May 14, 2010, 8:06AM

SPRINGFIELD – A pair of sharp-eyed state troopers, working a construction detail on Interstate 91 Thursday night, saw a 25-year-old Chicopee man suspected of breaking into a house in Chesterfield earlier in the day and placed him under arrest.

Unfortunately for the suspect, the two troopers working the detail had first-hand knowledge of the break-in because it had occurred on their watch out of the Northampton barracks nearly seven hours before…

More: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/state_police_arrest_25-year-ol.html

October, 2009

Trooper Dan Sheehan (SP-Russell) was assisting a disabled motorist on a local road in Westfield one recent mid shift when he noticed a vehicle approaching him and the DMV without any working headlights. Dan waved his flashlight and signaled the vehicle to stop as it passed the DMV and his fully-activated cruiser in the roadway, and the vehicle initially slowed down and appeared to be stopping, as Dan made eye contact with the driver and his passenger. The vehicle then abruptly punched the gas and took off into downtown Westfield around the same time as the local bars were getting out and the usual crowds of drunk college kids normally stumble their way through the streets. With the vehicle bee-lining it towards this same area, Tpr Sheehan jumped into his sled and took off after the car, attempting to keep up with it as it ducked down local side roads and eventually careening off the road behind an apartment complex and back out into the downtown area. Tpr Sheehan followed the dust clouds and found the vehicle now stopped at a red light bearing a Massachusetts dealer plate. Tpr Sheehan quickly ordered the operator out and secured him in handcuffs before he could pull another disappearing act. A strong odor of booze wafted into the troopers face as he opened the truck’s door, and the driver’s slurred speech and bloodshot eyes didn’t help his case either. Now in custody for failing to stop for a police officer, back at the barracks field sobriety tests were offered during booking, and failed. The second offense drunk driver registered a blood alcohol content of just under three times the legal limit.
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Trooper Jeff Roberts (SP-Russell) was out cruising the local roads of Westfield the next week around 8pm when he stopped a truck he observed weaving over the fog lines several times. Conversation with the operator revealed prior drinking, as well as other indicators of impairment. Exit orders followed, and the operator complained about several injuries and medical problems that may prevent him from being able to perform the tests . The driver instead offered the trooper an alternative to the tests by simply allowing him to drive the few hundred yards further down the road to his residence. The trooper declined the quick resolution option, and tests were conducted after the trooper ensured the operator that if he could work all day as an arborist, he could surely walk a few feet and stand on one foot for a few seconds. This proved a self-confidence boost for our wayward, drunk motorists and tests were conducted. Following an “F” grade on the tests, he was placed under arrest for OUI-Liquor and would later register a blood alcohol level of just under twice the legal limit. Charges of OUI-THIRD OFFENSE and Negligent Operation were logged into the SP-Russell arrest journal.

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Trooper Mike Perry of Crime Scene Services Section examines a window at a Breaking and Entering that occurred in the Town of Cheshire.

