The State Police Association of Massachusetts
[Memorial to Fallen Officers]

Greetings, and welcome to Western Massachusetts, where the local population continue to make our jobs easier, eventful and entertaining. Like at SP Lee, for example, where a “resident visitor” called the barracks to inquire about his friends’ license, which he claimed was kept by a Trooper during a recent traffic stop. The desk officer, Tpr. Randy Thomas, ran a check and discovered that the inquiring mind was wanted by ICE as a deported felon. The caller was invited to come into the barracks to discuss the issue, where he and his friend were promptly arrested by Tpr. Mark Nowak. His friend was wanted by ICE for overstaying his visit to the US.

Tpr. Evan Breeding was on patrol on Route 8 in Otis one recent night when he stopped a car that was swerving all over the road. Despite the strong smell of alcohol, the half empty case of beer and the other obvious signs of impairment, the driver insisted that he had not had anything to drink. He then apparently attempted to bribe Tpr. Breeding by handing him a coupon instead of his license (it is unknown at this time what the coupon was for or the value of the alleged discount). The driver refused to provide more that his first name and then demanded a lawyer when asked to step out to perform some Field Sobriety Tests (FST’s). Tpr. Daryl Dejordy (SP Lee) arrived to assist as the driver refused to perform any FST’s, preferring to take up a fighting stance. His new attitude only hastened his arrest, adding Disorderly Conduct to his second OUI charge.

Tpr. Jason Macomber was on his way back to SP Shelburne one evening with a prisoner when he observed a highly erratic vehicle on Interstate 91 northbound in Greenfield. Concerned that the female operator was going to cause a crash he went ahead and stopped her, where he was quickly joined by Tpr. Kristin Glanton (SP Shelburne). Jason related is observances and continued with his prisoner while Kristin dealt with the driver. Continuing the trend from the previous story, the woman claimed to have had nothing to drink, despite the very strong smell of alcohol and her atrocious driving. Although she was very unsure about where she was coming from or where she was going but was sure that she hadn’t done anything wrong and seemed confident about her chances at the FST’s. Her confidence was short-lived. She bombed them and was taken into custody, on her fourth OUI charge. This turn of events brought about a change of character as well, where she began to berate Tpr. Glanton over not being able to provide her with a cigarette, calling her some very unkind names, including some that started with the letter “C” and the letter “B”, as well as heavy use of the “F” word, and a few racially motivated comments to round things out. She brought the whole show to a close by trying to rip the bull ring off the wall during booking so that she could “kick the Troopers ass”. This new tirade may have been brought about by the discovery of her crack pipes in her property.

Tpr. Brian Doak was patrolling Interstate 91 in Greenfield at the beginning of his Day shift when he stopped a car for a plate violation. Observing some marijuana debris on the center console he made some pointed inquiries to the two male occupants, who were now showing signs of serious anxiety. Tprs. Walter Dacyczyn, Daniel Jones and Adam Leonczyk arrived from SP Shelburne to assist with searching the occupants and vehicle. Tpr. Jones found a bag of marijuana hidden in the center console. A quantity of plastic baggies containing white powder was discovered hidden in a sneaker in the trunk. Thinking that sneakers were a good place to hide stuff? Didn’t these guys ever hear of Richard Reid?

Tpr. Keller Williams (B Troop CAT Team) was on his way to court in Springfield when he observed a Dodge pick-up roll through a stop sign. Not the most serious of offences, but it was enough to warrant a closer look at the vehicle. He quickly recognized the plate from his stolen car hot-sheet. He activated the blue lights on his semi-marked and was trying to catch up to the truck when it started to speed up in an effort to evade him. But the busy city streets were too much for the female driver and she crashed into a pole. The female operator and her male passenger quickly hopped out and ran off. Keller was able to catch the female and handcuffed her to a fence while he went after the passenger. He was unable to find him but gave a description to a passing Springfield PD cruiser. By the time he got back to the woman she had slipped her cuff and run, but a neighbor was able to tell the Trooper which house she had gone into. He went to the house with a couple of Springfield officers and found her hiding in the backyard. The pregnant prostitute stated that she and her bodyguard/cousin had taken the truck from a potential client after negotiations on the cost of her services collapsed.

Tpr. Williams was kept busy later that week when he stopped a car for an unsafe lane change and recognized the driver as being the same person he had arrested three months prior for a suspended license and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Keller was not surprised to detect the smell of marijuana in the car and asked his old friend about it. The driver put the blame squarely on the shoulders of his passenger, claiming that he had just smoked a blunt. Tprs. Ricky McMillan and Steve Burgess, both of the CAT Team arrived to assist, finding $400 in small bills stashed in the center console. Keller followed his nose to the trunk of the vehicle, finding half a brick of marijuana.

Tpr. Marc Reidy (B Troop CAT Team) stopped a car in Springfield for an expired sticker and got the driver out when he smelled marijuana in the car. As he was conducting a pat-frisk the man quickly turned on Marc and started to hit him, eventually squirming free from his grasp and taking off on foot. Bad idea, seeing as Marc is an accomplished marathon runner. The man decided to see how the Trooper would do in the hurdle event, hopping fences as he crossed backyards, but Marc was right behind him, wearing him down so that he had no energy left for fighting by the time he ran smack-dab into the wall of french- and electric-blue that is Tpr. Greg Spahl. Which is a good thing, seeing as Greg is an accomplished boxer in his own right. A quick shot of OC spray convinced the guy that resistance was futile and he was taken into custody, where a couple of warrants and a quantity if marijuana were determined to be the motivating factors for his fight and flight attitude.

Tpr. Mark Weiner was out doing his thing in the Springfield area one night, taking a leisurely ride up Interstate 291, when he stopped a vehicle for speeding, marked lanes and following too close. Tpr. Weiner activated his blue lights but the car did not stop. A few blasts on the siren got the drivers attention and he stopped right in the middle of the off-ramp. A couple of open beers were the first indication that the two male occupants were having a regular rolling party. Tpr. Weiner then used some highly scientific and legally sound methods to determine that the driver was, what I believe the statutes refer to as, “blotto”. The driver then demanded the opportunity to refute the Troopers opinion, namely by going to the Weiner residence so that the driver could “fuck him up in front of his family”. Citing no legal precedent for such a course of action, Tpr. Weiner went with the traditional route and locked him up. The man continued to be belligerent and uncooperative throughout the booking process. Since he opted to use his phone call to call “Jesus Christ”, it was little surprise to the B-3 Troopers when there was no-one there to pick him up after he was released. The man refused to wait in the lobby and became abusive when Tpr. Matt Simpson demanded that he take a seat, for his own safety, until a taxi came to pick him up. The then bumped his chest into Matt and exited the building. A dose of OC spray and a few Troopers stopped him in his tracks, and he was arrested for the second time that evening.

Tprs. Stephen Gregorczyk and Luis Rodriguez were paired up on a zero-tolerance patrol in Springfield when they stopped a car for speeding and an unsafe lane change. The male passenger was unable to identify himself properly and was subsequently taken out of the car so that the Troopers could conduct a pat-frisk. A bottle containing 100 Oxycontin pills was found in his pocket. Seeing as there was no label or prescription to go along with the pills the operator was arrested and a more complete search of the vehicle commenced, with the help of Tprs. Steve Burgess and Sean Barry from the CAT Team. The search turned up almost five ounces of marijuana and another 178 Alprazolam pills, as well as what appeared to be a record of drug transactions. Tpr. Gene Baxter brought his canine partner to the barracks to have a whiff of the $1,000 bail that a friend brought in, which he not surprisingly hit on, and that was seized as well.

Out on Route 8 in North Adams, Tpr Ryan Dickinson (SP Cheshire) observed a pick-up truck make an illegal u-turn right in front of him one night. To bring more attention to himself the operator negotiated the turn in such a manner as to knock his unsecured ATV out of the bed of the truck, sending it crashing onto the roadway. Ryan activated his blues and pulled in behind the truck and met with the somewhat unsteady driver. When asked how much he’d had to drink the man responded, “I’m not gonna lie to you, I’ve had 6 to 8 and if I blew I would probably be over”. A refreshing change from the standard “two beer” admission, but no points for honesty and FST’s were conducted, and failed. Tpr. Damien Canali (SP Shelburne) arrived with a Portable Breath Tester (PBT), which confirmed all the other observations, and the driver was arrested on his second OUI charge. While the Troopers were conducting an inventory of his unregistered truck he became screaming and kicking in the back of the cruiser, in the process cutting his knee. He then demanded medical treatment for his wounds, in preparation for his counter-suit. After a very uncooperative booking process his girlfriend, who had arrived at the barracks, was informed that bail was set at $1,500. Her response was, “He’s all yours. Enjoy”. Ouch!

Sometimes a relatively straight-forward arrest can turn out to be pretty complicated once you start dealing with the arrestee and their dysfunctional situations, as Tpr. Mark Nowak (SP Russell) found out when he stopped a young man for speeding on a motorcycle one morning in Westfield. The man had a warrant and a little weed so he was arrested and his bike was towed. As part of the booking procedure he was asked about his mental health and indicated that although he had attempted suicide in the past he was not suicidal now. When the kids father called the barracks to ask about posting the $1,000 bail he asked what his son had been driving when he got stopped. When informed that he had been riding a motorcycle the father flipped out, stating that the bike was his and that the kid could go to jail. This news had a very depressing affect on the boy, who then stated repeatedly that he wanted to kill himself. Oh, the human psyche is a fragile thing.

Tpr. Jeff Roberts (SP Russell) was dispatched to the area of Huntington town center on a recent afternoon with a report that an intoxicated female had headed to that area in a borrowed vehicle. Jeff arrived in town in time to see the middle-aged woman tottering out of a liquor store and load up the sedan with her purchases. He pulled in behind her as she bobbed and weaved her way back up Route 112, where he attempted to stop her. She was apparently intent on making her scheduled delivery and keeping the party going because she paid no attention to the lights and siren. She eventually pulled into a variety store further up the road (picking up some munchies, perhaps?) and Jeff had conversation with her. She giggled her way through the FST’s, failing as she went. After she was taken into custody a registry check revealed that she had not renewed her license when it expired. Twenty five years ago! I guess if you don’t have a license you don’t have to worry about losing it.

Up at SP Northampton Tpr. Amy MacLean was in the middle of her Mid shift, observing traffic from the breakdown lane on Interstate 91 in Holyoke, when a vehicle veered over the fog line and almost side-swiped her brand new lo-pro. She pulled the car over to discuss the seriousness of his transgression and discovered that the driver was not entirely to blame. Beer may have contributed to his inability to keep his car in the lane. Failed FST’s confirmed this and he was promptly arrested. Back at the barracks the man refused to comply with the booking process until a certain trooper that he was acquainted with came to the barracks to “support him and vouch that he was a good guy”. He was given the opportunity to call his friend, but didn’t know the number! After several phone calls he gave up and completed the booking, failing the BT test in the process. A small quantity of cocaine was discovered in his pocket during his property inventory. He had no idea how it got there, because he’s such a good guy!

Now, I know you’ve been reading along, patiently waiting for the regular highpoint of the B Troop edition, but you see the end of the section coming up fast and there’s still no mention. Fear not, here’s the mandated B Troop In-The-Book crotch reference for this month. And it comes courtesy of Tpr Bob Wyckoff of SP Northampton, who stopped a couple of young ladies on Interstate 91 in Holyoke for an inspection violation. When asked about the odor of freshly burnt marijuana in the vehicle the driver simply stated that they had just smoked a joint, but it was okay, because they were parked at the time. Not being familiar with that particular loop-hole in the law, Bob went ahead and called Tpr. Amy MacLean (SP Northampton) to the scene to assist with searching the females. During a search of the passenger Amy recovered three baggies of cocaine from the waistband of her underwear. When asked if she had any more she stated that there was another bag but she’d prefer not to retrieve it while standing on the side of the highway. She was taken into custody and transported to the barracks, where the remaining contraband was recovered out of its hiding spot.

And lastly, I try to report stories that highlight new watermarks, such as an arrest for a large amount of drugs, the most warrants or previous OUI convictions. But Tpr. Dan Pinkham (SP Northampton) had an arrest recently that set a standard in an entirely new category: largest arrestee. Dan stopped a car for speeding on I-91 in Whately and smelled fresh marijuana while he was speaking to the operator. Yours truly went up to assist him with taking the three occupants out of the car, one of whom was a rather large young man who positively filled the right front corner of the poor Honda Civic they were in. Dan located a couple of ounces of marijuana in the vehicle and decided that he would summons the female operator, who had no prior convictions, but arrest the two male passengers, who both had priors for distribution. The first passenger was placed in my cruiser and then we stood around trying to figure out how to get this abnormally large eighteen year old into the back of Dan’s sled. I asked the kid how much he weighed and he stated he was 605 lbs! He then fessed up that he was actually 609 lbs. I politely pointed out to him that once you get up to 600 lbs you can stop counting in single digits. I mean, this kid was so big that he could have had a bale of weed in a fold of his gut and we wouldn’t have found it. It was finally decided that there was no way he was going to fit in the back of the cruiser so Tpr. Mike Cutone was called to bring the paddy-wagon up from SP Springfield to transport him back to Northampton. Even with the van it was a job to get him through the back door and he expressed concern that the step might not be strong enough to bear his weight. So there you have it, a new B Troop In-The-Book standard has been set. I have a feeling it will stand for quite a while.

That’s all for this month. Thanks to everyone who submitted stories. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Tpr. Chris Sanchez, the B Troop Investigator, for passing along a lot of the reports that he collects from around the Troop. It makes my job a lot easier. And remember, it’s still better to be In The Book, than in the news.