Police Report

Compiled by PHYLLIS LEHRER

Published on July 04, 2008

AMHERST POLICE

* Mohammed Zafar, 34, of 81 Belchertown Road, was arrested Monday at 2:21 p.m. on Infirmary Way on charges of assault and battery and intimidating a witness after he struck a woman and prevented her from calling the police, police said.

* Sokha Chhim, 27, of 49 Potwine Lane was arrested Saturday at 1:37 p.m. on an outstanding warrant issued by Hampshire Superior Court for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, police said.

* Thomas Beemer, 22, of 257 Russell St., Hadley, and Reginald Madison, 18, of 38 Greenleaves Drive, Hadley, were arrested Saturday at 3:26 a.m. on North Pleasant Street on charges of breaking and entering in the nighttime, receiving stolen property valued at over $250 and attempting to commit a crime, after an officer stationed at Puffton Village observed an attempted break and found property from other vehicles, police said.

* Jonathan Wilkie, 23, of 11 Phillips St. was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license after a traffic stop Saturday at 12:36 a.m. on North Pleasant Street, police said.

* Michael Whalen, 29, of Franklin was arrested Friday at 8:02 p.m. on Main Street on charges of shoplifting six hard-cover comic books valued at $151 and giving a false name, police said. The comic books were returned, police said.

* A 26-year- old Amherst male will be summoned to court on a charge of violating a trespass order, police said.

* A 40-year-old Greenfield male will be summoned to court on a charge of operating a vehicle with revoked registration, police said.

* A 17-year-old Belchertown female will be summoned to court on a charge of driving with a suspended license, police said.

HADLEY POLICE

Raymond F. Poli, 31, of 491 Bridge Road, No. 738, Florence, was arrested at Wal-Mart Sunday at 6:01 p.m. on a charge of larceny over $250, police said.

* Graffiti was reported in the loading dock area of the J.C. Penney store at Hampshire Mall at 6:51 a.m. June 26 , police said.

* Barbara Archambault-Bridger, 38, of 6 Jackson St., Belchertown, was arrested on Bay Road at 9:24 a.m. June 25 on a warrant, police said.

* A metal building on Pine Hill Road was reported at 10:37 a.m. June 24 to have been broken into and ransacked, police said.

Between June 24 and July 1 police recovered a set of keys, a lighter, a zip drive, a purse and change. Police performed well-being checks on 10 residents, provided three courtesy escorts and checked for speeding vehicles on East Hadley Road, Triangle Street and East Pleasant Street and delivered mail to members of the Select Board.

Police responded to false alarms at four residences and five businesses and checked on vehicles parked on North Pleasant Street, Montague Road, State Street, West Street, College Street, Gatehouse Road, Main Street and Mount Pollux Conservation Area.

Day-by-Day Amherst Police report

Saturday, June 21

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 1:55 p.m. - A resident asked police to check a vendor selling umbrellas and Gucci bags for a profit in a non-profit zone on the Town Common.

* 2 p.m. - A resident reported that someone may have entered the vehicles parked in the garage on Cherry Lane. But he doesn't believe anything is missing.

DISTURBANCES

* 6:52 a.m. - A trespass notice will be delivered to a person who was causing a disturbance and passing notes to employees at a University Drive business.

* 11:42 a.m. - An East Pleasant Street resident knocked on a neighbor's door and asked him to call the police.

* 5:51 p.m. - A male slammed a briefcase on a car after he became upset when a dog in the vehicle barked at him on Kellogg Avenue. There was no visible damage to the vehicle.

* 7:57 p.m. - A woman was heard screaming at the top of her lungs at a swimming hole near the Wentworth Conservation Area but there were no problems found.

RECOVERED PROPERTY

* 6:33 a.m. - A purse, bank book and credit cards were found strewn on Cherry Lane.

* 4:31 p.m. - A Korean bank book, credit card and a blackberry were found on Cherry Lane.

LARCENY

* 12:19 a.m. - A computer, lap top and palm pilot valued at $1,850 were taken from an unlocked car with an open window, parked in an Amity Street lot.

VANDALISM

* 8:15 a.m. - Three cars had their tires slashed overnight at an East Hadley Road parking lot.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 1:15 a.m. - A dog was barking for an hour on West Pomeroy Lane.

* 1:30 a.m. - Residents on Main Street were warned about criminal action for setting off fireworks.

* 1:41 a.m. - Fireworks were seen in the woods around Fort River but a search was negative.

* 11:34 p.m. - Police took a complaint of noise at a Phillips Street residence but found the noise was not unreasonable.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 10:16 a.m. - A raccoon growling at a Middle Street resident was gone when police arrived.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 12:29 p.m. - Tuan Nguyen, 32, of 5 Old Amherst Road, Belchertown was cited for failure to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn. The vehicle he was driving on Belchertown Road was turning onto South East Street when it was struck by a vehicle driven by Clemente Gilbert-Espada, 17, of 24 Hickory Lane, who was traveling on College Street and continuing through the intersection, police said.

* 2:47 p.m. - No injuries were reported in a car and bike accident on Pine Street, police said.

TRAFFIC

* 12:29 a.m. - Two cyclists were warned about not having headlights or rear reflectors on North Pleasant Street.

* 11:11 a.m. - A motorist was verbally warned about tailgating on South Pleasant Street.

* 12:52 p.m. - Double-parked cars on South Pleasant Street were making it difficult for buses to pass through.

* 7:17 p.m. - A driver was issued a verbal warning for having no front license plate.

Sunday, June 22

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 1:50 a.m. - An intoxicated male standing in front of a College Street business waiting for a friend was told to go home.

* 5:03 a.m. - An intoxicated male was belligerent when asked to leave the Town Common.

* 11:58 p.m. - Water was coming from the wall of a Main Street business because the fire-detection system failed.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 10:51 p.m. - An East Pleasant Street resident reported seeing someone who was trespassed from the site, but police found no one.

DISTURBANCES

* 2:19 p.m. - A male threatening to set a fire in a Kellogg Avenue business left when told to do so.

LARCENY

* 10:46 a.m. - An air-conditioner and a cello were taken from a North Hadley Road residence.

VANDALISM

* 5:50 p.m. - Police took a report that four tires were slashed on a car between Friday and Saturday while parked at Mill Valley.

10:58 p.m. - A tire was cut on a school bus parked on Chestnut Street.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 12:06 a.m. - A verbal warning was issued to a small gathering with a moderate level of noise at a North Pleasant Street residence.

* 11:05 p.m. - people watching videos on a laptop outside were told to go inside at a Montague Road residence.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 7:36 a.m. - A rabbit found injured and showing signs of rabies in the middle of Belchertown Road was moved to a secure location and destroyed.

TRAFFIC

* 4:14 p.m. - A vehicle that was parked at the bus stop on Main Street was towed.

* 9:07 p.m. - A motorist was given a verbal warning after being stopped on West Street for having a headlight out.

Monday, June 23

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 12:16 a.m. - An intoxicated male hanging around a Belchertown Road business was sent on his way.

* 2:38 a.m. - A person walking around the dumpster behind a University Drive business was looking for discarded parts.

* A person reported finding a box that said "Do Not Open - Live Creatures Inside" outside a Montague Road business, then finding newborn mice in the box. Police advised the person to call the animal welfare officer.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 10:13 a.m. - Customers tried to use an inactive account to pay for merchandise but left the items and left the South Pleasant Street business.

* 5:13 p.m. - Police took a report that a pay phone with rusty bolts fell onto a North Pleasant Street sidewalk. They notified DPW.

* 11:26 p.m. - A Chestnut Street resident reported that two males yelled into the windows and had harassed him earlier. Police advised him to continue to call 911 for help.

RECOVERED PROPERTY

* 3:39 a.m. - Police received a report of a a bag and contents strewn on Cherry Lane. The contents included $16 cash, a cell phone, a watch, three prescription bottles, ID card, deodorant, hand sanitizer, a library book, an umbrella, two pens, two Chap sticks, a lipstick, a wallet containing credit cards, a driver's license and a social security card. Police retrieved the bag and notified its owner, who claimed his property.