Earlier in the fall, the Route 91 narcotics vacuum Trooper Brendan Shugrue was cruising the highway in Whatley when he came upon a vehicle tailgating the car infront of it for no particular reason. The left lane was open, and this area is not particularly known for it’s traffic congestion. Trooper Shugrue stopped the tailgater and asked him why he didn’t just go around the car in front of him. The operator then expressed his concern that the car in front of him was swerving, so he didn’t want to pass it. Along with the explanation, he was unable to produce a valid license. Trooper Shugrue performed a check of the driver’s license status, which revealed it to be REVOKED due to a breath test failure from several years ago. The operator was removed from the vehicle where he was advised he was going to be summonsed for the revoked license charge.. At this time, Trooper Shugrue recalled arresting this same gentleman earlier this year. Trooper Chris Lenney arrived to assist, and a tow was called for the vehicle, and an inventory was conducted, where the trooper located a check-book type cardboard box under the passenger seat. Inside the box…exactly 280 heat sealed baggies of suspected heroin, ready for street level drug sales. The passenger and driver were taken into custody for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin…all this from following too close!
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Trooper Brian Gladu (K-9 WEST) and his good buddy Dash later sniffed through the car, locating no more drugs, but one hypodermic needle stuffed under a seat…which our wayward motorist neglected to mention to any trooper on scene when he was asked if there was anything sharp or dangerous in the car. Since possessing a hypodermic needle for no good reason is no longer a crime, it was left inside the vehicle with the rest of the rat’s possessions…for the next police officer that searches the car. Since the recent legislative act that deemed possessing a hypodermic needle no longer a dangerous crime, maybe these same legislators can pony up the funds to purchase each and every police officer in the Commonwealth a set of needle-proof gloves? They may not be dangerous while you’re safely tucked away in your suburban colonial at 0200hrs, but to the family of Trooper Drew Chandler, these items proved to be a little more dangerous than politicians think. While this author was in diapers, Trooper Chandler was searching a vehicle for drugs and was pricked by one of these, which ultimately cost him his life several years later due to the illnesses contracted from the infected needle. Were his widow and three children invited in to witness this new law being signed?
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Sgt Chris Sanchez (Accident Reconstruction) was traveling south on Route 91 in Springfield in his marked Ford Explorer when he observed a car pass his truck at 80MPH in a posted 55MPH zone, apparently oblivious to the STATE POLICE emblems emblazoned all over his Recon truck. He clocked the vehicle for a distance at about the same speed then attempted to stop the vehicle, which took it’s sweet time for several hundred yards, with the operator making noticeable movements as if he was moving something around in the vehicle while he delayed pulling his car over. After he finally stopped, the Sergeant got on his PA and ordered the operator to put his keys on the hood, fearing the operator may take off again as soon as he got out of his cruiser. After several attempts to get the operator to do this, keys finally came out and the sergeant approached the vehicle. Tpr Mike Chapdelaine (K-9 West) happened to be in the area, and arrived to assist as continued nervous banter from the driver made Sgt Sanchez concerned for his safety regarding what the driver may have been trying to hide. The operator was removed, and as the Sgt peered inside the vehicle he observed a black glove tucked between the driver’s seat and the center console…with a plastic baggie tucked into the glove. In the baggie was a huge chuck of a white substance appearing to be cocaine. A more thorough search of the car was conducted where he located another quantity of the same substance. An amount of Marijuana was located, as well as an open container of vodka. The wayward speeder was taken into custody for Trafficking Cocaine and booked at SP-Springfield.
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Trooper Dan Pinkham was cruising Route 91 during a recent OUI Enforcement Patrol in the area. After observing a truck cross over the fog line and over a rumble strip, he stopped the vehicle to ensure the operator was sober. After observing indications of possible impaired operation, the operator was asked to step from the vehicle to determine sobriety. While passing some tests and failing others, the trooper became concerned the operator may be under the influence of something other than alcohol, and discussed with the operator these concerns. Statements of recent drug problems led to Trooper Pinkham to request written consent to check the vehicle for any drugs. After this was granted, the trooper the car and located a crack pipe in the door, as well as a quantity of crack cocaine in the truck that led to an arrest for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, as a subsequent offense.
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Trooper Eric French (SP-Northampton) was upping his tally of daytime OUI-Liquor arrests with a recent pinch on Route 91 in Holyoke during the morning commute. While running LIDAR, he stopped a vehicle after he observed it traveling 83MPH. While speaking with the operator and passengers, a distinct odor of the evil herb was wafting from the window, and the passengers fessed up to the weed in the car and forked over a bag of the green stuff when asked. Trooper Americo Dilorenzo arrived shortly afterward to assist Trooper French, and the driver was removed from the vehicle. During conversation about the weed, Trooper French noticed a smell of booze on the driver’s breath and learned he was coming from a late night partying at UMass. Field Sobriety Tests were administered, and “not passed”, leading to an arrest for OUI-Liqour. The weed would be logged into the narcotics locker, to take up valuable and limited space until the non-criminal case is disposed of. The morning commute drunk would register a blood alcohol level of .13 during booking at SP-Northampton.
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Later than month, Trooper French was cruising Route 91 one afternoon when he took a call from the desk officer reporting an erratic operator in the area. He took up a stationary post in the breakdown lane and shortly afterward observed the same car pass his cruiser. He made his own observations of the vehicle weaving into the breakdown lane and stopped the car. During conversation with the driver, he detected booze breath present, and cut right to the chase by asking the driver if he was drunk. The driver would then respond to the question with a question…”Am I drunk?” Trooper French tried to explain what he meant by the question, and elaborated by asking the confused driver when the last time he drank alcohol was. The driver quickly replied that he stopped drinking the evening prior, when he urinated in his friend’s bed.. Exit orders followed, and field sobriety tests failed. The drunk driver was placed under arrest and transported to SP-Northampton, where at 2 o’clock in the afternoon he would register a blood alcohol content of just under twice the legal limit.
