Body Of Western Mass US Airman Returns Home; How To Take Part In Honor Procession Body Of Western Mass US Airman Returns Home; How To Take Part In Honor Procession
Body Of Western Mass US Airman Returns Home; How To Take Part In Honor Procession The body of a Berkshire County-born US Airman killed in Japan will return home on Friday, Dec. 15, and the community has planned a public funeral procession to honor his sacrifice.  Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, age 24, of Pittsfield, died when the Osprey he was in crashed near the island of Yakushima, Japan, on Nov. 29 during a training exercise. He was one of eight American service members killed in the accident.  Galliher leaves behind a wife and two sons — ages 2 and a newborn.  Related: 'He Was The Best Of Us': US Airman, Pittsfield Native Killed In Japan Galliher's …
'He Was The Best': US Airman From Berkshire County Killed In Military Aircraft Crash In Japan 'He Was The Best': US Airman From Berkshire County Killed In Military Aircraft Crash In Japan
'He Was The Best': US Airman From Berkshire County Killed In Military Aircraft Crash In Japan A US Airman from Berkshire County was one of eight servicemembers who died this week when an Osprey aircraft crashed off the coast of Japan during a routine training exercise, the Pittsfield Police Department confirmed on Friday, Dec. 1.  Jacob "Jake" Galliher, a 24-year-old father of two from Pittsfield, was aboard the aircraft that went down near the island of Yakushima on Wednesday. The bodies of the seven other crew members who were killed have not been found, the US Air Force said Friday.  It's unclear what caused the Osprey to crash, but a witness told investigators the…
Armed Bank Robber Knocks Over Western Mass Branch: Police Armed Bank Robber Knocks Over Western Mass Branch: Police
Armed Bank Robber Knocks Over Western Mass Branch: Police Police in Berkshire County are asking for the public's help to track down a man who robbed an NBT Bank in Pittsfield Wednesday evening, Nov. 29, authorities said.  The robber entered the bank at 609 Merrill Road just before closing at 5 p.m. with a firearm, police said. He demanded cash and bolted when tellers complied with his demands. Investigators are not sure which direction he went after leaving.   No one was injured. Police ask anyone with information or saw anything suspicious in that area at that time to contact investigators at 413-448-9700 x554. 
After Stabbing, Western Mass Bar 'Closed Until Further Notice,' Owners Say After Stabbing, Western Mass Bar 'Closed Until Further Notice,' Owners Say
After Stabbing, Western Mass Bar 'Closed Until Further Notice,' Owners Say The owners of a Berkshire County ramen bar said they created the Pittsfield hotspot to be a safe space for people to meet and have a good time, but a stabbing last week upended that goal. They've decided to shut down indefinitely.  A man was stabbed as he left Thistle & Mirth just after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The man took himself to Baystate Medical Center, and police say he is expected to survive. Authorities did not release his name.  Related: Man Stabbed Leaving Pittsfield Ramen Bar The owners of the 44 West St. bar said in a Facebook post that they have seen an increas…
Stabbing Outside Ramen Bar In Western Mass Under Investigation Stabbing Outside Ramen Bar In Western Mass Under Investigation
Stabbing Outside Ramen Bar In Western Mass Under Investigation Police in Berkshire County are asking for tips after a man was stabbed leaving a ramen bar in Pittsfield earlier this week, authorities announced.  The man was walking out of the Thistle & Mirth at 44 West St. just after 9:30 p.m. with several other patrons when he was attacked, Pittsfield police said. Officers arrived but did not find the victim.  He walked into the Berkshire Medical Center with a stab wound a short time later, police said. The man is expected to survive.  Investigators do not believe this is a random attack.  Pittsfield police ask anyone wit…
Man Admits To Raping Child For Decade In Pittsfield, Gets Up To 10 Years In Prison: DA Man Admits To Raping Child For Decade In Pittsfield, Gets Up To 10 Years In Prison: DA
Man Admits To Raping Child For Decade In Pittsfield, Gets Up To 10 Years In Prison: DA A 42-year-old Berkshire County man who this week admitted to raping a child multiple times for nearly a decade was sentenced to up to 10 years behind bars, authorities said.  Dean Giftos, of Pittsfield, pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 20, to two counts of rape of a child with force and four counts of rape of a child, aggravated by age difference, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said.  The judge sentenced Giftos to seven to 10 years in prison with three years probation after he's released, the prosecutor said. He's not allowed to have contact with minors and must att…
