iBerkshires.com Columnist SectionSue Bush
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City Man Attacked With Pick AxeBy Jen Thomas
07:02PM / Friday, June 22, 2007
North Adams - A Williamstown man was arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court this morning on several charges including one count of assault to murder.
Kim A. Byrd, 45, of 30 Mill St., pleaded not guilty to charges including two counts of assault with a deadly weapon (pick axe), one count of home invasion, and one count of assault to murder, stemming from an incident that occurred earlier this morning.
According to police,Byrd allegedly kicked in the door of 149 Beaver Street in North Adams at about 12:37 a.m. and allegedly used a pick axe to attack brothers Thomas W. Maynard, 26, and Joshua E. Maynard, 29, before he fled the scene in a 1996 black Chevrolet Silverado.
According to police and court documents, Thomas Maynard was watching a movie in his living room when he heard the door to his home kicked open. Byrd allegedly entered the room and said "You're dead, whiteboy," while holding an object intially believed to be a gun.
According to witness statements, Byrd then allegedly swung a pick axe at Maynard's chest but missed and grazed the left side of his back.
Joshua Maynard was at a next door apartment and heard a loud noise and exited his residence. Accordng to police, the fight had moved outside to the porch and Joshua Maynard allegedly came to the aid of his brother and began to struggle with Byrd. In an attempt to avoid an alleged blow from the axe, Joshua Maynard sustained a graze wound to his right forearm and several swollen knuckles on his right hand.
According to court documents, city police Officer Anthony Beverly responded to the scene where he found the door to Thomas Maynard's residence opened by force. A police report stated"It is noted that had the axe struck Maynard as intended, it surely would have punctured his torso, resulting in serious bodily injury, or more likely, death."
Both Thomas Maynard and Joshua Maynard sustained minor injuries but refused medical attention from ambulance personnel.
Byrd fled the scene with his girlfriend, Claire Ryan, 23, of 93 Cleveland Ave., in his pick-up truck. The pair was stopped by city police Officer Erik Thomas and Officer Mark Bailey on Canal Street after Thomas observed the vehicle traveling southbound on Beaver Street.
Both Byrd and Ryan were taken into custody and the pick axe was confiscated from the bed of the pickup, according to police information.
Ryan was arrested on a default warrant issued by the Salem [Massachusetts]District Court. According to city police Sergeant William Baker, Ryan was not charged in connection to the incident.
Byrd received two puncture wounds to his left leg and was treated at North Adams Regional Hospital at about 3 a.m. this morning.
Court information indicates that the incident may be related to a soured romantic relationship.
Byrd posted $1,500 cash bail this morning and was released. The case is continued to August 15 at the Northern Berkshire District Court for a pre-trial hearing. |
| There are 2 sides to a story we only heard one lets hear Mr Byrds side. | | from: | on: 06-29 00:00:00-2007 |
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| Wow, this story doesn't supprise me...... | | from: Maynard's neighbor | on: 06-28 00:00:00-2007 |
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| And another good point as to why we don't need the Mayor cutting back patrols in North Adams. | | from: Joe | on: 06-24 00:00:00-2007 |
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| Good point! | | from: | on: 06-24 00:00:00-2007 |
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| Why was the bail for breaking and entering and possibly attempted murder only $1500.00? | | from: Dick | on: 06-24 00:00:00-2007 |
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| Hey, good question! If someone kicked in a door and called someone a racial name while carrying an ax, I bet they would get charged with a hate crime.So why not when someone says "whiteboy?" | | from: Dawn | on: 06-23 00:00:00-2007 |
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| shouldn't byrd be charged with aq hate crime? | | from: | on: 06-23 00:00:00-2007 |
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