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Trooper Robert Church (SP-Springfield) was cruising Route 291 looking for ne’er-do-wells on a recent mid shift when he observed a car take an on ramp onto the highway infront of him doing what appeared to be about 30MPH over the posted limit. He attempted to catch up the car and clock it’s speed, unsuccessfully as it blasted down the highway onto Route 91, weaving in and out of the marked lanes in the process. The trooper eventually caught up the car, where he activated his lights and sirens attempting to stop the car. The car instead took off down the highway and a pursuit was initiated as the trooper attempted to keep up with the fleeing car. He observed it duck down an off ramp onto a local road in Springfield where it eventually failed to negotiate a turn and crashed into the curb, spinning the vehicle around and narrowly missing a car parked at intersection waiting for the light to change. The operator jumped out of his wrecked car and fled on foot, with Trooper Church catching up to him on foot and eventually subduing the fleeing suspect with the assistance of a dose of OC Spray and assistance to the ground with fancy 77th RTT defensive tactics maneuvers.. The operator continued sruggling with the trooper unsuccessfully as his hands were brought behind his back and handcuffs applied. Due to the OC Spray, Trooper Church requested EMS respond to the scene to decontaminate his prisoner, leading to a transport to a local emergency room. The driver that decided it would be a better idea to run from the police now faces charges including Operating under the Influence of Alchol, Revoked License, Negligent Operation, Resisting Arrest and a slew of other civil infractions.
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Trooper Dan Pinkham was monitoring traffic on Route 91 in February when he stopped a vehicle heading northbound for several defective equipment-related violations. During conversation with the operator and passenger, the trooper noticed paraphernalia on the floor of the car consistent the use of crack cocaine. The visibly nervous passenger and operator provided their information and the trooper returned to his cruiser to check their info. Queries through recent court records would reveal a drug charge history for the female passenger, leading to the trooper to ask the operator for consent to check the vehicle for narcotics. The operator consented to the search, as Trooper Brian Pearl arrived to assist. The nervous male passenger was removed from the vehicle and a search was conducted, leading to a small amount of a substance believed to be cocaine found in a pack of cigarettes. With another package of suspected cocaine located in a different area, both the passenger and driver were placed under arrest for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Trooper May Pekarski arrived to assist Trooper Pinkham and transported the female operator SP-Northampton for processing.
During booking, Trooper Pinkham contacted the Vermont State Police to gather any intelligence they may have on his new friends. Our brothers in green would report to Trooper Pinkham that they are familiar with the female driver, but they had no information on the passenger. Conversation with the arrested passenger during booking would produce a different name than the one he originally stated, revealing an active arrest warrant for Assault and Battery and a fresh new charge of Furnishing a False Name.
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Trooper Pinkham was out and about later that month cruising Route 91 in Whatley when he stopped a vehicle for defective equipment. As he spoke with the driver and passenger, he noticed visibily nervous behavior of both subjects, including the passengers speech so nervously stammered that she could barely spit out the location they were traveling from. Trooper Pinkham requested another cruiser to the scene while he completed the appropriate civil citations back in his cruiser and couldn’t focus his attention on the shifty occupant’s of the car he had stopped. Trooper Brendan Shugrue and Trooper Maureen Glynn arrived to assist. While observing the passengers, Troper Shugrue spotted packaging material on the floor mat in front of the passenger consistent with drug packaging. As the passenger was asked to step out, more packaging material materialized on the floor and seat. Trooper Brian Gladu and his K-9 Dash arrived to check the vehicle, where the dog quickly alerted to a handbag the female passenger left on the seat. Out from the bag came 40 bags of Heroin , as well as Trooper Gladu’s recurring problem with running into hypodermic syringes during searches. Under what reasoning our own state’s legislature used to determine these things are not a clear and present danger to police officers is beyond this author’s understanding.
Trooper Glynn seized the heroin and placed the female under arrest. A more detailed search revealed that the occupants of the vehicle were apparently in the middle of cooking and shooting up heroin while traveling up Route 91 in Whately back to Vermont. All three occupants of the car were taken into custody for Conspiring to Violate the Controlled Substance Act. Back at SP-Northampton, Trooper Glynn would locate even more unused, packaged heroin secreted in the woman’s undergarments.
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Trooper Pinkham was it again putting a dent in the transportation of drugs in vehicles with defective equipment when he stopped a vehicle with an extremely loud exhaust on Route 91. The out of state operator was determined to have a suspended driver’s license, and was placed under arrest for that offense. Trooper David Stucenski (K-9 WEST) arrived to assist and conducted an inventory of the vehicle prior to it being towed, since the passenger was also unlicensed. Trooper Stucenski located a medical type bag in the back seat containing a total of 229 bags of heroin. Trooper Stucenski also located a Hypodermic Needle in the same bag, but that’s not against any law, and police officers shouldn’t worry about petty things like that. Trooper William Loiselle was on scene to assist and transported one of the occupants to SP-Northampton for booking while Trooper Pinkham stood by with his prisoner awaiting the tow, both in custody for Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute.
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Trooper Pinkham was once again out hammering the highways of SP-Northampton one evening when he stopped a car with defective equipment heading north with Vermont plates. The visibly nervous and profusely sweating driver produced his license when asked, and a subsequent license check revealed it to be suspended. The operator was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest, and with none of the other passengers in the car having valid licenses, a tow was requested. Trooper Adam Mathieu arrived to assist and an inventory of the vehicle was conducted while he had the passenger seated in the rear of his cruiser. While checking the car, the trooper located a Hypodermic Needle cap under the passenger seat. After carefully checking the rest of the car hoping not to get poked, he located a prescription pill bottle in the car that didn’t belong to anyone in the car, with a white powder residue inside it. Trooper Mathieu returned to his cruiser and the passenger stepped out, and now located an uncapped hypodermic syringe on the back seat of his cruiser under where the passenger was sitting. With obvious residue visible inside the needle, the passenger was placed under arrest for possession of a class A substance.

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Sunday September 06, 2009, 11:22 PM

WHATELY – A 23-year-old Brattleboro, Vt., man was arrested on charges of distributing marijuana after a state trooper found between 10 and 12 pounds of the drug stuffed in trash bags in his car.

Samual D. Schwartzkopf was initially pulled over at 6 p.m., Sunday on Interstate 91 for following too closely. When State Trooper Brendhan Shurgrue found the man had no license, he proceeded to search the car and found the marijuana.

Schwartzkopf was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, driving a car without a license and following too closely. He was released on $1,000 bail, said Massachusetts State Police Trooper Giuseppe Ciampa.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/vermont_man_arrested_with_tras.html

November, 2008

This month’s edition kicks off with one of several calls for service to the State Police by some of the local RMV branches. Trooper Dave Podworski was sent to the local branch for a report of a disorderly person causing a scene. Upon Tpr Podworski’s arrival, he identified the person walking away from the scene and given a good “talkin’ to” about how to conduct himself in public. The eccentric local citizen cooperated and the disruptive behavior stopped. Content that  his street-level charm school course had fixed the problem, the two went their separate ways without any further action necessary. Later that day, Tpr Carlos Rivera (VFAS) learned of the name of this person, and recognized this person as being in violation of the state’s Sex Offender Registry Board for failing to register. The B-3 braves, led by Tpr Podworski and VFAS Troopers set out looking for this person around known hangouts and neighborhoods, and the next day, Tpr Podworski located him in a local neighborhood. Whilst pitching a fit, the offender was locked up by Tpr Podworski where the aformentioned “fit” continued all the way to the B-3 booking bench, where his ranting and raving can only be compared to the speech of the crazy cat lady from “The Simpsons.”

