Police Report

Compiled by SCOTT MERZBACH

Published on June 12, 2009

Amherst Police

* A 29-year-old Chicago male will be summoned to court on a charge of statutory rape of a child, police said this week.

* A 21-year-old Holyoke male and a 21-year-old Amherst male will be summoned to court, each on a charge of possessing marijuana, following a traffic stop on State Street June 8 at 12:34 a.m., police said.

* Anas Iqbal Ahsan, 25, of 170 East Hadley Road, Apt. 68 was arrested June 7 at 8:17 p.m. at home on a charge of domestic assault and battery after he threatened to hit family members with a biology book and started throwing things, police said. No one was injured, police said.

* A 22-year-old Easthampton male and a 23-year-old Granby male will be summoned to court on charges of violating the town's open container bylaw June 6 at 1:24 a.m. on North Pleasant Street, police said.

* A 24-year-old Amherst male will be summoned to court on charges of assault and battery and malicious destruction of property after he punched a victim and broke a railing at an Amity Street residence July 6 at 2:12 p.m., police said.

* A Belchertown woman reported June 4 at 9:43 p.m. that she was grabbed around the waist by an intoxicated man outside a University Drive business a short time earlier, and had to punch the man in the face to free herself. Police said the suspect has been identified and the matter remains under investigation.

* A 53-year-old South Deerfield man will be summoned to court on charges of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and speeding following a traffic stop on Belchertown Road June 4 at 7:49 p.m., police said.

* Edward Tyler, 29, of Ludlow, Vt., was arrested June 3 at 10:05 p.m. on Belchertown Road on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle with worn tire treads, police said.

* Walter J. Graff, 46, of Market Hill Road, was arrested June 3 at 5:26 p.m. at a North Amherst home on a charge of domestic assault and battery after he slapped a woman in the face, police said. The woman didn't require medical attention, police said.

* A stereo system valued at $1,600 and a briefcase containing documents were reported stolen from a vehicle parked at Southpoint Apartments that was reported broken into June 3 at 8 a.m. The driver's side window was smashed to gain entry to the vehicle, police said.

* Police took a report June 2 at 11:41 p.m. that two men inside a silver Accord fired BB gun shots at people on East Pleasant Street, hitting one man in the foot with a pellet. The man didn't need medical attention. Police are investigating the incident.

* A Fearing Street resident reported June 2 at 9:52 p.m. that the home was broken into some time between then and 5:30 p.m. A laptop and hard drive were stolen and the inside of the home was left in disarray. Police said there were no signs of forced entry.

* Between June 2 and June 9, police recovered a mountain bike, some baseball gloves and took a report of a lost passport. Police checked for speeding vehicles on Bay Road, Montague Road and South East Street, provided two courtesy escorts, checked the well-being of five residents and stopped vehicles on Amherst streets and issued two warnings for a stop-sign violation, two warnings for an inspection-sticker violation, two warnings for failure to stay within marked lanes and two warnings for a headlights violation.

In addition, police responded to false alarms at four residences and seven businesses and checked on vehicles parked on South Middle Street, College Street and Bay Road and at Southpoint Apartments.

Hadley Police

* A broken window at a Route 9 business was reported to police June 5 at 3:45 a.m. Nothing appeared to be missing from the store.

* Police took a complaint about a vehicle with three men and two women inside it that was racing around the end of Meadow Street June 4 at 6:58 p.m.

* A rock that fell from a truck on the Route 116 bypass June 4 at 9:16 a.m. broke the windshield of a vehicle following it, police said. Both drivers pulled over and will contact their insurance companies to settle the matter, police said.

* A man going door-to-door selling magazines on Bristol Lane June 3 at 8:03 p.m. was located by police and told to notify the department if he intends to make this a daily occurrence.

* A debit card was found in the Mountain Farms Mall parking lot June 3 at 12:57 p.m. and its owner was notified.

* Freeman Wilson, 19, of Dudleyville Road, Leverett, was arrested June 2 at 9:15 p.m. at Hampshire Mall on a charge of possession of a class D substance, marijuana, with intent to distribute, police said.

