Pittsfield Woman Arrested for 'Machete' Armed Robbery at Big Y

Staff Reports Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A city woman is being charged after allegedly threatening a grocery store clerk with a machete before stealing groceries. 

Shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, the Pittsfield Police responded to Big Y Supermarket at 200 West St. for a report of a woman who pulled out a bladed object described as a "machete," pointed it at the employees in a threatening manner, and left the store with a cart full of items. 

Police Capt. Matthew Hill reported that the person, later identified as Collette Davis of Pittsfield, has been asked to leave the store by employees due to previous incidents. 

Additional charges were added the next day during her booking due to an alleged attack on officers. 

"Officers located Ms. Davis the following day (6/11) and [she] was subsequently placed under arrest on a warrant for the 6/10 incident. The "machete" that may have been used in the incident at Big Y was recovered & seized as evidence," he wrote. 


"Following her arrest, she assaulted two officers in the booking room of the PPD. 2 counts of Assault & Battery on a Police Officer were added against her. She was scheduled to be arraigned at Central Berkshire District Court." 

An eyewitness provided iBerkshires with an account of the incident, explaining that they saw a woman trying to steal a cart full of groceries pull out the large blade when asked to pay.  The person expressed a fear of Big Y becoming unsafe over the years and reported seeing a decrease in security. 


 


Tags: robbery,   

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

Pittsfield Cannabis Cultivator Plans Dispensary

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD. Mass. — A cannabis cultivator and manufacturer has opted to sell its products on site in Downing Parkway. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals this month approved a special permit for J-B.A.M. Inc. to operate a dispensary out of its existing grow facility. There will only be changes to the interior of 71 Downing Parkway, as there will be less than 500 square feet of retail space in the 20,000-square-foot building. 

"My only concern would be the impact, and really would be traffic, which I don't think is excessive, the odor, if there was one, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and I think it's a good location for a marijuana facility," board member Thomas Goggins said. 

The company's indoor cultivation site plan was approved in 2019, an amendment to add manufacturing and processing in 2021, and on the prior day, a new site plan to add a retail dispensary was approved by the Community Development Board. 

J-B.A.M. cannabis products are available in local dispensaries. 

The interior of the facility will be divided to accommodate an enclosed check-in area, front entrance, retail lobby, secure storage room, offices, and two bathrooms. There are 27 parking spaces for the facility, which is sufficient for the use. 

No medical or recreational cannabis uses are permitted within 500 feet of a school or daycare, a setback that is met, and the space is within an industrial park at the end of a cul-de-sac. 

"The applicant desires the restructuring of the business to be more competitive in the industry with the ability to grow and sell their own cannabis products so they have more financial stability," Chair Albert Ingegni III, read from the application. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories