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Police & Fire
Cooking Fire Blamed For Killing Man, Injuring 2 Western Mass Firefighters Cooking Fire Blamed For Killing Man, Injuring 2 Western Mass Firefighters
Cooking Fire Blamed For Killing Man, Injuring 2 Western Mass Firefighters State fire investigators said the fire that killed a Western Mass man on Friday, April 7, was a cooking fire that got out of hand.  Holyoke firefighters were called to the 19 Donlee St. home just after 1:15 p.m. High winds fueled the flames inside the two-story house and kept fire crews at bay for 30 minutes as they tried to beat back the conflagration, the state fire marshal said.  They found the older man dead inside the home once firefighters got in. Officials have not released his name.  Two firefighters received non-life-threatening injuries in the blaze.  “This i…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Alleged Shooter Crashes Porsche Trying To Escape Cops In Western Mass: Police Alleged Shooter Crashes Porsche Trying To Escape Cops In Western Mass: Police
Alleged Shooter Crashes Porsche Trying To Escape Cops In Western Mass: Police A man accused of attempted murder was found hiding under someone's back porch after he crashed his sports car trying to outrun police in Hampden County.  Luis Rodriguez-Burgos, 25, of Holyoke, faces a laundry list of charges that stem from the shooting Thursday evening, April 6, Holyoke police said.  The victim remains in stable condition at an area hospital.  The shooting happened around 5 p.m. near 898 Main Street. Witnesses told police the shooter sped away in a red Porsche, authorities said. When officers spotted the sportscars nearby on High Street, the driver, Rodriguez-Burgos, floo…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Moved Up To Most Wanted: Stakes Raised For Western Mass Homicide Suspect Moved Up To Most Wanted: Stakes Raised For Western Mass Homicide Suspect
Moved Up To Most Wanted: Stakes Raised For Western Mass Homicide Suspect Police have escalated their attempts to locate the man wanted for a homicide in Holyoke, officials say. Evdyeke Oniel Pabon Flores, a 21-year-old man wanted for the December 7, 2022 murder of 49-year-old Luis Ramos, was added to a list of most wanted fugitives on Thursday, April 6 by Massachusetts State Police. A state-wide alert was issued warning the public of Flores on Wednesday, March 29. Police warn that no one should approach Flores, who is considered armed and dangerous. Read more: ARMED & DANGEROUS: Statewide Search Launched For Western Mass Homicide Suspect An active straigh…

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by Morgan Gonzales
Police & Fire
Helmet Attack: Western Mass Man Gets Up To 6-1/2 Years For Beating Driver Nearly To Death Helmet Attack: Western Mass Man Gets Up To 6-1/2 Years For Beating Driver Nearly To Death
Helmet Attack: Western Mass Man Gets Up To 6-1/2 Years For Beating Driver Nearly To Death A Hampden County man convicted of beating a driver so severely that he ended up in the hospital in critical condition will spend at least five years behind bars, authorities announced on Thursday, March 30.  Juan Rodriguez-Menier, of Holyoke, was found guilty on two counts of armed assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury last month in the July 2021 attack, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office said. A judge on Wednesday sentenced Rodriguez-Menier to five to six-and-a-half years in prison.  Rodriguez-Menier was accused of attacking a mot…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
ARMED & DANGEROUS: Statewide Search Launched For Western Mass Homicide Suspect ARMED & DANGEROUS: Statewide Search Launched For Western Mass Homicide Suspect
Armed & Dangerous: Statewide Search Launched For Western Mass Homicide Suspect A state-wide alert has been issued warning the public of a 21-year-old man who is wanted for shooting a 49-year-old man to death.  Evdyeke Oniel Pabon Flores is wanted on an active straight warrant, with full extradition, for murdering Luis Ramos on December 7, 2022, in Holyoke, according to the Massachusetts State Police.  Police officers received reports of gunshots in the area of Pine and Sargeant Streets in Holyoke and arrived to find Ramos suffering from a gunshot wound.  The State Police Detective Unit for Hampden County is seeking EVDYEKE ONIEL PABON FLORES, 21, who is wanted f…