* 5:14 a.m. - A vehicle with heavy damage was found on a Bay Road front lawn.

* 10:07 a.m. - A green sweatshirt and black shoes were found in the police station.

VANDALISM

6:04 p.m. - Police took a report of graffiti spray-painted on a door on Sunderland Road.

BREAK-INS

* 10:39 a.m. - Cash and credit cards were taken from an unlocked vehicle on Rolling Ridge Road.

* 7:41 p.m. - A face plate for a stereo was taken from a vehicle in the Village Park parking lot.

* 8:10 p.m. - A face plate for a stereo and a cell phone were taken from a vehicle in the Village Park parking lot.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

9:29 p.m. - A male and female making noise in a car on Belchertown Road were gone when police arrived.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 9:40 a.m. - Police retrieved a lost dog on Grantwood Drive.

* 2:10 p.m. - A stray dog was left at a Market Hill Road kennel.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

1:35 p.m. - A bus scratched a vehicle parked near the bus stop on Main Street, police said.

TRAFFIC

* 5:26 a.m. - A sewer hole cover in the middle of Northampton Road was replaced.

* 3:44 p.m. - A disabled vehicle was moved on South Pleasant Street.

Tuesday, June 24

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 2:57 a.m. - Police searched the area but found no one after a report of someone peering into a sliding screen door on Belchertown Road.

* 6:31 p.m. - A report of a possible break-in at a Riverglade Drive address was children playing on the roof, who were gone when police arrived.

* 10:41 p.m. - Three males setting off fireworks near Poet's Corner were gone when police arrived.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 10:47 a.m. - The police assisted the DPW with a rented truck that was stuck in the mud on the town common and had damaged 75 feet of lawn.

DISTURBANCES

* 1:39 a.m. -Two males arguing on College Street were gone when police arrive.

* 10:06 p.m. - Peace was restored after a domestic verbal argument between a male and female on East Pleasant Street.

LARCENY

* 6:01 a.m. - A laptop valued at $1,000 was reported taken from a High Street residence where there was no sign of forced entry.

* 11:32 a.m. - Change was taken from an unlocked vehicle parked on State Street.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 2:08 p.m. - Police spoke to a Charles Lane resident about keeping animals out of her woodstove and chimney.

* 2:10 p.m. - Police said a couple's dead possum was brought to the landfill.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 4:15 p.m. - Elizabeth Lewis, 55, of Putney, Vt. was cited for failure to stop for a red light after the vehicle she was driving north on Route 116 failed to stop at a red light and struck a vehicle driven by Alana Gadreault, 45, of Northfield that was traveling west on Meadow Street. Lewis continued through the intersection and struck a vehicle driven by Luz Leyro-Broga, 43, of Greenfield that was stopped for the red light, police said. Lewis had visible facial injuries and was transported by Amherst Fire Department Ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital, where she was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Leyro-Broga complained of minor pain but declined treatment as did Gadreault, police said.

All three vehicles sustained heavy front end damage and were towed, police said.

* 12:54 p.m. - Tyler Chambers, 19, of 82 January Hills Road was cited for failure to use care in turning after the vehicle he was driving west on Northampton Road attempted to make a left turn onto Snell Street and collided with a vehicle driven by Sharon Woodin, 52, of Three Rivers that was traveling east on Northampton Road, police said. Woodin was transported by Amherst Fire Department Ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital, where she was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Woodin's vehicle sustained extensive front end damage and was towed, police said.

* 11:10 a.m. - A minor accident was reported in a University Drive parking lot, police said.

TRAFFIC

* 5:20 a.m. - The police contacted the DPW after a report of a cracked sewer cover causing a safety hazard on South Pleasant Street.

* 2:10 p.m. - A person complained about vehicles parked on both sides of State Street, which were gone when police arrived.

