Pittsfield Man Charged With Assaulting Two with Handgun

Staff ReportsPrint Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After a standoff, a city man was arrested and charged for allegedly threatening and striking two people with a handgun over the weekend.

Solomon Jones III, 32, of Pittsfield has been charged with assault and battery, threat to commit a crime, and carrying a firearm and ammunition without a license.

Police were dispatched to a multi-family unit at 10 Francis Ave.  at about 7:40 p.m. on Sunday for a report of a person with a firearm. Upon arrival, officers said they encountered two people with facial injuries.

"Those parties reported that an altercation had occurred in the parking lot involving a party who then fled the scene and ran into one of the nearby apartments. That party was later identified as Solomon Jones III, age 32 of Pittsfield," according to a press release by Capt. Matthew Hill

"Mr. Jones had allegedly pulled out a handgun on the victims and began making threats. He subsequently struck both victims in the head with the firearm and kicked one of them while they were on the ground."

Jones was reportedly located inside the apartment and was ordered to come out, which he refused.



"After an initial standoff, entry was made and Jones was placed under arrest," Hill wrote. "A firearm was recovered from inside the apartment and seized by officers as evidence. The victims were transported to Berkshire Medical Center where they received treatment for their injuries."

Jones is being charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, threat to commit crime,
carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card, and improper storage of a firearm.


Tags: firearms,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Water Crews Fixing Leak on North Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — It's been a busy couple of days for the Dalton Water Department's four-man crew who have been addressing a couple of water leaks. 
 
Drivers on North Street approaching the bridge will see the crew working with REWC Land Management, Inc. employees to locate a water main and repair the leak. 
 
Water Department Superintendent Bob Benlien emphasized that the leak is minor and does not affect any residents. He does not foresee having to turn the water off and expects it to be repaired by the end of the day. 
 
The leak was so minor that it did not appear in the department's flow chart, so it is less than 100 gallons a minute, he said. 
 
The likely cause is aging infrastructure as the pipe was installed in the 1930s, Benlien explained. 
 
The main thing is finding the pipe and the leak, which they are currently doing. The road has changed over time, and it looks like the pipe was moved when the bridge was built up so the department is searching for the pipe and leak now. 
 
The water main is located on a state road with a gas main within close proximity, so the department opted to contract  REWC because it has a vacuum excavation truck.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories