Tuesday, October 28, 2014

DUI Dishonor Roll

You drink, you drive, you lose

These days when almost everybody -- including grandparents -- have a smart phone, the police rather routinely get tips about "erratic drivers".

Many of them do not pan out, but APD reacts to them the same way AFD reacts to a "still alarm" (automated alarm, usually false):  as though it were the real thing.

But when a call comes in from a neighboring police department regarding an erratic driver that is the equivalent of an AFD "box alarm," where the majority of the time it's the real deal.

On Sunday night from the time Dispatch informed a patrol officer of a report of an erratic driver coming from Belchertown into Amherst via their police department it took less than ten minutes for three patrols cars to corral a BMW erratically piloted by Charles Peters, age 21.


Charles Peters, 21, before Judge Payne Monday morning (case continued 12/2)

Nice teamwork.

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UMass Police also took a potential killer off the road for Driving Under the Influence and with an "open container" of alcohol in the vehicle with him (although the clever boy had it disguised in a water bottle.

Kenneth Sullivan, age 19, before Judge Payne Monday morning. (case continued to 12/15)
 
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UPDATE (before I even publish the original):


 Ann Whalen Apartment, Kellogg Avenue 10:20 a.m.

AFD responded to Ann Whalen Apartments in town center for what originally went out as a "still alarm" called in by the alarm company, but then quickly became a "box alarm" when smoke was observed coming out a 3rd floor window.

 Engines 1 & 2 on scene immediately.  Engine 3 told to "stand down"

Fortunately it was nothing major (pot left on stove).  Very fortunate.

 Assistant Chief Stromgren requesting driver not run over hose

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad everyone is ok.

It should probably be evacuated anyway because the building is an "ugly" and "prisonlike" 5-story brick building.

If that's reason enough to oppose the Carriage Shops redevelopment, it should be enough to get this house of ill-repute shut down too.

Right?

Right!

Larry Kelley said...

As a matter of fact, I did recognize a few residents from Ann Whalen at the Planning Board meeting last week.

Anonymous said...

Any idea on the manpower status when this call came in?

Larry Kelley said...

I'm guessing the usual too few 8. Since it quickly became a box alarm off duty personnel were automatically called in.

Anonymous said...

What's going on with the missing amherst teen?

Larry Kelley said...

They are still in search mode.

APD was at Wentworth Farm conservation area a few hours ago, and I heard Mt. Sugarloaf was also searched.

Nina Koch said...

Larry, since you monitor public safety communications so closely, can you please post anything as soon as you hear it? I am so so worried. I saw a large number of cars at the base of Sugarloaf at 6:15 this morning but I didn't know why they were there.

I also hope that people will take a week off from lambasting the school. We just need to concentrate on the safe return of this young man.

Larry Kelley said...

Will do.

But they are using their computer texting and cell phones a lot over the past few hours rather than radio traffic.

Not a good sign.

Anonymous said...

Kids been found, let the lambasting carry on.

Nina Koch said...

Where do you see that he has been found? Do you think this is some kind of a joke?

Is it true that he's been found? If not, you're really cruel.

Larry Kelley said...

Ch 40 is reporting it and I got it from a single other source.

Nina Koch said...

that is such good news. really a relief.

Nina Koch said...

are you sure it's true? it's not on the APD Facebook page. wouldn't they update that right away?

Was the New Haven thing a mistake?

Nina Koch said...

Pretty irresponsible for a TV station not to wait for positive verification before airing something like that. That's a really big mistake to make.

Larry Kelley said...

Yes.

I had what I thought was a second independent knowledgeable source but turns out they got it from them.

Forgot to ask the oldest question in the book: "How do you know that"?

Nina Koch said...

anything new? were they searching new areas today?

Larry Kelley said...

No, nothing new. I drove all around Echo Hill this afternoon (after working out at HAC) and did not see any sign of State PD.

Nothing at all on the scanner via APD but I think it's because State PD has pretty much taken over the investigation.

Nina Koch said...

They found him. I just posted the press release on high school home page.

Larry Kelley said...

Yes, sorry I forgot to post it here but had a journo friend of mine post to my Facebook last night.

Great news. (Which should travel fast).