* John Messer, 54, of West Springfield, was arrested June 2 at 1:13 a.m. on Aqua Vita Road on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, speeding and failure to stay within marked lanes, police said.

UMass Police

* Alexis N. Venechanos, 28, of Northampton, was arrested June 2 at 10:10 a.m. on University Drive on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and operating a motor vehicle that doesn't meet Registry of Motor Vehicles standards, police said.

* A 55-year-old Brookline man will be summoned to court on a charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle following a traffic stop on Commonwealth Avenue June 1 at 2:38 p.m., police said.

* Gregory M. Bogosian, 24, of Sterling, was arrested May 28 at 1:16 p.m. on Governors Drive on an outstanding warrant, police said.

Day-by-Day Amherst Police Calls

FRIDAY, MAY 22

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 8:51 a.m. - A man found asleep in an office in the Jones Library was issued a trespass notice to stay out of the building. Staff members told police the man may have slept there all night.

* 12:45 p.m. - A woman told police she was verbally assaulted by the driver of another vehicle while at the CVS Pharmacy parking lot on University Drive.

* 3:29 p.m. - A Belchertown Road resident reported getting into an argument with another person over a damaged mailbox.

* 10:10 p.m. - Three skateboarders who set up ramps in the middle of parking areas at Townehouse Apartments were advised to remove the ramps and leave the area.

DISTURBANCES

* 3:35 p.m. - Police took a report that more than 30 college students drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and cursing while on the beach at Puffer's Pond. All were behaving themselves when police got there, but several parking tickets were issued to vehicles parked facing traffic on State Street.

VANDALISM

* 2:03 a.m. - Two women who started a Dumpster on fire at Hobart lane were identified and are expected to face charges as a result of their actions.

TRAFFIC

* 4:41 p.m. - Police stopped a vehicle with an expired registration on Lincoln Avenue and issued the driver a written warning before having it towed.

* 5:47 p.m. - A vehicle parked on the Nutting Avenue sidewalk was issued a ticket.

SATURDAY, MAY 23

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 1:53 a.m. - An intoxicated homeless man on North Pleasant Street told police he would make his way to a tent in the woods off University Drive. At 4:03 a.m., the man was found asleep in a Blue Hills Road yard and was awoken and sent on his way.

* 3:59 a.m. - A man who tried to get into a Rolling Green Drive residence through the window on the front door was not located by police.

* 5:19 a.m. - A 30-year-old Amherst man was placed into protective custody after he was found heavily intoxicated on University Drive.

* 7:38 p.m. - A Brandywine Apartments woman told police she is concerned that a man took a bag full of bank statements and credit card receipts that she had placed in a Dumpster at the apartment complex. Police spoke to a friend of the man, who said he was only looking for reusable items thrown out by college students at the end of the semester.

* 9:26 p.m. - Two suspicious men were seen loitering on Lawrence Circle, and ran into the woods when observed by police. No vandalism or damage was discovered.

RECOVERED PROPERTY

* 10:28 p.m. - A 2002 Nissan Altima stolen from Holyoke in April was recovered at Echo Village Apartments.

FIGHTS

* 12:21 a.m. - A fight outside the downtown bars ended when police got there. None of the combatants wanted to press charges.

* 1:07 a.m. - An intoxicated man fell to the ground unconscious during a shoving match with another person on Pray Street. The man suffered only minor injuries and was brought to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton for treatment.

ASSAULTS

* 1:05 a.m. - Police took a report that a person was pushed to the ground on Main Street.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 12:13 a.m. and 10:58 p.m. - Police issued verbal warnings to North Prospect Street and Amity Street residents holding loud parties.

* 12:28 a.m. - Cosby Avenue and Fearing Street residents were spoken to by police about loud noise from their gatherings.

* 1:46 a.m. - Police issued a verbal warning to Amity Street residents talking loudly and using a megaphone to project their voices.

* 4:56 a.m. - A verbal warning was issued by police to a Colonial Village resident playing loud video games.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 5:28 p.m. - A vehicle parked in the Boltwood parking lot sustained minor damage when it was struck by a second vehicle, police said.

