UPDATE: Suspect in North Adams Walmart Stabbing Turns Himself In

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Updated on 02042025 at 1 p.m. — A suspect in a stabbing at Walmart on Monday has turned himself in to police.

Interim Police Chief Mark Bailey reported that Roland Hernandez, 41, of Pittsfield, surrendered to the North Adams Police Department on Feb. 3, 2025, around 9 p.m. He was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and was brought to Northern Berkshire District Court the following morning at approximately 10 a.m.

The incident occurred on Monday, Feb. 3, around 4 p.m. when officers responded to a fight at the department store and found a victim with stab wounds. The victim was transported by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

Following the incident, police issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for a black 2019 Hyundai Tucson registered in Massachusetts, warning officers that the suspect may have been armed with a knife. A second individual who left the scene on foot was also sought, though their involvement remains unclear.

A witness reported seeing the victim covered in blood from an apparent wound to the chest or abdomen while being treated by Northern Berkshire EMS.

Images posted to Facebook but since deleted show a white man with a mohawk hairdo with no shirt on and wearing only green pants and shoes outside the store. He's holding his hand below his neck and has blood dripping down his chest and covering his pants. He's carrying what appears to be a shirt and a coat or jacket. He's standing and walking around. 

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are searching for a suspect in a stabbing at Walmart this afternoon. 
 
Officers responded to a fight at the department store around 4 p.m. on Monday and found the victim, who was taken to the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield by ambulance. 
 
Police are currently seeking a black 2019 Hyundai Tucson registered in Massachusetts that left the scene. A BOLO was posted at 4:55 p.m. by Berkshire County dispatch to all units apprising them to use caution.
 
"The party may be in possession of a knife. ... stop and hold and contact North Adams Police Department," according to the post. 
 
Police were also looking earlier for another person who left the area on foot, but it's not clear if this individual was involved. 
 
A witness driving by the scene at Walmart said someone was covered with blood from an apparent wound to their chest or abdomen and was being treated by Northern Berkshire EMS. 

Tags: stabbing,   

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Letter: Vote No on Article 13 at Dalton Town Meeting

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

On May 5, the voters of the Town of Dalton will be asked to vote on 31 Articles at the annual Town Meeting. I encourage all voters attending to vote "No" on Article 13.

Article 13 reads:

"To see if Town will rescind the vote taken under Article 1 of the May 1,2017 Annual Town Meeting authorizing the demolition of the old Dalton High School and the sale of the property for the redevelopment for houses in accordance with the Zoning By-Laws of the Town at this site; or take any other action in relation thereto."
(TWO-THIRDS VOTE REQUIRED)

The town did demolish the old Dalton High School. However the site was never re-developed for building lots as voted for by the voters of Dalton.

To the voters who originally voted on May 1, 2017, annual town meeting your vote meant nothing, if it can be changed so easily. So, if voters vote for something at the upcoming town meeting, someone could petition for a special town meeting and rescind that voting result. Doesn't hardly seem right.

The intent of changing the original vote is to the use the site to erect a new ridiculous 13,000 square foot, ten million plus dollar police station. Which the Town doesn’t mention in the text of Article 13. There are more viable alternate plans for a new police station that would cost far less and make a lot more sense.

Why would the town build a police station in the middle of a residential area anyways? If I were a resident in the area I would be outraged.

Why would the town give up six building lots? How much money will the Town lose by not selling these lots, not to mention the tax revenue that could be collected. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? I don’t know why the Town has not developed the building lots like it was supposed to. It’s been eight years since the vote in 2017.

Keep in mind, regardless of what the site will be used for, the site will require millions of dollars to address the repair and upgrade of the Walker Brook culvert system that runs under the site. So, you can add that to the cost of a new police station.

Unfortunately, if you are eligible voter in the Town of Dalton and are not able or do not attend annual town meeting you will not be able to vote on this important article or any other article in the warrant. The town gets to pick your pocket and decide things that affect you without the your vote. This voter discrimination really needs to stop. After all this is the 21st century not the 18th. Of the 4,500 plus registered voters, the town meetings historically are attended by less the 200 voters. Two hundred voters is not 2/3 of 4,500 voters. Why should 200 voters be able to decide the fate of the other 4,300 voters?

I hope the voters attending the May 5 Dalton annual town meeting will vote a resounding "NO" on Article 13.

Bruce Lester
Dalton, Mass. 

 

 

 

 

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