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SPD faces variety of crime

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD So what are the challenges the Springfield Police Department are facing on a daily basis? These incident reports supplied by Sgt. John Delaney give an inside look at what the police deal with on a daily basis:



April 22: Victim was walking on Northampton Ave. near at Wilbraham Road. (The victim was identified as Jerry Alexander Hughes, age 20, of 94 Northampton Ave.) The victim stated that while he was walking he heard a gunshot and realized he was shot in the back. The victim saw a dark blue Jeep Cherokee drive away. The victim then walked to 42 Andrews St. where some friends rushed him to Baystate Medical Center.

Investigating officers talked with the victim at the hospital. He insisted his name was Jonathan Borges. Detectives later recognized him as Hughes and that he was wanted for an outstanding Parole Violation Warrant.

The bullet did not hit any vital organs and was lodged too close to the spinal cord to be removed. He was treated, released and arrested.

Investigating officers determined that the shooting was "gang related." The reason for the shooting is an ongoing feud between the Sycamore Street Posse and the Eastern Ave. Posse.



April 22: At 8:10 p.m. a 20-year-old female mother was walking her seven-month-old son in a baby stroller on Belmont Avenue near Keith Street. An unknown Hispanic male described as 5'10", mid-thirties, wearing a dark long sleeved hooded sweatshirt and a blue baseball cap and blue jeans approached her. This unknown male put a knife to her side and stated, "Give me all your money." The victim gave this thug her jewelry, gold chain and bracelet, her camera and cell phone. The robber then ran down Keith Street. The victim and her baby were not injured. Officers Jason Sleeper and Sean Murphy are investigating the case.



April 23: At 1:45 a.m. officers David Arroyo, Anthony Sowers, Eric Podgurski and Richard Ward responded to Filio's Auto Sales, 890 Boston Rd., for two subjects breaking into a yellow Chevy Corvette. When officers arrived the suspects ran down Brandon Avenue. Officers established a perimeter surrounding the neighborhood.

One suspect was spotted and he ran towards Avery Street into a wooded area. The suspect was found lying on the ground. Recovered were tools used in breaking into cars. They also had the use of "lookouts" who were more than likely listening to a police scanner. Witnesses stated that the duo received a phone call prior to the police arriving. When they answered the phone they scurried out of the lot. They were attempting to start the Corvette and get it out of the lot.

Luis Rafael Santiago, age 36, of 65 Grand St., was arrested on charges of breaking and entering night time with intention to commit a felony. The other suspect was not arrested. Investigating officers state that other arrests will take place.



April 23: At 8 p.m. a 27-year-old victim was sitting on steps located at 153 Catherine St. in the city's Mason Square area. A subject described as a light skinned black or Hispanic male in his teens, about 5'6", skinny, wearing a green-hooded sweatshirt and red pajama type pants. This suspect walked up to the victim, said something he could not understand and removed a black handgun from his shirt area, pointed it at the victim and shot point blank, striking the victim once in the right shin, exiting out his calf. Detectives Moises Zanazanian and William Kelley responded and are investigating. The victim is not cooperating and the shooting is believed to be gang related.



April 24: At 1:15 a.m. officers Ray Gonzalez, Michael Mitchell and Darrin Edwards arrested the following two suspects: Timothy B. Callahan, age 26, of 47 Gamache Drive in Ludlow, and Joey D. Fitzgerald, age 31, of 35 Healy St., Indian Orchard, on the charges of larceny of a motor vehicle (motorcycle) and possession of burglary tools.

Prior to the arrest, the victim of the motorcycle theft was home on White Street in when a neighbor awoke him stating that two subjects driving a white van had just stolen his 2000 Yamaha 2000 YZFR1, with a custom blue metallic paint, airbrushed with a checkered flag and a Playboy bunny.

The neighbor stated that he observed two white males loading the motorcycle into the white van with long boards and rolling it into the back. The men had bolt cutters and tools. As the victim and neighbor were talking the same van drove by and the victim jumped in his car and followed the van. He called the police on his cell phone telling the dispatchers he was behind the suspected van.

The driver became aware of the victim following him and started to flee at a high rate of speed. The victim chased the thieves across the city, onto Interstate 91 and through downtown while telling the cops where he was via cell phone. The van then drove up Pearl Street where officer pulled the van over right in front of the police station at 130 Pearl St. The motorcycle thieves were then arrested and "walked" right into the waiting jail cells.