By Nicole Sequino, Berkshire Eagle (Massachusetts)
NORTH ADAMS, Ma. - North Adams Police yesterday apprehended a fugitive wanted by the state Parole Board for crimes involving assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, possession of a hypodermic needle and several outstanding warrants for other violations.
Jason Cwalinski, 19, was caught around 3 p.m. in the city, said Police Director Michael P. Cozzaglio. He was taken to the Berkshire County House of Correction in Pittsfield, where he will be held until his arraignment on Dec. 22, officials said.
Search began Monday
The search started Monday at 4:14 p.m., when the Parole Board alerted police that Cwalinski had again violated his probation and was believed to be in North Adams.
Around 4:30 p.m., police spotted Cwalinski running into a wooded area near the Hoosac Tunnel and called in the Lanesboro Police Department’s K-9 unit for assistance, said Cozzaglio. They did not locate Cwalinski until the next afternoon, he said.
Cwalinski was wanted for an alleged assault on a North Adams police officer during a party at a Cliff Street apartment in March. Police had dispatched two officers to the party for noise complaints. One officer recognized Cwalinski as a man wanted for violating probation twice and attempted to take him into custody. Cwalinski struggled with the officer and tried to flee, but the two officers captured him.
At the time of that arrest, two warrants dating to November 2003 were already outstanding for Cwalinski’s arrest after he broke the terms of his probation twice.
Cwalinski had violated probation after being convicted of possession of heroin, OxyContin and a hypodermic needle in a May 31, 2002, incident in Adams. He also violated probation after being convicted of assault and battery and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot and a baseball bat) for a June 16, 2003, incident in North Adams.
‘Wrong place at wrong time’
While searching for Cwalinski on Monday night, officers also noticed a man driving erratically in a nearby parking lot, said Cozzaglio. Joseph H. Segala, 23, of 306 Union St., Apt. 5, North Adams, attempted to speed off in his car when officers approached him, but was thwarted by the slippery pavement, said Cozzaglio.
Officers arrested Segala and charged him with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful attaching of a number plate, having an uninsured motor vehicle, having no inspection sticker, having an unregistered motor vehicle and failing to stop for police.
“Basically, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” added Cozzaglio.