One sunny evening in Springfield found the B Troop Cat Team patrolling the local neighborhoods looking for foul deeds afoot. Tpr John Driscoll’s Springfield Police Radio lit up with a call for shots fired and a man down right around the corner from where he was cruising. Upon his arrival, literally within seconds of the call being put out, observed the felled subject behind a house and two females moseying away from the scene. They somehow didn’t hear or see anything, but were advised to stay put while Tpr Driscoll, Tpr Matt Donah, Tpr Brian Claprood and Tpr Steven Burgess (B-CAT) attempted to resuscitate and provide first aid to the victim until Springfield PD and EMS arrived. Once the homicide scene was secured by responding SPD and MSP units, names were taken and info relayed to Springfield PD detectives, all information that would have probably evaporated before SPD was able to arrive, thanks to the MSP Cat Team that was out looking for trouble.

Later than month Trooper Marc Reidy (B-CAT) was cruising a local street in Springfield when he observed a stop sign violation. The stop was conducted and both the driver and unseat belted passenger were identified. When Marc returned to his cruiser to check the names, he observed the passenger bail out of the car and beat feet over a fence. Trooper Louis Rodriguez assisted Tpr Reidy in the foot chase attempting to catch up the party who was sailing over fences like a gazelle. Marc and Luis weren’t too far behind, running like gazelles that wear cross straps, field boots and gun belts. At one point Tpr Reidy’s gear got caught up in a fence he was leaping over, but Tpr Rodriguez heaved him over the fence like the incredible hulk he is. After a foot pursuit lasting several hundred yards and over more than a few stockade fences, the troopers lost sight of the wayward soul and returned to their cruisers to advise the army of responding cruisers of the description of the passenger, as well as the operator that had taken it upon herself to the leave the scene with her car while the Tpr Reidy was chasing her boyfriend. Tpr Matt Donah located a vehicle matching the description a short time later, and stopped it. He then realized the fugitive fairy had dropped the sweaty passenger back into the car! The passenger somehow had some energy left and ran from Tpr Donah. Now deep into a urban project area, Lt. Thomas Daly observed the suspect run into one of the apartments, where Lieutenant Daly interrupted a good ol’ fashion “crack and weed” party, as well as a half-dozen uncooperative inhabitants quickly trying to stash their contraband. With the original bad guy secured, the responding backup, in the form of Tpr Paul Kudryk, Tpr Matt Simpson (OUI-CAT) and Tpr Glenn Witaszek secured the other ne’er do-wells and their drugs. The B-3 pinch book was then filled up with a series of drug and warrant arrests after the party was broken up and the original suspect felt really bad about getting his neighbors all locked up.

Later that same night, Tpr Amy Waterman, while on a commute home from the eve shift at SP-Springfield, stopped a car after an RMV query revealed it’s license plates belonged on a different vehicle. While in conversation with the operator, Amy was informed he didn’t have a license, and with no documentation that the vehicle was registered, or even who it belonged to, exit orders followed. While Tpr Waterman was trying to get the driver out, he stepped on the gas and drove off, with Tpr Waterman holding on for dear life trying not to get run over by the back tires. She was eventually able to break away from the car as she was being dragged and radioed for assistance. Help came from the mid shift braves of SP-Springfield, this author as well as  all of the B-CAT troopers who were still in the barracks booking all of the arrests from the above paragraph. K-9 West Teams including Tpr Andy Martindell, Tpr Sean Maher and Tpr Dave Stucenski also arrived and wasted no time starting tracks. Tpr Justin Grigg located the passenger of the now-abandoned car hiding behind a house, who was  quickly arrested and secured for disturbing the peace. After some field research, Tpr Waterman was able to identify the operator, and learned he not only had a revoked driver’s license, he also possessed an active arrest warrant. After a lengthy but unsuccessful search, Tpr Waterman applied for, and received an arrest warrant for the suspect. The next day, a determined and motivated MSP VFAS Team located and arrested the subject, who was found hiding in his girlfriends house. Way to man up!

Earlier in the fall, Tpr Evan Breeding was patrolling the streets of Chicopee when he stopped a vehicle he saw had plates attached that belonged to another vehicle. During conversation with the operator, he detected an odor of the wacky weed, as well as the operator’s admittance to possessing a suspended driver’s license. Evan radioed for assistance which arrived in the form of Tpr Amy Waterman. With the driver and passenger out, Tpr Breeding performed a search of the vehicle which turned up a substantial amount of marijuana, (pre-packaged separately for consumer convenience), a digital scale, as well as oxycodone. The operator  was placed under arrest for the drug charges, as well as operating after suspension as a subsequent offense.

