Police Report

Compiled by SCOTT MERZBACH

Published on January 30, 2009

Amherst Police

* Kristopher Holmes, 22, of River Road, Sunderland was arrested Tuesday at 1:15 a.m. on Northampton Road on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and failure to stop/yield, police said.

Rafael Irizarry, 22, of River Road, Sunderland and a passenger in Holmes' vehicle, was arrested at the same time and place on a charge of disorderly conduct after he got out of the vehicle, yelled at officers and refused to cooperate, police said.

" A 19-year-old Doylestown, Pa. woman and a 19-year-old Westborough woman will both be summoned to court on charges of being minors in possession of alcohol after they were found standing in the middle of Longmeadow Drive and holding cans of beer Monday at 3:03 a.m., police said.

" The theft of a laptop from a Cowls Road home Sunday at 11:44 p.m., which was subsequently recovered, will lead to charges being filed against four men, police said.

A 21-year-old Dudley man, a 21-year-old Edgewater, N.J. man, a 22-year-old Everett man and a 20-year-old Stoughton man will all be summoned to court on charges of larceny over $250, police said.

" Brian M. Leamy, 22, of Valatie, N.Y., was arrested Sunday at 1:42 a.m. on College Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, speeding and failure to stay within marked lanes, police said.

" Joseph J. Johnson, 34, of Northampton, was arrested Jan. 24 at 2:51 a.m. on Belchertown Road on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, subsequent offense, and speeding, police said.

" Chad A. Waterman, 24, of Rocky Hill Road, Hadley, was arrested Jan. 23 at 11:32 p.m. outside a downtown restaurant on charges of domestic assault and battery and trespassing, police said. Waterman was arrested after he punched a woman twice, police said. The woman didn't need medical attention, according to police.

" A 21-year-old Maynard man will be summoned to court on a charge of procuring alcohol for a minor after he was found delivering a large quantity of beer and other alcohol to a minor outside a North Amherst package store Jan. 23 at 6:08 p.m., police said.

A 20-year-old Framingham man will be summoned to court on a charge of possession of a fake ID following the same incident, police said.

" Sambath S. En, 35, of Lynn, was arrested Jan. 23 at 9:37 a.m. at the police station on a police warrant related to a domestic incident that occurred in early January, police said.

" John H. Dufault, 21, of Holden, was arrested Jan. 23 at 3:33 a.m. at Colonial Village on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to use care in turning and failure to stay within marked lanes, police said.

Dufault called police from his local residence after he struck a parked vehicle and a motor scooter at the intersection of Main and Shumway streets a short time earlier, police said. When officers got to Colonial Village, they found the heavily damaged motor scooter attached to Dufault's vehicle after it had apparently been dragged from the scene of the accident. Field sobriety tests were administered to Dufault, which he failed, police said.

" A Medford man, no age available, will be summoned to court on a charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license following a traffic stop on North Pleasant Street at Infirmary Way Jan. 22 at 9:07 p.m., police said.

" A 14-year-old Amherst boy was arrested Jan. 22 at 1:49 a.m. on East Hadley Road on charges of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stay within marked lanes, being a minor in possession of a BB gun and use of a motor vehicle without authority, police said.

The vehicle the boy was driving was stopped after crossed over double-yellow lines, police said. Once stopped, an air rifle was located under the front seat, according to police.

" Derek D. Arsenault, 20, of Forestdale, was arrested Jan. 22 at 1:21 a.m. on North Pleasant Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, unsafe operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle with a lights violation, police said.

" Matthew J. Judge, 31, of Leeds, was arrested Jan. 22 at 12:12 a.m. on East Pleasant Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (third offense), failure to stay within marked lanes and operating a motor vehicle with a lights violation, police said.

" Jeannette M. Russell, 27, of Belchertown, was arrested Jan. 21 at 11:04 a.m. on North East Street on an outstanding warrant from Eastern Hampshire District Court for failure to pay fines, police said.

Russell was arrested after the vehicle she was driving was stopped for a minor traffic violation, police said.

" A 23-year-old Marston Mills man will be summoned to court on a charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration following a traffic stop on North East Street Jan. 21 at 1:19 a.m., police said.

" A 33-year-old Amherst woman will be summoned to court on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with no license in possession and making an improper turn. The vehicle she was driving was stopped on Amity Street after making an illegal left turn from Boltwood Avenue onto Main Street Jan. 20 at 4:23 p.m., police said.

" Kevin A. Moore, 18, of West Street, was arrested Jan. 20 at 1:03 p.m. on South East Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and speeding, police said.

