Man Charged After Investigation Involving Several House Burglaries

Amherst Police investigators have sought charges for receiving stolen property against Adam Gamble of Belchertown. The charges follow an investigation involving several house burglaries that occurred during September in Amherst. Gamble was found to be in possession of stolen items from those burglaries, specifically electronics and a computer.


A warrant issued for Mr. Gamble’s arrest from the Eastern Hampshire District Court. Gamble surrendered himself to the Court yesterday afternoon.

Adam G. Gamble, Age 28
633 Federal Street
Belchertown, Massachusetts (LKA)

Charges: Receiving Stolen Property Over $250 (2 counts)

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.

Free Gun Locks for Community Members

As we are committed to the safety of our community, and especially our children, the Amherst Police Department will provide free gun locks to any community member without proper gun locks. With the hunting season upon us, gun owners are reminded that Massachusetts General Law requires all firearms to be locked when not under the owner’s immediate control. By providing the free distribution of gun locks to the community, we hope to encourage gun owners to practice safe and responsible gun ownership and storage. Community members may come by the Amherst Police Department, at any time, to obtain a free cable-style gun lock.

Questions regarding this program may be forwarded to Sgt. Brian Daly at 413-259-3000 or via email.

Attention Amherst Senior Citizens

Chief Scott P. Livingstone would like to invite members of the senior community to the monthly Senior and Law Enforcement Councils (SALT) meetings, held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the Amherst Police Department Community Room. The Amherst SALT Council is a partnership between the seniors of Amherst, the Amherst Police Department, Amherst Fire Department, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office. The Amherst SALT Council has facilitated several projects including:

• RUOK ?: Elders receive a daily telephone call confirming their well-being.

• HOUSE NUMBER PROJECT: SALT Council members coordinate and install house number signs within the town of Amherst. This program is vital to allow emergency responders, police and fire to accurately and quickly identify the numeric of a house when responding to an emergency.

• SPECIAL WISHES BOOKLET: An important written guide for elders to utilize when making vital legal decisions regarding their personal affairs.

• EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE: The SALT Council created and distributed this publication after learning of the hardships faced by so many elders after the severe ice storms in 2009.

• LOST ELDER PROGRAM: This voluntary registration program allows any Amherst elder who is easily confused and may become disoriented to file emergency notification paperwork at the police department so that we may reunite a lost elder with their loved ones.

• ELDER SHRED EVENT: This program allowed elders and all community members to bring their financial and other personal documents to a SALT sponsored event to have their documents shredded on site, preventing them from getting in the hands of criminals who could steal their identity.

• TRAININGS: The SALT Council, together with the Amherst Police Department, has developed and endorsed trainings for our elder community members on a variety of topics including: Crime Prevention/Fire Safety, Deterring Identity Theft, Elder Targeted Financial Scams and Emergency Preparation.

• NATIONAL DRUG TAKE BACK DAY: Assisted in the collection of old and unwanted medications, keeping them out of landfills and out of the hands of drug addicted persons.

All Amherst SALT Council meetings are open to the public. The Council would like to have new members join them to offer suggestions for projects that would promote the physical and financial well being of Amherst elders. Attendance at every meeting is not required. For more information, go to the Amherst Police webpage or contact Amherst Police Officer Jamie Reardon at 413-259-3000 or via email.

Winter Parking Ban

Amherst Chief of Police Scott P. Livingstone announced today that the overnight parking ban will be in effect from December 1, 2011, to April 1, 2012. During this time period no overnight parking is allowed on any town streets from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Vehicles left on streets between these hours are subject to be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Parking is allowed in the meter lot on Pray Street and also in the lower level of the parking garage. Vehicles must be removed by 7:00 a.m.

Amherst Police Department policy is as follows:

-First offense results in a warning

-Second offense results in a ticket

-Third offense results in a ticket and towing of the vehicle regardless of the

weather conditions

Should a snowstorm require plowing, the warning provisions listed above are not in effect. Vehicles will be towed to assist the Department of Public Works in removal of snow.