Tpr Stephen Gregorczyk (B-3), while monitoring traffic at a local elementary school, stopped a vehicle for a rejected inspection sticker. While speaking with the operator, the nefarious odor of the eeeevil herb was wafting into the afternoon air from inside the car. Exit orders followed for the operator, who produced from his jacket several bags of marijuana stuffed away. While he observed this, he looked over and saw the passenger making strange movements inside the car near his waist. Once the driver was secured, the passenger was removed and more bags of marijuana were found secreted in his unmentionables. Both the passenger and driver were arrested on drug charges as well as the school zone violation.

Tpr Mark Weiner (B-3) was conducting speed enforcement in Longmeadow one mid shift near the Connecticut line when he stopped a vehicle traveling 17 MPH above the posted speed limit. Tpr Weiner approached the vehicle on the passenger side, where he observed a a twisted plastic baggie being tucked out of view by the passenger. Exit orders followed for both parties after help arrived in the form of Tpr Keith Armstrong. After observing this bag of white chunky substance in plain view, a probable cause search was conducted which revealed 15 GRAMS of suspected Cocaine, as well as a substantial amount of marijuana. Both the passenger and driver were arrested on charges of Trafficking in Cocaine and Possession of marijuana with intent to Distribute. If you are going to transport that amount of bad things, please, keep it slow and stay in the right lane.

Tpr Matt Mielke (OUI-CAT) stopped a vehicle on the big road in Springfield one night after observing a marked lane violation. While in conversation with the driver, he could detect the distinct odor of someone burning a rope. Sometimes though, indicates burnt marijuana also. The nervous and visibly shaking operator was removed from the vehicle and a search was conducted based on the odor. Inside the car, Tpr Mielke locate a backpack full of weed, as well as another freezer bag full inside the center console, and yet another bag full appeared inside his pants. At the conclusion of the search, the  operator was placed under arrest and transported to SP-Springfield for booking. And a certain university, located in Amherst, was missing one of their twenty-five year old undergrads.

One afternoon in September, the hard-chargin’ troops of the Hampden County SPDU executed search warrants at two homes in Springfield. After a series of cocaine purchases using undercover troopers,  a large scale drug distribution ring was discovered operating out of these two homes. With the assistance of MSP STOP under the command of Sgt Aaron Washington, and Capt P. Higgins of Hamden SPDU, the warrant was executed and entry was gained. Several officers including Troopers Kevin O’Toole and Daniel Soto were involved and after a search was conducted on the home, a substantial amount of Cocaine was recovered and two subjects were arrested on charges including Trafficking in Cocaine as well as multiple drug violations within a school zone. While inside the home, they also located two  fugitives that possessed default warrants. One of them was based  on charges that occurred over 12 years ago…at least she doesn’t have to worry about hiding any more!

I’m not sure what it is about Tpr Sean Barry (B-CAT) that causes people to fight him all the time, but he once again found himself in a struggle one evening in September with another fine visitor from Hartford, on a day off from her job as a patient care aid. After a stop was conducted for a motor vehicle violation, Tpr Barry observed the extremely nervous female operator make a quick hand off of something to the passenger. Tpr Barry saw this behavior and requested another cruiser respond to assist him. Tpr Mike Trombley and Louis Rodriguez arrived and exit orders followed for the driver and passenger. Exit orders were met by active resistance to Tpr Barry’s efforts on the part of the driver. After some verbal judo was deployed by the Trooper-slash-DT Instructor, the operator was coaxed out, but not before she grabbed her purse and announced that Tpr Barry would not be permitted to search the purse, which was open on top and clearly displayed a bag of marijuana. When the trooper attempted to secure the operator before evidence was destroyed, she yelled at her passenger (her son) to run! A digital scale had already been found on the son by Tpr Rodriguez, and since his mom told him to do something, he complied without question. After a brief foot chase, Tpr Mike Trombley (whom you DO NOT escape from) caught up with him and a struggle ensued. Tpr Rodriguez, whom you also do not escape from, was able to deploy OC spray on the combative suspect and handcuffs were eventually able to be applied. All the while, Tpr Barry struggled with mom as she thrashed about and made some pretty non-lady-like threats against Tpr Barry . Eventually he was able to secure her in handcuffs and both the juvenile and his mother were booked on drug distribution violations in a school zone.