* 5:48 p.m. - A vehicle went off an access road at Village Park and struck a tree, causing heavy damage to the back end of the vehicle, police said.

TRAFFIC

* 10:03 a.m. - An unregistered motor vehicle was stopped on University Drive. The driver was issued a citation and advised to park the vehicle until it was properly registered.

SUNDAY, MAY 24

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 12:55 a.m. - A 25-year-old Lynn man was placed into protective custody after he was found heavily intoxicated on Pray Street.

* 11:51 p.m. - A Dumpster fire was reported at The Boulders.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 1:29 a.m. - Police assisted a Main Street resident clear out 150 party-goers who were inside the residence and hanging out on the lawn.

* 1:49 a.m. - Gilreath Manor residents agreed to put out a bonfire in their yard.

DISTURBANCES

* 2:48 a.m. - Trash was strewn about the parking lot at Brandywine Apartments, but the people who had been smashing things and causing the damage were not located.

* 10:29 p.m. - A patron at a downtown bar was punched in the face by a person who came into the establishment and then fled. The victim refused to provide police any information about what happened.

LARCENY

* 3:26 a.m. - A stolen Bank of America ATM card was recovered, but the person who found it may have used it prior to returning it to a Meadow Street resident. Police are investigating.

* 10:04 a.m. - A rental car was reported stolen from Nutting Avenue after someone entered the home and took the residents' keys.

* 9:27 p.m. - Management at a downtown restaurant reported a customer walked out on a $45 bill.

FIGHTS

* 1:01 a.m. - Two people pushing each other outside the downtown bars were separated and sent on their way.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* Between 12:01 a.m. and 2:27 a.m. - Police issued verbal warnings to North Pleasant Street, Tan Brook Condominium, Pine Street and Main Street residents holding loud parties. The Pine Street residents were also advised to remove broken glass from the road that had been thrown there by guests.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 1:53 a.m. - A car went off Leverett Road near the intersection with East Leverett Road and crossed the front lawn of a residence, causing minor damage and no personal injuries, police said.

* 12:04 p.m. and 4:36 p.m. - Cars parked at Puffton Village and in the Big Y Supermarket parking lot sustained minor damage when they were struck by other vehicles, police said.

* 3:17 p.m. - One driver was issued a citation for failure to use care in stopping following a minor three-car accident with no personal injuries at the parking garage, police said.

* 6:35 p.m. - A minor two-car accident with no personal injuries took place at Puftfon Village, police said.

MONDAY, MAY 25

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 2:45 p.m. - A person firing a gun in the area of Poets Corner was not located.

* 7:33 p.m. - Two men went into the Big Y Supermarket and attempted to confuse a cashier into giving them cash in what police are describing as a "flim-flam" scheme. The men were not located.

DISTURBANCES

* 6:53 p.m. - Two teenage boys who had been kicking the door to a home at The Boulders and also yelling at the tenant fled before police got there.

LARCENY

* 4:22 p.m. - A sign for Rao's Roastery was reported stolen from North Pleasant Street.

* 7:50 p.m. - A bicycle was stolen from the Amherst College campus.

* 7:51 p.m. - Management at Amherst Nursery on Belchertown Road told police four apple trees valued at $50 apiece were stolen from the location.

TUESDAY, MAY 26

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 2:29 p.m. - Police assisted a downtown business owner trespass a former employee who has allegedly taken money from the business.

* 6:15 p.m. - A South Amherst woman contacted police seeking assistance in dealing with her son, who has made threats toward her. She was referred to court for assistance since the teenager left the home before police got there.

DISTURBANCES

* 8:41 p.m. - A man and woman arguing at a Bridge Street home were calmed down by police.

VANDALISM

* 3:18 p.m. - A rock was thrown through the window of a vehicle parked on Phillips Street.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 10:14 p.m. - The rear taillight of a vehicle parked at Southpoint Apartments was damaged when another vehicle struck it and fled the scene, police said.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 3:12 a.m. - A Gray Street woman told police a man was outside her home and may have pressed his boot against the window screen in an attempt to break into the home. Police weren't able to locate anyone in the vicinity.