* 5:19 p.m. - Police reviewed a tree that was struck by lightning on Station Road and notified the DPW. The resident said a tree company was called to remove the tree.

* 8:09 p.m. - Police assisted with traffic while workers cut a tree struck by lightning on Station Road.

* 9:27 p.m. - Police found the vehicle but not the driver after a report of an erratic driver on Belchertown Road.

Wednesday, June 25

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 1:52 a.m. - Police gave two men a ride home after they were acting suspicious on a dark area of a lawn on North Pleasant Street.

* 12:47 p.m. - No police help was needed after a report of a wild rabbit found with its head missing on a North Pleasant Street lawn.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 3:09 p.m. - Police assisted DSS when they removed two children from an East Pleasant Street residence.

* 7:24 p.m. - Two males came to a Chestnut Street residence asking if the mother was home but did not affiliate themselves with any group and were gone when police arrived.

* 10:38 p.m. - Police referred an out-of-town caller to court for possible restraining order after calling about the well being of a parent.

DISTURBANCES

* 4:43 p.m. - Police were present when a trespass order was issued after two males had a verbal argument at a Gatehouse Road residence.

LARCENY

* 12:39 a.m. - A cell phone was taken from a Meadow Street residence.

VANDALISM

* 5:19 a.m. - A 34-year-old Bronx male will be summoned to court for scratching his name in a cell at the Police Station, police said.

* 11:33 a.m. - Police took a report that a pit bull jumped on a car and scratched it because a barking dog was inside on College Street. There was no damage to the vehicle or dogs.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 10:34 a.m. - Police contacted the owner of vehicle whose car alarm was sounding on Lessey Street.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 9:38 a.m. - Police are trying to locate a raccoon that chased a woman and her dog off the rail trail near Amherst College.

* 10:07 a.m. - A dog running loose on Northampton Road was gone when police arrived.

* 1:52 p.m. - Police brought a dog found on East Pleasant Street to a shelter.

Thursday, June 26

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

* 1:50 a.m. - Police sent on his way a person who was cutting through the rear of a North Pleasant Street business.

* 9:25 a.m. - Police confiscated a 12-pack of beer and a six-pack of Twisted Tea at a Montague Road parking lot after a person bought alcohol for two under-age passengers

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

* 12:03 a.m. - Police provided directions to a person who was lost on College Street.

* 3:34 p.m. - A motorist requested police help for a car that needed a jump on Main Street. AAA was contacted.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

* 8:25 p.m. - A group of people causing a commotion and breaking bottles on State Street were gone when police arrived.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

* 12: 28 p.m. - Police assisted with the removal of a diseased raccoon on Main Street.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

* 9:25 a.m. - Mohamed Nagooradumai, 37, of 42 Palley Village Place was making a left turn onto Belchertown Road when he collided with a vehicle driven by Jon Holst, 52, of Worthington, police said. Both vehicles were towed, police said. Nagooradumai was transported by Amherst Fire Department ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital where he was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Nagooradumai was cited for failure to use care in starting, police said.

* 11:24 a.m. - Ariella Schwell, 34, of 161 Triangle St. was leaving her driveway Thursday when she struck a vehicle driven by Hanna Hartl, 41, of 43 Depot Road, Leverett, which was traveling east on Triangle Street, police said. Schwell's vehicle pushed Hartl's vehicle off the road and it hit a parking sign and tree, police said. Schwell was transported by Amherst Fire Department ambulance to Cooley Dickinson Hospital where she was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Schwell was cited for failure to use care in starting, police said.

* 1:39 p.m. - Police received a report of a hit-and-run accident that damaged the rear bumper of a vehicle in a Hall Drive parking lot.

* 7:298 p.m. - Police said a woman reported backing into a parked vehicle in the parking garage and leaving a note with her name and phone number.

TRAFFIC

* 6:24 a.m. - An officer moved a small branch that was in the road on Heatherstone Dr., after a report of a tree down blocking half the road.

* 7:41 p.m. - A resident told police a sewer cover was missing on North Pleasant Street. The cover was located and replaced.