Compiled by
Arrests and
Summons
AMHERST
Irving Echevarria, 22, of Holyoke, was arrested May 29 at 6:23 a.m. on West Street on charges of leaving the scene of a property damage accident operation of a motor vehicle to endanger, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and failure to stay within marked lanes after the vehicle was driving struck a fence, mailbox and tree on West Street, police said.
Joshua T. MacDonald, 24, of Gulf Road, Pelham, was arrested May 25 at 6:30 p.m. on Cottage Street on a warrant, police said.
A 20-year-old Amherst man will be summoned to court on charges of texting while driving, operating a motor vehicle with a revoked registration operating an unregistered motor vehicle following a traffic stop on Amity Street at Lincoln Avenue May 24 at 6:43 p.m., police said.
A 21-year-old Tyngsborough man will be summoned to court on a charge of criminal harassment as the result of an investigation that ended May 23 at 12:40 p.m., police said.
John F. Bedford, 33, of New York City, was arrested at 12:50 a.m. Saturday on Quadrangle Road on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, police said.
Day-by-day
police calls
MONDAY, MAY 23
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
8:01 a.m. – Illegal dumping in a Dumpster on South Whitney Street was reported to police. Officers identified the suspects as residents on Sunrise Avenue, who agreed to remove their trash. A box spring and mattress were also found placed against a utility pole on the same street, though there was no evidence the incidents were connected.
2:01 p.m. – A man seen chopping bushes and branches on a path near Summer Street, and scaring people by throwing the debris onto the trail, was not located by police.
8:58 p.m. – Two people drinking alcohol on the front steps of the Jones Library agreed to pour out their beverages.
CITIZEN ASSISTANCE
5:39 p.m. – Police were called to a North Pleasant Street sidewalk where panhandlers were reported bothering people passing by. No issues were discovered by police.
ANIMAL COMPLAINTS
4:21 p.m. – A dog suffering inside an overheated vehicle on Amity Street was provided water. Police spoke to the dog owner about the dangers posed to the dog.
MOTOR VEHICLE
ACCIDENTS
9:31 a.m. – A vehicle sustained damage when it was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle on North Pleasant Street, police said.
TUESDAY, MAY 24
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
12:42 p.m. – An aggressive panhandler on College Street fled before police got there.
DISTURBANCES
9:55 a.m. – A man and woman arguing at Mill Hollow Estates told police they were just stressed over moving to New York for new employment.
NOISE COMPLAINTS
9:06 p.m. – Police issued a verbal warning to Brandywine Apartments residents playing loud music.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
12:15 a.m. – A woman returning home to a South East Street residence told police she was confronted by a man who said “aren’t you normally asleep by now?” Police identified the man walking on the street a short time later and determined he didn’t pose any threat to the woman.
7:32 p.m. – Youths possibly using marijuana in the area of North Pleasant Street Apartments were not located by police.
8:34 p.m. – A woman reported a possible break in to her apartment at Puffton Village after observing the door to her washer open and cabinets disturbed. Nothing appeared to be stolen.
CITIZEN ASSISTANCE
12:24 p.m. – An Amherst woman reported her bank account was frozen after she deposited a fraudulent check and then began withdrawing funds using the money contained in the fraudulent check. Police advised her to speak to bank officials.
4 p.m. – Police are assisting a South East Street resident find his belongings after his roommates moved out of the home and the landlord may have disposed of the items.
VANDALISM
4:16 p.m. – A vehicle parked at Hampshire Village was damaged by vandals.
MOTOR VEHICLE
ACCIDENTS
9:47 a.m. – A vehicle parked on Hedgerow Lane sustained minor damage to a rear passenger door when it was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle, police said.
7:06 p.m. – A driver attempting to put her vehicle in reverse instead drove forward, striking a support post at the R & P Package Store on West Street, police said.
Damage to the vehicle and building were both minor, according to police.
THURSDAY, MAY 26
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
8:20 p.m. – People were reported squatting inside a Harkness Road home. Police found no one inside the residence.