* 8:54 p.m. - Police determined a suspicious man entering a Mill Hollow Apartments residence through a window was a tenant who had gotten locked out from the home.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 8:39 p.m. - A person missing from Hedgerow Lane was located safely on North East Street at 9:26 p.m.

DISTURBANCES

* 3:57 p.m. - A woman making threatening comments to people outside Big Y Supermarket was sent on her way

VANDALISM

* 6:48 a.m. - Vandals dug up a tree that had recently been planted at the corner of Main and South East streets.

BREAK-INS

* 1:36 p.m. - A flat screen television was reported taken from a Colonial Village home.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 7:45 p.m. - Loud banging coming from a Colonial Village residence was determined to be a tenant putting together a futon.

* 10:10 p.m. - Police issued a verbal warning to Puffton Village residents playing a loud stereo.

THURSDAY, MAY 28

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 10:23 p.m. - Four men wrapped a vehicle in plastic while it was parked on South Pleasant Street. Police determined the men were colleagues of a woman who works as a waitress at a downtown restaurant and were playing a joke on her during her last night of work.

* 10:57 p.m. - Two high school girls were found placing plastic cups in the baseball field backstop at the high school. The cups were put into the fence in such a way to read "Seniors 09." There was no permanent damage caused.

DISTURBANCES

* 1:39 a.m. - A customer refusing to leave the DB Mart on Triangle Street after getting into a dispute with a clerk left when police got there.

* 5:58 p.m.  A boy repeatedly banging on the window to a woman's residence at The Boulders fled when police got there.

* 6:36 p.m. - Police spoke to two people involved in a verbal altercation at a Belchertown Road business following a road-rage incident.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 10:13 a.m. - A dog owner was bitten by a dog at a North East Street location. The animal welfare officer checked on the dog to make sure it was up to date on all its vaccinations.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 9:09 a.m. - Police said they are investigating a hit-and-run accident that caused minor damage to a parked vehicle in a parking lot behind a Main Street business.

* 11:11 a.m. - A police cruiser sustained minor damage following a two-car accident with no personal injuries at the corner of Northampton Road and Snell Street, police said.

* 11:31 a.m. - Steven M. Troiano, 47, of Hamden, Conn., was issued a citation for failure to use care in turning after the vehicle he was driving from North Prospect Street onto Amity Street struck a vehicle owned by Caitlin A. Gould of Blue Hills Road, police said.

Gould was issued a ticket for improperly parking the vehicle and not leaving sufficient space for passing vehicles ,police said.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 29

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 1:32 a.m. - People carrying a garbage can on Northampton Road were advised to return the garbage can to where they found it.

* 8:06 p.m. - Passersby on Main Street reported a man who was repeatedly shouting at and harassing them. Police located the man, who was sent on his way.

* 8:23 p.m. - A person posing as a police officer was reported in the area of a South Amherst apartment complex. Police are investigating.

* 8:50 p.m. - A downtown resident told police he may seek a trespass notice against his mother's former boyfriend after the man repeatedly drove by his mother's home.

* 9:12 p.m. - Three children on the roof of Crocker Farm School fled when police got there and were not located.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 10:31 a.m. - A teenage boy missing from Southpoint Apartments was located in downtown Amherst at 9:23 p.m.

* 2:54 p.m. - A person whose iPod was stolen told police a teenager made contact with him and tried to sell the iPod back to him. He arranged a meeting with the teen and got the iPod back without paying for it. He told police he won't press charges against the teen.

DISTURBANCES

* 12:09 a.m. - A man and woman were found arguing at a Village Park home.

* 4:22 p.m. - Several homeless men loitering near the Jones Library smoking cigarettes and urinating were sent on their way.

* 6:10 p.m. - Police kept the peace between a brother and sister at Village Park arguing over a cell phone charger and wireless headset.

* 11:01 p.m. - An angry customer at a North Amherst business paid the bill and left before police got there.

LARCENY

* 3:20 p.m. - A resident came into the police station to report his credit card information was stolen after he used it online.

BREAK-INS

* 2:46 p.m. - A 52-inch plasma television and TV stand were reported stolen from an Amity Street home. Police said it is unclear if any break-in actually occurred.