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by Morgan Gonzales
Police & Fire
Woman Stabbed At Dunkin Donuts: Springfield Police Bust Holyoke Man In Attack Woman Stabbed At Dunkin Donuts: Springfield Police Bust Holyoke Man In Attack
Woman Stabbed At Dunkin Donuts: Springfield Police Bust Holyoke Man In Attack A woman was stabbed at a Dunkin Donuts in Hampden County on Tuesday, March 28, and police say they've captured the man responsible.  Juan Rivera, 34, of Holyoke, is charged with the attack at the store on Main Street in Springfield, police said.  Police were walled to the Dunkin Donuts just before 11:30 a.m. to reports that a woman had been stabbed. It's unclear where she was wounded. Paramedics rushed her to Baystate Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.  Officers quickly relayed information on the suspect and police spotted Rivera walking nearby. They found tw…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Suspicious Package Leads To Evacuation In Western Mass Suspicious Package Leads To Evacuation In Western Mass
Suspicious Package Leads To Evacuation In Western Mass A suspicious package in Hampden County forced officials to order an evacuation late Thursday night, March 23, authorities said.  Firefighters were called to the area near Main and James streets in Holyoke when someone found the package around 11 p.m., the Holyoke Fire Department said. Residents in that area were asked to leave until police could figure out if it was dangerous.  Massachusetts State troopers were called to investigate and later determined it posed no threat. Residents were allowed to return home just after midnight, the fire department said.

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Two Injured In Western Mass Car Crash; Fire Department Cut Driver From Car Two Injured In Western Mass Car Crash; Fire Department Cut Driver From Car
Two Injured In Western Mass Car Crash; Fire Department Cut Driver From Car Firefighters in Hampden County had to cut someone out of their car following a crash in Holyoke over the weekend.  Crews were called to the intersection of Northampton Street and Whiting Farms Road just before 10 p.m. Sunday, March 19, after a truck crashed into a car, the Holyoke Fire Department said.  Firefighters had to break the windshield of one vehicle to get the injured out after the wreck. Though all injuries were considered minor, officials said.  Holyoke police are investigating the cause of the crash. 

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Son Indicted In Slaying Of His Father, Trying To Burn Down Western Mass Home: DA Son Indicted In Slaying Of His Father, Trying To Burn Down Western Mass Home: DA
Son Indicted In Slaying Of His Father, Trying To Burn Down Western Mass Home: DA A 35-year-old Hampshire County man was indicted on Monday, March 20, in the murder of his father and attempting to burn his body in a house fire, authorities said.  Craig R. Weise, of South Hadley, is accused of killing his father, David Weise Sr., 70, in September, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. He faces a charge of murder and attempted arson of a dwelling, the prosecutor said. He is expected to be arraigned on April 3.  Police found David Weise Sr.'s body at his home at 37 Lawn Street on Sept. 9 after a healthcare agency called officers to request a …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
House Fire: Minor Injuries In Early Morning Holyoke Blaze House Fire: Minor Injuries In Early Morning Holyoke Blaze
House Fire: Minor Injuries In Early Morning Holyoke Blaze Firefighters in Hamden County were quick to the scene of an early morning house fire after a 911.  Holyoke firefighters arrived at the 160 Pine Street home just before 5 a.m. in the driving snow when a neighbor noticed the house next door was on fire, authorities said. Despite crews best efforts the high winds pushed the flames onto a nearby home.  Crews were able to get the blaze under control after a short period and rescued a resident of the first home who had minor smoke inhalation injuries, authorities said. They were taken to an area hospital for treatment. 

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Parking Bans In Effect For Central, Western Mass Cities, Towns Parking Bans In Effect For Central, Western Mass Cities, Towns
Parking Bans In Effect For Central, Western Mass Cities, Towns As much as 2 feet of snow fell overnight Monday, March 13, through Tuesday morning, leaving some roads impassable and knocking out power to thousands.  Because of the nor'easter's damage, several cities and towns in Central and Western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans.  Editor's Note: This list will be continually updated.  Franklin County Greenfield — A parking ban is in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday  Hampden County Chicopee — A parking ban is in effect from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. That includes main and secondary roads.  Holyoke — No parking is allowed…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
20 LBs Of Coke, $100K In Cash, Guns: Drug Ring Bust Nabs 8 In Springfield, Police Say 20 LBs Of Coke, $100K In Cash, Guns: Drug Ring Bust Nabs 8 In Springfield, Police Say
20 LBs Of Coke, $100K In Cash, Guns: Drug Ring Bust Nabs 8 In Springfield, Police Say A multi-organizational investigation disrupted a drug ring in Western Massachusetts over a month where police arrested eight people and seized millions worth of drugs, guns, and more than $100,000 cash, authorities said.  The arrested began on Jan. 27 and continued through Feb. 17, Massachusetts State Police said in a Wednesday, March 8, news release. During a series of several raids, officers and agents found 9.5 kilograms of cocaine, 2.3 kilos of fentanyl packaged to look like heroin, 111,2000 baggies, 28 grams of fentanyl pills, 18 pounds of marijuana, $104,000 in cash, authorities said.…

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by Josh Lanier