One night August, Hampden SPDU was once again hard at work in Springfield investigating a heroin distribution operation being conducted out of a home. After a lengthy investigation, and several controlled purchases were conducted, a warrant was executed at the home. With help from K-9 West’s Tpr Brian Gladu, B-CAT Troopers, and the rest of the Hampden County SPDU, the leader of the operation was quickl located and arrested, and a whole pile of evidence, cash, scales and packaged heroin was seized. Drug distribution charges including school zone violations followed, and the suspect was transported to SP-Springfield for booking.

Later that month, Tpr Brian Pearl was assigned to a Sobriety Checkpoint being conducted in Chicopee when he was directed by Sgt Eino Thompson (CARS) to screen a driver that was waved in due indicators of possible impairment. After the driver was finally able to park the car as directed by the trooper, field sobriety tests were conducted and “not passed”. After being arrested for OUI by Trooper Pearl, Trooper TJ Tudryn (SP-Shelburne Falls) conducted an inventory prior to the truck being towed. During the inventory, an unloaded and unsecured Shotgun was discovered under the seat, as well as several rounds of different caliber bullets and fireworks. Unlicensed firearms, ammunition and fireworks charges followed the original OUI charge and she was transported to SP-Springfield for booking.

Tpr Glenn Witaszek was dispatched to Route 291 in Chicopee one afternoon after SP-Springfield began taking calls of a man down beside his car on the shoulder of the highway. Upon Tpr Witaszek’s arrival, as well as this author and several other members of B-3, we located the disheveled male just barely standing by his car, which somehow acquired a flat tire against the curb. After observing the male had urinated on himself, and was covered in dirt after losing his balance, field sobriety tests were administered and failed. The operator had stated he pulled over to look for his friend’s hubcap when he lost his balance. It’s good to have friends, but please ensure their sobriety before they go off on a hubcap hunting adventure. He was eventually transported to SP-Springfield where he registered a blood alcohol content of three-times the legal limit.

Tpr Jonathan Nickles was cruising Route 91 in Springfield one recent mid shift when he was amazed to look out the driver’s side window of his FULLY MARKED cruiser to see a little black Subaru pass him as his he was standing still. Tpr Nickles quickly caught up to the speeding car and was eventually able to stop it. Obvious indicators of liquor impairment were observed by the trooper and exit orders followed for field sobriety tests. These tests were administered and failed, and he was booked at SP-Springfield where he registered a blood-alcohol content of almost three times the legal limit. As it turns out, the offender’s license was revealed to be REVOKED as a “Habitual Traffic Offender”.No kidding!

The B-CAT Team was out lowering the hammer again in Springfield when Tpr Brian Claprood stopped a vehicle which was revealed to have an expired registration status. The operator and passenger were asked to step out prior the the tow truck securing it, and an inventory was conducted. The blue lights of Tpr Claprood’s cruiser had attracted a crowd of local residents like months to a flame, so he requested assistance from Sgt Chester Warawka and Tpr Louis Rodriguez in case the crowd became hostile. This situation is not uncommon in certain sections of Springfield and Tpr Claprood recognized a deteriorating situation when she saw it. Upon their arrival, Tpr Claprood conducted the inventory and located a pill bottle in the glove compartment where the passenger was sitting, which contained 22 unprescribed Oxycodone pills. The passenger was placed under arrest for Possession of a Class B Substance as a Subsequent Offense.