For further information, contact Captain Christopher G. Pronovost at (413) 259-3000.

Distracted Driving Initiative

The Amherst Police Department will be conducting an educational and enforcement initiative on the Safe Driving Law which was signed by Governor Patrick and became effective on September 30, 2010. The department’s distracted driving campaign will be conducted from November 14, 2011 to November 18, 2011.


Among other provisions, the Safe Driving Law bans sending, typing or reading electronic messages to or from handheld devices while operating a motor vehicle. This includes use of the internet and text messaging. The law bans the use of all handheld electronic devices by junior operators while behind the wheel. This law prohibits activities that studies have shown to negatively impact driving ability as much as driving while impaired by alcohol.

For everyone who thinks they can talk on their phone, text, apply make-up or perform any other distracting activity while driving, it’s time for a crash course in reality from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• In 2009, almost 5,500 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver, and nearly 450,000 were injured. (NHTSA)

• Drivers who use handheld devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

• Twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA)

• Younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. (NHTSA)

Under the new safe driving laws, law enforcement will be able to pull over any driver suspected of using a mobile electronic device for texting or accessing the internet. First time offenders are subject to a $100 fine. Junior operators observed using a cell phone can also be cited and subject to a $100 fine and the loss of their license for 60 days. Teen offenders will also be required to take a driver retraining course through the National Safety Council.

The Amherst Police Department Issues a Reminder to the Public: Put It Down! …your life is worth more than a conversation!

If you have questions concerning this mobilization please contact Sergeant Todd Lang at 413-259-3000 or via email. For additional information visit www.amherstpd.org, http://www.distraction.gov/, or www.mass.gov/rmv

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, November 19, 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 e-mail or call (413) 259-3000.

Man Arrested After Assaulting Elderly Woman Inside Residence

On November 5, 2011 at approximately 3:21AM, several Amherst Police Officers responded to a private residence for the report of a breaking and entering in progress. Officers located the victim, an 83 year old woman, locked inside of her home. The investigation revealed that the victim heard pounding at her door that woke her from a sound sleep. When she inquired, the man at the other side of the door identified himself as a police officer. When she unlocked the door he barged inside, grabbing her by the arm. He fled through the house and out the back door when she began to scream.

A responding officer located the suspect a few streets away and he was arrested immediately. He was identified as Carlos A. Apostle. The victim was treated by Amherst Fire Department medical personnel and found to have not physical injuries. Her identity will not be released.

Carlos A. Apostle, Age 23

5 Hanson Road

Andover, Massachusetts 01810

Charges: Breaking & Entering/Night

Impersonating a Police Officer

Assault & Battery/Victim over 65

Apostle was held over the weekend at the Hampshire County House of Corrections in lieu of $5000 cash bail and was arraigned at the Eastern Hampshire District.

Amherst Emergency Alert System

To subscribe to the town of Amherst Emergency Alert system, go to the town of Amherst website.
The system allows authorized Town officials to create and rapidly disseminate time-sensitive messages to every home phone, business phone, cell phone (with text messages) and email address stored in the notification database. With this system, authorized officials can send thousands of messages in minutes. Don't wait update your contact information now!

Town Manager John Musante's Tues 11/1/11 Storm Update

"Good afternoon, this is Amherst Town Manager John Musante with an emergency update on the winter storm. Western MA Electric Company reports 38% of Amherst is still without power as of this morning. Power has been restored to the Town center, University Drive, College Street, and portions of North and South Amherst. Power restoration to all parts of Town will likely take until no later than Friday. No street by street timeline estimate is available. Electric company, Town, private sector, and even the National Guard are assisting. Please call WMECO, not 911, for power status updates.A Regional Red Cross Emergency Shelter is open at Smith Vocational High School located on Route 9 in Northampton.Stay alert for downed power lines and please stay off closed roads. In order to reduce demands on emergency generators, please continue to conserve water.There have been two serious carbon monoxide poisoning incidents in Amherst in the last 24 hours. Please visit www.amherstma.gov for the latest storm and safety information.”