" A 24-year-old Amherst man and an 18-year-old Amherst man will both be summoned to court on charges of improper use of a credit card under $250 and receiving stolen property under $250 after they allegedly used a credit card stolen from a South Amherst apartment and used the card to withdraw money from an ATM Aug. 14, police said.

" Between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27, police called for tows of two vehicles parked on Amherst streets in violation of the winter parking ban and issued 93 warnings and 19 tickets to other vehicles parked in violation of the ban.

Police recovered two wallets, a shopping cart, a set of keys and a belt, performed well-being checks on nine residents, provided four courtesy escorts, conducted speed checks on South East Street, West Street, Bay Road and Meadow Street and delivered mail to the Select Board and budget books to Finance Committee members

In addition, police responded to false alarms at the high school, checked on vehicles parked on Pelham Road, Trillium Way, Farmington Road, North Pleasant Street, South East Street, East Pleasant Street, West Street, Pulpit Hill Road and Belchertown Road and at Southpoint Apartments and the Notch Visitors Center.

Hadley Police

" A GPS navigational unit was reported taken from a car parked at a Route 9 restaurant Sunday at 11:45 p.m.

" Hampshire Mall security reported Sunday at 6:38 p.m. that they found three people who might be responsible for painting the "saints" in green at three separate areas of the mall between 8 a.m. and noon. The four people will be issued trespass notices to stay out of the mall.

" A River Drive resident reported an iPod was lost or stolen after being lent to a friend Jan. 23. The friend's family agreed Sunday at noon to pay for replacing the iPod.

" Michael Kokoski, 20, of Arrowhead Drive, was arrested Jan. 24 at 9:19 p.m. on Middle Street on charges of speeding, failure to stay within marked lanes and being a minor transporting alcohol, police said.

" Michael Foley, 19, of Belchertown was arrested Jan. 24 at 8:29 p.m. on Route 9 on a charge of being a minor transporting alcohol, police said.

" Two vehicles slid off Roosevelt Street Jan. 24 at 3:50 p.m. after the road was covered by drifting snow, police said.

" A resident reported a motor vehicle stolen from the Mountain Farms Mall parking lot Jan. 24 at 2:51 p.m., police said.

" Rene Labrecque, 47, of North Maple Street, was arrested Jan. 24 at 1:59 a.m. at his home on a charge of domestic assault and battery, police said.

" A floor grinder and vacuum cleaner valued at $7,000 were reported stolen from a store at Hampshire Mall Jan. 19 at 2:43 p.m.

UMass Police

" Zachary W. Jacobs, 21, of Norwell, was arrested Jan. 24 at 1:20 a.m. on North Pleasant Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, failure to stop/yield and operating a motor vehicle with a number plate violation, police said.

" A 22-year-old Lowell man will be summoned to court on charges of operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and operating a motor vehicle with no inspection sticker following a traffic stop on Commonwealth Avenue Jan. 23 at 9:05 a.m., police said.

" A 45-year-old Florence man will be summoned to court on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, failure to signal and speeding, following a traffic stop on Commonwealth Avenue Jan. 21 at 10:15 p.m., police said.

Day-by-Day Amherst Police Calls

TUESDAY, JAN. 20

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

" 11:24 p.m. - A Clark House woman told police someone dumped something wet on her rug and people may have broken into her apartment to move items around. Police found no evidence of a break-in.

DISTURBANCES

" 7:29 p.m. - Police kept the peace at Mill Valley Estates between parents of a teenage boy and girl who ended their dating relationship. The argument started after the girl attempted to go to the boy's apartment to speak with him.

RECOVERED PROPERTY

" 11:47 a.m. - A 1987 Buick Century reported stolen from an Amherst location Dec. 23 was recovered at Colonial Village.

LARCENY

" 7:34 p.m. - A resident told police that a mugger wearing a ski mask stole his iPod, backpack and cell phone in an incident that occurred on Main Street. Police are investigating, but said it remains unclear if any incident actually occurred.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

" 10:08 a.m. - A loud stereo at Mill Hollow Apartments was quiet when police got there. A mother and infant were located inside the allegedly noisy apartment, but no stereo or television was on. Police spoke to the neighbor who called in the complaint.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

" 12:38 p.m. - Larry Shimmell, 53, of Ware, was issued a citation for failure to use care in turning after the vehicle he was driving on Belchertown Road collided with a vehicle driven by Alan Howe, 27, of Guilford, Vt., police said. Damage to both vehicles was minor and no personal injuries were reported.

" 1:46 p.m. - A box truck backing into a South Pleasant Street location struck the casing of an air conditioning unit, causing minor damage, police said.

TRAFFIC

" 10:45 a.m. - The traffic signals at the corner of Main and Triangle streets were reported to be malfunctioning. The Department of Public Works was notified.