Trooper Eric French was out patrolling Route 91 in Holyoke one morning when he stopped a northbound vehicle with Vermont plates with no registration sticker on it, and had a rear end that appeared so weighed down that it  was just barely not scraping the pavement below. While in conversation with the operator, he saw that everyone in the car was visibly nervous, and further observed several saws-all type blades scattered about. Tpr French was aware of several breaking and entering cases in the area where catalytic converters were being cut out of cars at junk yards. Victims had reported that similar saws-all type blades were found at the scene after they were used to cut piping to access the converters. The operator had a shaky story behind his visit to Massachusetts, and what the blades were for. As the conversation and story began smelling fishy, Tpr French requested assistance that arrived in the form of Trooper James Wood of B-6.  Trooper Wood observed an item hanging from a keychain inside the car that is commonly used to secrete drugs. He asked what that was for, where the operator unscrewed it and said he holds change in it. Tpr Wood saw it couldn’t hold anything larger than a penny, and also that it contained a white powder residue all over the inside. After observing this, as well as hearing different stories from every passenger in the car, a search of the car was conducted. The search revealed 19 Catalytic converters, a saws-all, several dozen blades, and other tools of the trade for someone looking to remove catalytic converters in the dark. The items were seized, and Tpr French contacted authorities in Vermont to learn more about the driver and passengers. Open cases for related offenses were revealed in Connecticut, and New York State Police advised that the vehicle Tpr French stopped was wanted in relation to a series of thefts in their state, as well as Connecticut. Tpr French’s lengthy investigation into this matter included trips to Connecticut, where along with CT State Trooper First Class Christopher Cope,  pieced together the crime that the suspects had committed before Trooper French stopped them in Holyoke. Multiple counts of receiving stolen property as well as possession of narcotics followed. Nice job!!

Tpr Paul Kudryk was out sweeping the streets of evil one night when he clocked a vehicle at 76MPH in a posted 45MPH zone. Upon stopping the car, his bat-skills detected all sorts of indicators of an impaired operator, and had him step out to perform some field sobriety tests. He proceeded to fail them, confirming Tpr Kudryk’s suspicions and he placed him under arrest for OUI. Once at the barracks, B-3′s newest guest became uncooperative and belligerent during booking. He pitched a huge fit and claimed he was having difficulty breathing. Tpr Kudryk offered to call him an ambulance to receive treatment for the ailments he was complaining about, but the prisoner demanded Tpr Kudryk take him instead. The demand was declined, and he instead refused to take the breathalyzer test and was charged with OUI- Third Offense.

Tpr Stephen Burgess (B-CAT) was out looking for trouble one day in July when he stopped a vehicle in Springfield after he learned the attached plates were stolen. Conversation with the operator led to exit orders, where Tpr Gregory Spahl arrived to assist. In plain view inside the car was a large fold of cash, which everyone in the car denied owning or knowing where it came from. With several indicators present, the CAT Team braves requested and received the assistance from Tpr Brian Gladu and his four-legged drug vacuum “Dash”. Dash wasted no time and located several bags of a substance believed to be heroin secreted in a hidden compartment. Charges including Use without authority, Possession to Distribute Class A, and receiving a stolen motor vehicle. All of this stemmed from the Trooper checking the vehicle after observing an illegal frame around the rear plate.

Before he defected back to C Troop, Tpr William Kokocinski was patrolling Route 91 in Springfield when he began clocking a motorcycle ahead of him at speeds well over 120 MPH in a posted 65MPH zone. After he recognized the bike operator had no interest in stopping, he followed policy and terminated the attempt to stop it. He radioed SP-Springfield of the description and direction of travel, and let the offender disappear into traffic. Tpr Dominic Ditomasso, working a PAID DETAIL, while on a a day off from SP-Lee, observed a motorcycle and operator matching the description that Tpr Kokocinski observed just under a half hour prior. He stepped into the slow moving travel lane in the construction zone and waved the bike in. The operator complied, and eventually owned up to running from a trooper a few minutes back so he didn’t get a speeding ticket. Not only did he earn the arrest for failing to stop for police, but also a charge of possession of marijuana. Back at SP-Springfield, a check of his criminal history revealed six arraignments, and three prior convictions for possession of the same garbage he possessed when he was arrested this afternoon.

Tpr Amy Waterman was out causing trouble earlier this summer when she stopped a vehicle in Springfield she realized had attached license plates. Conversation with the owner/operator revealed the car was unregistered, so Amy returned to her cruiser to check the driver and call for a tow. Two active arrest warrants were revealed, and Tpr Waterman returned to the car and took the operator into custody.  During an inventory of the car prior to it being towed, Tpr Waterman located an amount of Cocaine and Pepper Spray. He was booked at SP-Springfield and charged with possession of a firearm without a license and possession of a Class B Substance.

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