FIGHTS

* 3:06 p.m. - More than 20 people getting ready to fight in the area of Kellogg Avenue fled when police got there.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 1:19 a.m. and 2:16 a.m. - Police issued verbal warnings to people talking loudly at Village Park and on Sunset Avenue.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 8:06 a.m. - Several pigs running loose on Bay Road were caught and returned to their owner.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 9:11 p.m. - Catherine S. Brighenti, 17, of Athol, was issued a citation for failure to use care in stopping after the vehicle she was driving on Northampton Road and South Pleasant Street collided with a vehicle driven by Jennifer Tran, 22, of Salem, police said. Brighenti's vehicle sustained heavy damage to its hood, but no personal injuries were reported, police said.

TRAFFIC

* 3:40 p.m. - Police got a report that a school bus passed over the railroad tracks on Pine Street without stopping, even though the crossing lights were flashing and a train may have been coming. Police spoke to the bus driver, who said he had stopped at the tracks and the bus tripped the crossing lights.

SATURDAY, MAY 30

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 3:44 a.m. - A suspicious man loitering inside the Cumberland Farms store on Belchertown Road was not located by police.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 12:10 p.m. - A Puffton Village woman came to the police station to report getting a statement from the Internal Revenue Service claiming she owed $2,583 in taxes related to business she has done in Illinois.

FIGHTS

* 3:03 a.m. - Police kept the peace between two women fighting at The Boulders.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 11:09 a.m. - A baby fox with a glass jar stuck on its head found on Butterfield Terrace was brought to Dr. Michael Katz, who was able to remove the jar from the animal.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 11:58 a.m. - A minor two-car accident with no personal injuries took place in the Bank of America parking lot on South Pleasant Street, police said.

* 11:45 p.m. - Vehicles driven by Elsina Hagan, 26, of Bristol, Conn., and Miranda Barrett, 18, of Belchertown, collided at the intersection of Main and South East streets Saturday at 11:45 p.m., police said.

Hagan complained of back and neck pain, but told police she would seek her own medical attention, police said. Both vehicles were able to leave the scene under their own power, according to police.

SUNDAY, MAY 31

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 5:36 p.m. - The owner of a downtown restaurant told police he received threatening phone calls from the father of an employee he fired. Police warned the father to stop making calls.

DISTURBANCES

* 2:34 p.m. - Two women arguing over a parking space on Spring Street were calmed down.

VANDALISM

* 1:15 p.m. - Graffiti was found sprayed on to a stop sign on Mattoon Street, as well as another sign near the high school.

FIGHTS

* 3:29 a.m. - Two men fighting at a Goldenrod Circle home were unwanted guests. They left before police got there.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 12:07 a.m. - Police issued a verbal warning to Pelham Road residents playing a loud car stereo.

* 11:21 p.m. - A verbal warning was issued by police to a Colonial Village resident who was moving furniture inside his apartment.

MONDAY, JUNE 1

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 6:33 p.m. - A man soliciting on Berkshire Terrace was located and advised to get a solicitor's permit. Police are reminding residents if they have concerns about anyone going door-to-door to ask to see the permit.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 10:28 a.m. - A resident came to the police station to report a Verizon account was opened in his name nearly two years ago.

VANDALISM

* 1:52 p.m. - Vandals placed graffiti on the pumping station off Kestrel Lane. Police said additional patrols will be in the neighborhood and the Conservation Department is putting up no-trespassing signs.

BREAK-INS

* 6:46 a.m. - A door was found open to a Pomeroy Lane Cooperative home and belongings were scattered about inside it.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 7:17 p.m. - A Middle Street resident was advised to keep better control of his black Labrador retriever after it got loose twice, including once at Mount Pollux Conservation Area.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 10:11 a.m. and 4:02 p.m. - Vehicles parked at a Sunderland Road business and on West Street sustained minor damage when they were struck by other vehicles, police said.

* 4:57 p.m. - A minor two-car accident with no personal injuries took place at the intersection of Northampton Road and University Drive, police said.

* 5:47 p.m. - Police said they took a report from a woman whose vehicle was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle at Atkins Farms Country Market the previous day.