drive home after a fire caused heat and smoke damage Wednesday evening.

 

Deputy Fire Chief Raymond Tart said firefighters responded to 61 Lakeway Drive shortly before 6 p.m. There they found smoke coming from the first floor and quickly snuffed it out. There were two occupants, both of whom made it out of the home safely.

 

"It appears it was objects and not the room [that burned]. There is no structural damage at all. There is fire damage to the contents and heat and smoke damage on the first floor," Tart said.

 

One of the occupants is on oxygen and the tanks could have posed a hazard. But, firefighters made a quick stop and halted the fire from spreading. Tart said he believes the fire is accidental but isn't sure exactly what started it.

 

"The fire started in the central bedroom. We are unsure of the cause at this point. We have an investigator called in," he said.

 

There were no firefighter injuries and, within the hour, the engines left the scene. Lakeway was closed at Onota and Acorn streets for the duration.

 

Tart praised the work of the firefighters.

 

"It was awesome. The fire is out and we are going home soon. They made short work of it," Tart said as the firefighters wrapped up the hoses used to extinguish the blaze.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Good boy.

 

A German shepherd thwarted a would-be robber in the Balance Rock and Potter Mountain Road neighborhood Monday night. Police say there has been somewhat of a rash of attempted break-ins in the neighborhood, with three reported in the last two days. 

 

However, at one home, the cat burglar met his foe — the dog. 

 

Police say the homeowner returned home to find his dog outside and a back door open. Later, he found remnants of what appears to be someone's ripped pants.

 

Despite the doggo scaring the burglar from one home, police say at another the perpetrator was able to steal a number of items — exactly what items isn't being revealed because the case is under investigation. 

 

On Tuesday, police received another report of a homeowner in the same area returning and hearing somebody upstairs. The homeowner didn't find anyone but did find a garage door open.

 

Police are reminding people to lock their windows and doors and if they see something, say something because they'd "rather investigate suspicious activity that turns out to be harmless than to miss an opportunity to potentially catch someone in the act of committing a crime."

Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said the electronic device set the mattress on fire. Doors were left open, allowing the fire to quickly spread to other units. From there, tenants on the third floor evacuated, leaving doors open and the fire expanded from there.

 

Czerwinski asks residents to remember to close doors to help restrict fire expansion.

 

Czerwinski said the building is "heavily damaged" but is still be assessed. 

 

In total four people were transported to Berkshire Medical Center for treatment from the fire. all of the injuries were minor and no one was admitted. Only one of those were treated for injuries related to the fire while the other three were transported for minor issues not related to the fire.

 

Original: Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 9:26 p.m.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — At least two dozen people were forced from their White Terrace homes when their building caught fire. 

 

The middle building of the three structures that make up White Terrace Apartments off North Street, two blocks from Berkshire Medical Center, was fully involved with flames and smoke pouring from the third floor. 

 

The reports of a fire came in around 6:42 p.m. and firefighters and equipment from Dalton Hinsdale, Lanesborough and Lenox responded at the scene or to cover the Pittsfield station. 

 

 

 

Mayor Linda Tyer, speaking to reporters at the scene shortly after 9 p.m., said she did not have details of the blaze she felt comfortable sharing at that point. She did, however, say the residents evacuated were being attended to.

 

"Our first concerns are the residents who have been displaced ... we've brought them down to the Senior Center so they'll be warm and have a place to feel safe and comfortable while we wait for the Red Cross," the mayor said. "We have 24-25 residents, some of them with young children, some of them with pets so there's a little bit of a process."

 

She was not aware of any serious injuries but there was, she said, "a lot of heartache."

 

The Salvation Army was also a the scene to help families displaced by the fire. People also brought pet carriers and food to help with the animals taken from the building. 

 

North Street was closed to all vehicle traffic from Linden Street to Wahconah Street as firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

 

 

Built around the turn of the last century, the three buildings have gone through a number of renovations over the years. The latest proposal is a nearly $9 million revamping of all three buildings to create 41 market-rate apartments. 

 

Czerwinski said the department was holding the scene for the state fire marshal and police investigators to determine the cause. The department was also looking into whether the fire alarms were activated; the report apparently came in as a phone call. 

READSBORO, Vt. — A Readsboro man who allegedly assaulted someone with a 2x4 is wanted on charges of first-degree attempted murder and aggravated assault. 

 

Law enforcement authorities have been unable to locate Craven since the incident was reported last Monday.

 

State police say Alfred Craven, 48, beat a 53-year-old Searsburg man so badly he suffered a skull and multiple facial fractures and a broken jaw. 

 

According to Detective Sgt. James Wright, the victim walked into the Emergency Department at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington at about 7 p.m. on Sept. 4. 

 

The victim, whose name is being witheld because of the "nature of the investigation," told state police that the incident had occured in Searsburg and that Craven had fled the scene. A warrant for Craven's arrest was issued.

 

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Craven should contact state police at 802-442-5421 or local police department immediately.