Latest news with #HolyokeDistrictCourt
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man involved in Springfield excessive force scandal as teen headed to prison in unrelated case
About a decade after teens accused a Springfield police detective of excessive force during a controversial 2016 arrest, one of the teens at the center of the case has been sentenced to prison for a different crime. Now 25, Evdyele Oniel Pabon Flores, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including manslaughter, assault and battery (attempt with firearm) and carrying a firearm without a license, in connection with a 2022 fatal shooting in Holyoke in which he was accused of shooting another man 10 times. Flores was originally charged with murder. On May 30, he was sentenced to 8-11 years in prison with about two years time served. Read more: Embattled former police officer Gregg Bigda files another suit against Springfield After gunshots were fired at the intersection of Pine and Sargeant streets in Holyoke around 8:20 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2022, Holyoke police found two vehicles that appeared to have crashed into one another — but they were empty. On the ground next to the damaged vehicles, police saw a pile of spent shell casings. Police searched the area and found a man lying down in the backyard of a nearby home with a gunshot wound in his stomach. First responders rushed the man, later identified as 49-year-old Chicopee man Luis Ramos, to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. Authorities identified Pabon Flores, who was 21, as the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting. The investigation accused Pabon Flores, who was a passenger in one of the cars found in the crash, of firing more than 10 shots into Ramos, who was the driver of the other car. Detectives charged Pabon Flores with murder in connection with the fatal shooting and he was added to the Massachusetts Most Wanted List in 2023. In April 2023, Pabon Flores turned himself in at Holyoke District Court. Holyoke Police detained Pabon Flores at the courthouse and took him to the city's police station for booking. He was arraigned on the murder charge and was ordered to be held without bail. In 2016, the Springfield government published videos of Springfield narcotics detective Gregg A. Bigda haranguing two boys. 'I'll f---ing kill you in the parking lot ... and I'll stick a f---ing kilo of coke in your pocket and put you away for f---ing 15 years ... I'm not hampered by the truth because I don't give a f--- People like you belong in jail,' he screamed at a 16-year-old. At another point, the police detective said, 'Motherf---er, I'll charge you with killing Kennedy and f---ing make it stick.' 'Who's the kid at the hospital? Look at that [pointing to his own boot]. That's his blood,' he also said. 'If I find out you're lying . . . [pointing to his boot again] that will be your blood on this shoe.' Read more: Federal judge dismisses dueling lawsuits by embattled Springfield cop Gregg Bigda and city The three boys involved in the scandal were identified at trial by their first names — Georgie, 16, Daniel, 15, and Evdyele, 14. Although, Pabon Flores was not in the videos. The Hampden District Attorney's Office confirmed Pabon Flores' recent sentence but did not comment on his connection to the Bigda scandal. In 2016, an officer had left an undercover police Chevy Trailblazer unlocked, unoccupied and with its motor running when the three boys stole it, officials said. Detectives tracked the boys to Palmer after they heard a call about the stolen undercover police car being spotted in Wilbraham in the early-morning hours of Feb. 27, 2016. Police in neighboring communities chased the speeding car into Palmer where the chase stopped but the boys took off on foot. A state police K-9 officer stopped one of the teens and sent him to the hospital with dog bites and other injuries, according to police accounts. In 2018, Bigda was indicted by a federal grand jury for excessive force in connection with punching and kicking the young car theft suspects during the 2016 arrest, two counts of 'abusive interrogation' for threatening to kill and plant drugs on them, plus drafting a false police report, officials said. He faced up to 15 years behind bars if convicted. Read more: Springfield has paid out $877K since January to settle 3 lawsuits claiming police misconduct Daniel testified he saw Bigda repeatedly punch Pabon Flores in the head while the boys were already in handcuffs on the ground. He told jurors Bigda then marched over to him, yelled: 'Welcome to white town' and kicked him in the face. Bigda denied doing either. Prosecutors portrayed Bigda as a racist cop who attacked the Latino boys after they stole an undercover police car left running outside a Springfield pizza shop. However, Bigda lawyer Timothy Flaherty, during his opening and closing statements, argued the government cherry-picked evidence and witnesses to build a skewed case against his client. After jurors deliberated for about nine hours over two days in 2021, Bigda was acquitted on four criminal counts. In 2022, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission denied Bigda's application for certification, Alia Spring, a spokesperson for the commission, said in a statement. Bigda fought back, requesting a review and hearing about the denial. In April 2024, the commission issued its final decision that he was denied certification, Spring said. Bigda is now fighting that in Hampden Superior Court. Read more: Community members say acquittal of Springfield detective Gregg Bigda in police brutality case further erodes trust in police, judicial system However, POST Commission hearing officer, retired Judge Charles J. Hely, stated that the video recording of Bigda's 'behavior in the cells of the Palmer Police Station cannot be disputed.' 'Officer Bigda's threats and abusive behavior toward the fifteen-year-old and sixteen-year-old boys were shocking and inexplicable,' he wrote. Republican reporter Stephanie Barry contributed to this reporting. Religion Notes: June 5, 2025 Springfield first in the state to propose regulations banning 'gas station weed' Holyoke Mall shooting: Should self-defense apply when a bystander dies? Teen runs a mile to escape attacker who dragged him into Springfield park Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two arrested in Holyoke traffic stop connected to shots fired incident
