Granby Police Department Blog

 On November 22, 2010 at approximately 9:31 pm Granby Police, Fire and Ambulance Personnel were dispatched to the area of 414 East State St. for a reported motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival officers discovered a single motor vehicle had left the travel lane and crashed in to a utility pole. The female driver of the vehicle, whose name is being withheld pending the family being notified, had to be extricated from the vehicle by Granby Fire personnel. She was then transported by Granby Ambulance personnel to Baystate Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The crash is being investigated by Officer Michael Ulmer and Officer Sean Gallagher. 

On November 22, 2010 at approximately 10: 41 AM Granby Police were dispatched to a breaking and entering that just occurred at a residence on East State Street.  The caller stated that a suspect had just sped from the area in a white convertible headed southbound on Route 202.  Officers responded to speak with the caller and retrieved a better description of the suspect, the vehicle and the items that had been stolen from the residence.  Within minutes of the initial call, officers located a vehicle and an operator who matched the description.  The vehicle was initially located two miles from the residence and headed in the same direction as the witness had stated. The witness was able to identify the suspect, 51 year old Edward Eaton from 133 Jabish Street in Belchertown, as the party he saw at the residence.  Officers searched the vehicle that Eaton was driving and located several items (money and jewelry) that were stolen from the residence.  The search of the vehicle also revealed a guitar that was stolen from a house break in Belchertown.  Mr. Eaton was placed under arrest and transported to the police station for processing.  He is charged with breaking and entering in the day time with the intent to commit a felony, larceny of property valued over $250 and receiving stolen property over $250.  Mr. Eaton was transported to the Eastern Hampshire District Court for arraignment. 

Sergeant Mark Smith, Sergeant Kevin O’Grady, Patrolman Jason Richard and Patrolman James White were all involved in the investigation.

On November 15, 2010 at approximately 12:35PM Granby Police, Fire, and Ambulance personnel responded to the area of 84 Pleasant St. for a motor vehicle crash that involved two vehicles. Callers reported that one of the vehicles was on fire. Emergency personnel responded and found two vehicles had collided in the southbound lane. They were also informed that motorists who passed by the crash had extinguished the fire. Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Belchertown also responded to assist. South Hadley Fire Districts 1 and 2 were also called for assistance. The initial investigation showed that the driver of a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero had run off the road and struck a guardrail. The Oldsmobile then crossed over the center lines and collided with a 1999 Chevrolet Prism. The operator of the Oldsmobile was removed from the vehicle by emergency medical workers and transported to the hospital. The name of the operator is being withheld pending the notification of family. The operator’s condition is unknown. The operator of the Chevrolet Prism, Shannon Curran, was transported to the hospital for treatment. A child passenger in her vehicle was also transported to the hospital for observation. Personnel from the Massachusetts State Police Collision and Reconstruction Section were called to assist in the accident investigation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

On October 22, Granby Police, Fire and Ambulance personnel responded to the Granby Junior Senior High School after being alerted by school staff that a note had been found threatening that a bomb was in the building.   The students and staff were evacuated from the building and eventually brought to another school. Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Belchertown assisted with the incident.  Personnel from the Massachusetts State Police Hazardous Device Unit also responded to assist with clearing the building.  The students were dismissed early.  Police began to investigate the  origin of the note.

The investigation lead police to request a search warrant for writing samples from the school.  The warrant was issued from the Eastern Hampshire District Court on November 3rd and served at the school on November 4^th .  The investigation included numerous interviews and the services of a hand writing analyst.  Information collected during the investigation, along with the results of the handwriting analysis, lead police to request an arrest warrant for the suspect.

On November 10, 2010, the arrest warrant was issued.  Pursuant to the warrant, police arrested 17 year old Ashley Funk of 340 East Street, South Hadley.  Funk has been charged with Ch 269 Sec 14- Communicating a false bomb threat. Funk was processed and transported to the Eastern Hampshire District Court for arraignment.

Sergeant Mark Smith, Detective Barbara Fenn and School Resource Officer James White conducted the investigation.

Halloween is just around the corner and the Granby Police Department would like to provide you with some valuable safety tips for the upcoming holiday.  Below is a link to the RadKids safety flyer.

http://www.radkids.org/pdf/radkids_on_Halloween_safetyBW.pdf

On October 17, 2010 at approximately 2:14 p.m., Granby Police received a 911 call to report a motor vehicle roll-over crash on Chicopee St.. Granby Fire and Ambulance personnel also responded to the single vehicle crash. The operator of the vehicle, Joanne Rivest of Belchertown, was the only person in the vehicle. She was transported to Holyoke Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation by Patrolman Michael Ulmer and Patrolman Sean Gallagher.

The Police Departmwnt was notified today that we have received a Secure our Scolls grant in the amount of  $14910. The grant, written by School Resource Officer James White,  will pay for the installation of a new intercom system in the East Meadow School.  The current system is outdated and does not function well, making communication in an emergency extremely diffuicult.

Effective Thursday9/30/10 it will be illegal to text while operting a motor vehicle. It is also illegal for anyone under age 18 to use a cell phone or any other electronic device ( inlcuding hands free cell pbones)  there are exceptions for emergencies.

Saturday 9/11/10, at 11:59Pm I officially retired as Chief of Police in the Town. I became a Police Officer in 1975, starting as a “summer special” with the Orleans Police Department.  My full-time career began there a year later and I was offered the position as Chief of Police here in Town in 1987.

The last 23 years have been very rewarding. It has been my privilege to work under 8 different Selectmen and 3 different Town Administrators. All have been supportive of the P0lice Department, making my job much easier. It has also been my privilege to work with some very dedicated, professional individuals here on the Department. You will not find a better group of individuals that those that work or this Town. I thank them and admire their integrity,  dedication, and professionalism.

The Department is in good hands. Lt. Al Wishart has been named acting Chief of Police. He and his family live here in Town. He has risen through the ranks from the Auxiliary all the way to the top. I am confident that he will be appointed to the position on a permanent basis and that the Department will flourish under his guidance. I wish him the best of luck.

We now have a new facility of which the entire Town can  be very proud. Open house Saturday was  huge success.  We thank you for providing us with such a  fine complex . We look forward to working  and sharing resources with the capable and dedicated men and women of the Granby Fire Department.

Finally, I would like to thank the residents of the Town for making this such a  desirable location live, work and  raise a family. This is truly our town’s finest asset. Thank all of you for your support and friendship. I look forward to remaining a viable member of the community.

Chief Barry

On September 10, 2010 at approximately 08:23, officers of the Granby Police Department served an arrest warrant at 9 Jackielyn Circle. The defendant, Mr. Sean Allen, age 24, of the same address is being charged with 3 counts of rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years old, and assault and battery. The warrant was requested after an investigation was conducted by the Granby Police Department. The investigation was conducted by Detective Barbara Fenn. After being processed at the police station, Mr. Allen was transported to the Eastern Hampshire District Court, in Belchertown, where he was arraigned on the charges. Mr. Allen was held without the right to bail until Tuesday, September 14^th when he is scheduled to appear back in court.