LARCENY
1:08 p.m. – A shoplifter two days earlier was observed taking $84.92 in energy drinks from Big Y Supermarket.
BREAK-INS
4:28 p.m. – A window on a vehicle parked at the Notch Visitors Center was smashed in a break-in attempt. The vehicle owner fled before police got there.
ANIMAL COMPLAINTS
11:11 a.m. – A dog owner who got into an argument with a person concerned about the well being of a dog left in a hot vehicle at the Amherst Survival Center left before police got there.
FRIDAY, MAY 27
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
3:15 a.m. – A person sleeping in the laundry room at Colonial Village was awoken and sent on his way.
2:36 p.m. – Four men observed smoking near a Lessey Street home were not located by police.
4:41 p.m. – Several homeless people making customers uncomfortable at a downtown location were moved along. Youths bothering passersby in the same area were sent on their way.
8:34 p.m. – Three people loitering on a Summer Street porch told police they were just waiting for a bus. They were sent on their way.
9:20 p.m. – Campers on conservation land off Summer Street were not located by police, though officers detected odor from a campfire.
DISTURBANCES
10:19 p.m. – People arguing on Railroad Street denied they had any hostilities toward each other.
NOISE COMPLAINTS
11:15 p.m. – Police issued a verbal warning to Pomeroy Lane residents playing loud music.
ANIMAL COMPLAINTS
6:38 p.m. – A sick and bleeding possum on the Norwottuck Rail Trail was destroyed by police.
SATURDAY, MAY 28
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
5:56 a.m. – A possible intruder was reported at a Colonial Village residence which had a ripped window screen.
7:42 a.m. – Police located a man inside a tent set up on the back lawn at St. Brigid’s Church. He was sent on his way.
CITIZEN ASSISTANCE
6:17 p.m. – A woman walking in downtown Amherst reported a man following her on the sidewalk had also approached her in Northampton at Smith College, where he told her he’s a sociology major who asks people personal questions.
DISTURBANCES
12:41 a.m. – An intoxicated man at a Colonial Village residence who was bothering his brother agreed to leave for the night before police got there.
8:02 a.m. – Police responded to Colonial Village for a verbal altercation that later became a fight. Police are investigating.
LARCENY
10:11 p.m. – Root beer and food were reported missing from a Gray Street home. Police said there were no signs of forced entry and that the items may have been taken by other tenant in the residence.
NOISE COMPLAINTS
1:03 a.m. – Police issued a verbal warning to Main Street residents playing loud music and talking loudly.
6:34 p.m. – Guests holding a party at the pavilion at Mill River Recreation Area were advised to turn down the music. No alcohol was observed being consumed, though police got complaints from nearby residents that the event was producing similar noise volumes to the Hobart Hoedown.
ANIMAL COMPLAINTS
10:38 a.m. – A dog that got loose on Middle Street was returned to its owner on South East Street, who was issued a verbal warning about letting his dog off leash. The resident was also issued a license for his dog.
MOTOR VEHICLE
ACCIDENTS
11:16 p.m. – A crash with possible injuries to occupants occurred at the intersection of Belchertown and Logtown roads, police said. No additional details were available from police.
SUNDAY, MAY 30
CITIZEN ASSISTANCE
10:22 p.m. – An Amherst woman reported receiving threatening text messages from family members in Whately. Police found no evidence the texts contained any threats.
LARCENY
8:25 p.m. – A man went into a downtown package store, took a bottle of wine without paying for it and consumed some of the alcohol before another person returned the bottle to the store. Management at the store informed police it would seek a trespass notice against the man.
VANDALISM
10:57 a.m. – A phallic symbol was carved into a green at the Amherst Golf Club. Maintenance was able to remove the obscene symbol. In addition, a stop sign was stolen from the South Pleasant Street driveway.
ANIMAL COMPLAINTS
4:05 p.m. – A possum got stuck in the sink of a downtown restaurant. The animal was safely removed.