" 6:16 p.m. - A vehicle with a brake light out was stopped on West Street. The driver was issued a verbal warning.

" 6:41 p.m. - Police stopped a vehicle traveling without headlights on Main Street and issued the driver a warning for the offense.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

" 9:17 p.m. - Police were unable to locate any prowlers outside a Jeffrey Lane home and no footprints in the snow that might have indicated the presence of an intruder.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

" 9:21 a.m. - Police helped a man get a developmentally disabled client off from a PVTA bus.

" 3:28 p.m. - An Amherst woman told police she was getting annoying phone calls and text messages from a Monson man after she sent him a photograph of herself, but he wanted a photograph that was more revealing. Police warned the man to stop the harassment or face criminal charges.

DISTURBANCES

" 4:44 a.m. - Police spoke to South Prospect Street residents after people in one apartment inside the building tried to access the other. Police determined that it was just a misunderstanding about where the bathroom is.

BREAK-INS

" 11:29 a.m. - An unlocked vehicle parked on North Pleasant Street was entered sometime after Jan. 7 and a registration, clothing and credit cards were reported stolen.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

" 1:58 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:54 p.m. - Minor two-car accidents with no personal injuries occurred on Dickinson Street at the entrance to Classic Chevrolet, on East Pleasant Street at Triangle Street and in the parking lot of Big Y Supermarket, police said.

" 2:12 p.m. - A parked vehicle at Colonial Village sustained minor damage when someone backed into it overnight, police said.

TRAFFIC

" 8:19 a.m. - Two vehicles parked on the Gray Street sidewalk were issued tickets.

" 3 p.m. - Police stopped a vehicle on East Pleasant Street and issued the driver a warning for having an expired inspection sticker.

" 8:03 p.m. - A vehicle with a lights violation was stopped on South Pleasant Street. The driver was issued a warning.

" 11:35 p.m. - Police pulled over a vehicle traveling without headlights on East Pleasant Street. The driver was issued a verbal warning.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

" 6:40 p.m. - Amherst police contacted an Amherst resident about a hit-and-run accident after being notified by Northampton police about the incident.

THURSDAY, JAN. 22

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

" 11:46 p.m. - Police assisted a resident at The Brook who has been hearing loud noise at the apartment complex. Police said her complaints have not been valid.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

" 10:46 a.m. - A Tracy Circle resident was warned to control the barking of two greyhound dogs when they visit her home and to make sure their owner keeps them on a leash at all times.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

" 11:41 a.m. - Joshua Perry, no age or hometown available, was issued a citation for failure to use care in starting after the vehicle he was driving from a University Drive parking lot collided with a second vehicle, causing minor damage and no personal injuries, police said.

" 3:33 p.m. - Benjamin Israel, no age available, of Country Corners Road, was issued a citation for failure to use care in stopping after the vehicle he was driving on South Pleasant Street collided with a vehicle driven by Mia Santos, no age available, of Ludlow, police said. Damage to both vehicles was minor and no personal injuries were reported.

" 4:23 p.m. - Kevin Irving, 23, of Granby, was issued a citation for a traffic violation after the vehicle he was driving on South East Street collided with a vehicle driven by Wharton Clay, 39, of Amherst, police said. Both vehicles were towed from the scene, but no personal injuries were reported, police said.

" 5:44 p.m. - Ladislav Yanovsky, 25, of Livingston, N.J., was issued a written warning for a traffic violation after the vehicle he was driving from the VFW parking lot on Main Street collided with a vehicle driven by Brian S. Walker, 52, of Belchertown, police said. Damage to both vehicles was minor and no personal injuries were reported, police said.

" 6:39 p.m. - A vehicle sustained minor damage when it was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle while parked in The Hangar parking lot, police said.

" 9:57 p.m. - One vehicle was towed following a two-car accident with no personal injuries on Pomeroy Lane, police said.

TRAFFIC

" 12:28 a.m. - A vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign on North Pleasant Street was pulled over and the driver was issued a verbal warning.

" 1 a.m. - Police issued a ticket to a vehicle parked on the sidewalk on North Pleasant Street.

" 3:13 a.m. - A vehicle with a license-plate light burnt out was stopped on North Pleasant Street near the entrance to Puffton Village. The driver was issued a warning.

" 10:37 p.m. - Police stopped a vehicle with defective equipment on Belchertown Road and issued the driver a warning.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

" 5:07 p.m. - Police diverted traffic from West Street for an hour after a dryer fire. Firefighters responded and put hose across the street. The Department of Public Works was contacted to sand icy patches.

