Mobile Phone Charging Station

Amherst community members are welcome to come to the Amherst Police Department lobby @ 111 Main Street, to charge their mobile phone and mobile devices. Several power strips have been set up in the police department lobby to assist community members with this important service. The police department lobby is open 24 hours.

Please, do not call the Police Department or Communication Center with questions regarding this service as the telephone lines must be kept open for emergency calls.

Statement from Town Manager John Musante

Here is the text from John Musante's 12:30 Statement
"Good afternoon, this is Amherst Town Manager John Musante at 12:30p.m. on Monday October 31st with an emergency update on the winter storm. A Town and statewide state of emergency remains in effect. Western MA Electric Company reports some 63% of Amherst is still without power, however power is now being restored in stages including most of the Town center, University Drive, and College Street. WMECO reports that full restoration to all parts of Town is likely to take multiple days.For safety reasons Halloween Trick or Treating is postponed for tonight, but the Town encourages the Amherst community to enjoy Trick or Treating THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6.
A Regional Red Cross Emergency Shelter is open at Smith Vocational High School located on Route 9 just west of Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. The shelter can serve both people and their pets. Stay alert for downed power lines. We also ask you to conserve water and use only what's necessary.Thank you for your cooperation and patience."

Man Arrested After Brandishing Firearm

On October 13, 2011 at approximately 11:30PM, several Amherst Police Officers responded to the parking lot located behind the English Pub, 15 East Pleasant Street, for the report of a man with a gun. Officers located Jamie A. Adames at the scene and he was subsequently arrested.


The investigation revealed that Adames had been a patron in the establishment and had been asked to leave. Adames then threatened an employee with a hand gun that he pulled from his waistband. Employees fought with Adames to gain control of the firearm until officers could arrive.

A loaded 9mm pistol was found at the scene. No shots were reported to have been fired and no major injuries were reported.

Jamie A. Adames, Age 21
3 Fulton Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
Charges: Assault with Dangerous Weapon
Possession of a Firearm While Intoxicated
Disorderly Conduct

Adames was held at the Hampshire County House of Corrections in lieu of $10, 000 cash bail and was be arraigned at the Eastern Hampshire District Court this Friday morning.

Child Passenger Car Seat Installations

The Amherst Police Department is committed to the safety of our children. Motor vehicle crashes pose a tremendous risk for children. When properly installed, child safety seats reduce the risk of death in a motor vehicle crash by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Safety belts reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a motor vehicle crash by up to 50%. This is where the Amherst Police Department can help.

The Amherst Police Department conducts Child Passenger Car Seat Inspections on the 3rd Saturday of each month. The next schedule inspection day is Saturday, October 15, 2011, by appointment only. Open to all community members, our certified technicians will thoroughly inspect child passenger car seats for wear and effectiveness and install them properly to assure the safest ride for our children. To schedule a 30 minute appointment either e-mail the Amherst Police Department or call 413-259-3355.

The Amherst Police Department has received funding from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Highway Safety Division for the equipment necessary to complete the inspections and installations. Questions regarding this program can be forwarded to Officer Felipe Feliciano via email or call (413) 259-3000.

Arrest Made in 2 house burglaries

On October 5, 2011 at approximately 6:35 PM, Amherst Police officers arrested Aiidan Gibbons. The arrest occurred on Cottage Street and made pursuant to an arrest warrant issued from the Eastern Hampshire District Court.
The warrant was issued after Gibbons was identified as the suspect in two burglaries that occurred in Amherst on September 17, 2011. Several other residential burglaries were reported to the Amherst Police at that time and remain under investigation. A sample of items taken during these crimes is electronics and jewelry.
Additional charges may be sought against Gibbons as the investigation continues.

Aiidan Gibbons, Age 26
165 Summer Street #32
Amherst, MA 01002
Charges: Breaking & Entering in Daytime (2 counts)
Larceny over $250 (2 counts)
Destruction of Property less than $250


Gibbons was held at the Hampshire County House of Correction in lieu of $500 cash bail. He will be arraigned at the Eastern Hampshire District Court today. Questions regarding this can be forwarded to Detective Tina Knightly at 413-259-3015.

Lt. Young Receives SAVED BY THE BELT Award

Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone is pleased to announce that Lt. Ron Young was recently presented with the Amherst Police Department's Saved by the Belt Award.

Lt. Young, who has been a police officer since 1987, is the Officer in Charge of the Detective Bureau. On September 20th, 2011 Lt. Young was responding to a bank robbery on Belchertown Road and had received information that the suspects had fled in a vehicle on Route 9 heading eastbound. Lt. Young’s vehicle was forced off the roadway when avoiding a vehicle that had merged into his travel lane. In successfully avoiding a head-on collision with this other vehicle, Lt. Young’s vehicle struck a utility pole. Because he had his seatbelt on, Lt. Young was able to walk away from the crash with only minor abrasions from the air bag.

Vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for police officers for the past 13 years, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Lt. Young was definitely SAVED BY THE BELT!