Alert Issued For 15-Year-Old From Region Missing Over 24 Hours Alert Issued For 15-Year-Old From Region Missing Over 24 Hours
Alert Issued For 15-Year-Old From Region Missing Over 24 Hours Police are asking for help in locating a 15-year-old boy from the region who has been missing for over 24 hours. Josiah Delph, of Pittsfield in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, was last seen on Wednesday, Nov. 15, according to Pittsfield Police. In a post on Facebook, the teen’s sister, Kendra Lian, said he had run away. “My family is really worried, and we want him safe,” she wrote. Delph is described as 5-feet-10-inches tall and 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black Nike sweatshirt. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Pit…
NY Man, 26, Hit By Car In Western Mass Dies After Days In Hospital: Police NY Man, 26, Hit By Car In Western Mass Dies After Days In Hospital: Police
NY Man, 26, Hit By Car In Western Mass Dies After Days In Hospital: Police A 26-year-old New York man who was hit while crossing a street in Berkshire County on Friday, Nov. 3, has died, police said.  Noor Khan Zadran, of Albany, was crossing Central Berkshire Boulevard in Pittsfield around 3:30 p.m. when he was struck by a Hyundai Sonata driven by Judith Daly, age 85, police announced Tuesday morning.  Related: Woman, 85, Hits Man, Truck, Tree In Pittsfield; 1 In Critical Condition: Cops Zadran was treated at an area hospital before being airlifted to a trauma center in Albany, where he died on Monday.  Daly continued driving aft…
(Updated) Woman, 85, Hits Man, Truck, Tree In Western Mass; 1 In Critical Condition: Cops (Updated) Woman, 85, Hits Man, Truck, Tree In Western Mass; 1 In Critical Condition: Cops
(Updated) Woman, 85, Hits Man, Truck, Tree In Western Mass; 1 In Critical Condition: Cops Update: Noor Khan Zadran, the 26-year-old man from Albany, New York, who was hit while crossing Central Berkshire Blvd on Friday, died on Monday from his injuries. Police are investigating the crash.  Original: An 85-year-old Pittsfield crashed into a pedestrian and a truck Friday afternoon, Nov. 3, before slamming into a tree in Berkshire County, police said.  Judith Daly was driving a Hyundai Sonata north on Central Berkshire Blvd just after 3:30 p.m. when she hit Noor Khan Zadran, a 26-year-old man from Albany, New York, Pittsfield police said.  Related: …
Body Found In Western Mass Park ID'd By Police Nearly Month Later Body Found In Western Mass Park ID'd By Police Nearly Month Later
Body Found In Western Mass Park ID'd By Police Nearly Month Later Police in Berkshire County say they have identified the man found dead in a Pittsfield park early last month, but they still don't know what killed him.  Luis Lopez-Lopez, 43, of most recently Pittsfield and Greenfield, was found by a city employee cutting brush at Wahconah Park on Oct. 10 around 10:45 a.m. The location where the body was found is not part of the Wahconah Park baseball field, police said on Friday, Nov. 3. Related: Decomposing Body Found Near Pittsfield Baseball Field: Police The Office of Chief Medical Examiner’s Office took on the case and was able to…
Western Mass Cop Cruiser Crashes Into Car Carrying Grandmother, 2 Grandkids; 4 Hurt: Police Western Mass Cop Cruiser Crashes Into Car Carrying Grandmother, 2 Grandkids; 4 Hurt: Police
Western Mass Cop Cruiser Crashes Into Car Carrying Grandmother, 2 Grandkids; 4 Hurt: Police A police car en route to a suspected crime scene crashed at an intersection in Berkshire County Sunday afternoon, Oct. 15, injuring four people, including a grandmother, her grandchildren, and a Pittsfield police officer, authorities said. Two Pittsfield police officers were driving to a reported disturbance off Cheshire Road just before 4:30 p.m. with lights and sirens on, Pittsfield authorities said. As they passed through the intersection of Coltsville and Cheshire, the cruiser slammed into a Jeep Wrangler crossing the intersection.  The Jeep, driven by Kimberly Gaylord, 5…
Man, 49, Hit, Killed While Working On Western Mass Road ID'd By Police Man, 49, Hit, Killed While Working On Western Mass Road ID'd By Police
Man, 49, Hit, Killed While Working On Western Mass Road ID'd By Police A 49-year-old construction worker working on a crew repairing a road in Berkshire County on Thursday morning, Oct. 12, was run over and killed by an 87-year-old driver, authorities said.  Shane Cassavant, of Lanesboro, was working on the roadway near 777 West Street just before 8 a.m., Pittsfield police said.  Edward Ladouceur, of Pittsfield, was driving east on the road and was flagged to move into the westbound lane once at the construction site. That's when police say he crashed his Chevrolet Colorado into Cassavant, police said.  Paramedics rushed Cassavan…