" 9:17 p.m. - Amherst police assisted Environmental police in issuing $25 citations to unregistered snowmobilers in North Amherst and had three of the snowmobiles towed.

FRIDAY, JAN. 23

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

" 1:10 p.m. - Police took a report that a Leverett Road resident received a letter from a man demanding money.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

7:07 p.m. - A Sunderland Road woman told police her phone went dead and she was worried someone cut the lines. Police determined the phone problem was only temporary and service would be restored.

DISTURBANCES

" 1:05 a.m. - The people involved in a physical altercation outside Rafter's fled toward Hadley when police got there. They were located at Campus Shopping Plaza, admitted to being in a fight and were given a courtesy escort home.

LARCENY

" 8:58 a.m. - A cell phone valued at $50 was reported stolen from a high school student.

BREAK-INS

" 4:36 a.m. - A back door was found forced open at an Alpine Drive home, but no entry was gained as the alarm may have scared off the intruder. Police at 5:17 a.m. went to an Amherst home to look for a possible suspect in the break-in.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

" 2:58 p.m. - A sick skunk on North Campus Drive was reported to police.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

" 8:17 a.m. - A minor two-car accident with no personal injuries occurred on East Pleasant Street, police said

" 3:43 p.m. - A vehicle sustained minor damage when it was struck by a second vehicle at the corner of Amity and South Prospect streets, police said.

" 8:42 p.m. - Vincent J. O'Connor, 67, of Summer Street, was issued a citation for failure to use care in backing, after the vehicle he was driving in the high school parking lot struck a parked vehicle, police said.

Damage was minor and no personal injuries were reported, police said.

" 11:09 p.m. - A driver told police she fell asleep before the vehicle went off West Street and into a guardrail, police said. The vehicle sustained heavy damage and had to be towed, but the driver was not injured, according to police.

TRAFFIC

" 9:45 a.m. - A vehicle with a rejected inspection sticker and malfunctioning headlight was stopped on West Street. The driver was issued a verbal warning.

" 5:42 p.m. - Police pulled over a vehicle that failed to stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk on Northampton Road and issued the driver a warning.

" 7:58 p.m. - Police stopped a vehicle traveling without headlights on North Pleasant Street. The driver was issued a warning.

" 10:30 p.m. - A private plow truck blocking North Prospect Street was not located.

SATURDAY, JAN. 24

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

" 1:43 p.m. - A man holding flowers and knocking on the door to a Townehouse Apartments home was not located by police.

" 9:06 p.m. - A homeless man walking with a Duraflame fire log was found in the area of Big Y Supermarket. Police determined the man had stolen the log from CVS Pharmacy, an incident caught on the store's surveillance camera, and will be summoned to court on a larceny charge.

" 9:46 p.m. - College Street residents agreed to extinguish a large bonfire.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

" 11:03 a.m. - Police helped a woman remove her belongings from a Pondview Drive home from which she was moving.

" 12:38 p.m. - A North Prospect Street resident called police to report receiving suspicious emails and writings from a former student who may be stalking him. The former student has been parking outside the man's home. The following day at 12:12 p.m., police were notified by Framingham State College campus police officers that they are trying to deal with similar suspicious behavior by the same man.

DISTURBANCES

" 3:16 a.m. - A man and woman were found arguing at Colonial Village. Police kept the peace between the couple.

BREAK-INS

" 7:16 p.m. - A Village Park resident reported seeing someone get into his vehicle before fleeing into the nearby woods on foot. Police examined the vehicle and found the ignition had been tampered with.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

" 10:39 a.m. - A vehicle parked on Kendrick Place sustained heavy damage to the front when it was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle, police said.

" 11:30 a.m. - A vehicle parked on Main Street sustained minor damage when it was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle, police said.

" 3:53 p.m. - Two vehicles went off Meadow Street after snow drifted into the road and iced it over, police said.

Both vehicles had to be towed after getting stuck. The Department of Public Works was notified to sand the stretch of road.

TRAFFIC

" 12:32 a.m. - A vehicle with a headlights violation was stopped on East Hadley Road and the driver was issued a verbal warning.

" 3:37 a.m. - Police stopped a vehicle with a brake light out on Belchertown Road and issued the driver a verbal warning.

" 4:36 a.m. - A bike left in the middle of South Pleasant Street was not located.

" 2:09 p.m. - A Shumway Street resident was warned to have the sidewalk cleared of snow and a guest's vehicle moved from the sidewalk. By 11:32 a.m. the following day, the sidewalk was clear.

" 5:12 p.m. - Vehicles parked illegally on Phillips Street were issued tickets.