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Two suspects were arrested in Holyoke on Tuesday in connection with a shots fired investigation. Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan stated in a social media post that at approximately 9:55 p.m. on Sunday, officers received a report of shots fired in the area of East Dwight Street and Center Street. Approximately 13 shell casings were located, but no victims or property damage was found. Springfield police seize gun and drugs from suspect found in Hennessy Park Police began an investigation into the incident and identified two suspects, 42-year-old Glenn Jacobs of Holyoke and 20-year-old Xavier Medina of Springfield. Officers were granted a warrant for their arrest. On Tuesday, members of the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force, including Holyoke officers, conducted an unrelated traffic stop at approximately 4:05 p.m. near the intersection of Lyman Street and Open Square Way. Troopers discovered that Jacobs was the driver and Medina was a passenger of the vehicle, and both were arrested. Glenn Jacobs is charged with: Arrest Warrant – Holyoke District Court Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Xavier Medina is charged with: Arrest Warrant – Holyoke District Court Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Holyoke Police arrest man on multiple child rape charges
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A month-long investigation by Holyoke Police detectives has led to the arrest of 45-year-old Luis Rodriguez-Martinez in connection with multiple alleged sexual assaults of a child. Rodriguez-Martinez was taken into custody on Friday, March 14, at approximately 3:45 p.m. at an apartment on Spring Street. His arrest follows an extensive investigation led by Detective Melissa Rex, who obtained a Holyoke District Court arrest warrant for him earlier that day. Holyoke Detectives located Rodriguez-Martinez at 10 Spring Street and placed him under arrest without incident. Rodriguez-Martinez was arraigned in Holyoke District Court, where his bail was set at $25,000. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, authorities have not released further details about the ongoing investigation. Rodriguez-Martinez faces multiple serious charges, including: Dissemination of Obscene Matter to a Minor (2 counts) Intimidation of a Witness (2 counts) Threat to Commit a Crime (2 counts) Aggravated Rape of a Child (4 counts) Rape of a Child with Force (2 counts) Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child Under 14 Engaging in Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18 for a Fee Attempt to Commit a Crime Assault & Battery The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact the Holyoke Police Department. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Two Springfield residents arrested on firearm charges after police were called to Holyoke disturbance
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)—Two Springfield residents were arrested on firearm charges last week after police were called to a disturbance on Chestnut Street in Holyoke. The Holyoke Police Department said that on Wednesday at around 9 p.m., officers were called to 348 Chestnut Street for a disturbance involving a firearm. Upon arrival, the person matching the description of the armed suspect, identified as 25-year-old Raygiovanni Serrano of Springfield, was standing at an open door of a vehicle. Excitement builds as the 72nd Holyoke Saint Patrick's Parade inches closer During the investigation, officers dispersed the crowd and learned that the disturbance allegedly began with two juveniles arguing over social media, and adults became involved. They say that Serrano allegedly threatened to shoot a firearm. Serrano was arrested and charged with threat to commit a crime and assault with a dangerous weapon. He was arraigned in Holyoke District Court on Thursday and released with an electronic monitoring bracelet. The vehicle was also towed from Chestnut Street and on Thursday officers applied for and were granted a search warrant. Detectives found a semi-automatic firearm and additional ammunition. The owner of the car, 21-year-old Idaliamarie Orizal of Springfield, went to the Holyoke Police Department to get it back however, she was arrested on the following charges: Improper Storage of a Firearm Carrying a Firearm without a License Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Police located Serrano on Bartlett Street in Springfield and was arrested for a second time for the following: Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony Improper Storage of a Firearm Carrying a Firearm without a License Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Warrant – Probation Violation WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