" 8:16 p.m. - A vehicle that made an illegal turn was stopped on North Pleasant Street at Butterfield Terrace.

" 10:07 p.m. - Vehicles blocking a lane of traffic on Hulst Road checked out OK when police determined they were parked legally.

SUNDAY, JAN. 25

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

" 12:58 a.m. - A woman who asked police for help outside a downtown restaurant refused to answer any questions from officers as to what her problems were. She was given a ride home.

" 1:29 a.m. - Police found a woman wearing only a tank top and jeans screaming outside the downtown bars and trying to walk home with her friends. Police provided her a courtesy escort due to the cold temperatures.

" 2:17 a.m. - A man reported being chased by another man while walking home on Main Street. The suspect was not located by police.

DISTURBANCES

" 2:04 p.m. - Police kept the peace between a husband and wife arguing at an Eveningstar Drive home.

" 4:29 p.m. - Several homeless men causing problems and bothering children at the corner of North Pleasant and Main streets were not located by police.

LARCENY

" 9:53 a.m. - A vehicle parked at The Boulders was jacked up on cinder blocks overnight and all four tires were removed from it. Police are investigating.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

" 2:10 a.m. - Police issued a verbal warning to Kellogg Avenue residents beeping horns and playing loud music.

" 5:13 p.m. - A verbal warning was issued by police to people being loud at The Boulders while celebrating the Chinese new year.

" 5:26 p.m. - Presidential Apartments residents were issued a verbal warning for playing loud drums.

" 11:10 p.m. - Police issued a verbal warning to Puffton Village residents watching a loud television.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

" 3:09 p.m. - A sick skunk was reported walking in circles and spraying in a Tracy Circle driveway. Police could not destroy the animal due to its proximity to vehicles.

" 10:04 p.m. - A dog left inside a vehicle for more than three hours checked out OK when police found it, but its bowl of water was frozen. The dog's owner was not located.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

" 11:55 a.m. - Haibin Wang, 44, of Billerica, was issued a citation for failure to use care in starting after the vehicle he was driving at the corner of Main and North East streets collided with a Department of Public Works vehicle driven by Harry J. Ritter, 52, of Belchertown, police said.

Damage to both vehicles was minor and no personal injuries were reported, according to police.

TRAFFIC

" 1:49 a.m. - Police contacted a tow truck after a vehicle got stuck in a snow bank on North Pleasant Street near Eastman Lane.

" 2:28 a.m. - A vehicle with a defective headlight was stopped on North Pleasant Street. The driver was issued a verbal warning.

" 10:15 a.m. - Police issued 10 warnings to vehicles parked facing against traffic on Cowles Lane while their owners were attending mass at St. Brigid's Church.

" 6:55 p.m. - Police stopped a vehicle on East Pleasant Street and issued the driver a warning for failure to use a directional signal while turning

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

" 4:14 p.m. - Police assisted firefighters in extinguishing a bonfire at Phi Sigma Kappa.

MONDAY, JAN. 26

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

" 10:04 a.m. - An 18-year-old woman reported missing from a South Amherst apartment was located at the Jones Library at 3 p.m.

" 5:55 p.m. - A woman jogging on Mechanic Street who told police she was lost was given a ride back to the Amherst College campus.

" 10:35 p.m. - Police assisted a Hobart Lane resident remove items from the home.

DISTURBANCES

" 5:38 p.m. - A drunken homeless man creating a disturbance and using obscene language while sitting on a bench in front of Jones Library agreed to leave the area.

RECOVERED PROPERTY

" 4 p.m. - Police seized a small quantity of marijuana from a driver whose vehicle was stopped on Bay Road.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

" 9:31 a.m. - Police helped staff remove bats from the Jones Library.

" 3:36 p.m. - Two loose dogs in the area of the Cushman common were not located by police.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

" 8:49 a.m. - One driver was issued a citation for failure to use care in starting following a minor two-car accident with no personal injuries at the corner of Amity Street and University Drive, police said.

TRAFFIC

" 2:40 a.m. - A vehicle with a defective headlight was stopped on Sunderland Road. The driver was issued a verbal warning.

" 5:54 p.m. - Police stopped a vehicle traveling without headlights on Belchertown Road and issued the driver a verbal warning.

" 6:14 p.m. - A vehicle that failed to stop at the intersection of Main and South East streets was pulled over. The driver was given a warning.

" 9:12 p.m. - Police pulled over a vehicle that failed to stop for a red light on Main Street. The driver was issued a verbal warning.

" 10:19 p.m. - An erratic vehicle that pulled alongside another vehicle on Mattoon Street was stopped by police. Officers issued a warning after determining the erratic driver was just goofing off with a friend.