fisher16
07-18-2006, 09:15 PM
Officers arrest 4 at dam
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 By LORI STABILE
lstabile@repub.com
PALMER - Police arrested four individuals for trespassing at the Bondsville Dam on Sunday afternoon, the first since the property owner gave police authorization to arrest anyone found on-site in the wake of a tragic accident there.
Property owner Belchertown Land Trust posted the site after the death of 15-year-old Ross W. Karnbach Jr. of Palmer last month.
Officer John Melnick arrested Earle H. Harris IV, 23, of 501 Monson Road, and Eric B. Ashwell, 23, of 935 Glendale Road, Wilbraham; Sarah A. Radle, 19, of 38 Editha Ave., Agawam, and Lauren M. Wilson, 22, of 342 Southwick Road, Apt. 36, Westfield.
All four will be arraigned today in Palmer District Court, Lt. John J. Janulewicz said.
"We're serious about enforcing the law," Janulewicz said yesterday.
"Everyone's been good so far. We appreciate that town residents are staying away from the property. Unfortunately, these were the first ones. Hopefully, these will be the only ones."
Janulewicz said the men were walking across the spillway that connects Bondsville to south Belchertown, and the women were in the woods.
Karnbach attempted to cross the same spillway when he was swept into the rain-swollen Swift River on June 29. He was pulled from the water after a frantic search and later died at Springfield's Baystate Medical Center.
Bondsville Fire Chief Steven R. Sadusky said while the water has receded, the site is still dangerous.
Sadusky said some people have criticized the land trust's no trespassing stance, saying they have used the property for years and are familiar with it.
"Times have changed. ... It doesn't make it OK," Sadusky said.
Belchertown police have also been given the OK to make arrests, but have not made any yet. The land trust has been clearing brush to make the site more visible for public safety officials.
The land trust took over ownership earlier this year from the Endelson family. The Endelsons had all but abandoned the site, a popular summertime fishing and swimming spot, even with its painful past: There was another drowning there in 1991.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 By LORI STABILE
lstabile@repub.com
PALMER - Police arrested four individuals for trespassing at the Bondsville Dam on Sunday afternoon, the first since the property owner gave police authorization to arrest anyone found on-site in the wake of a tragic accident there.
Property owner Belchertown Land Trust posted the site after the death of 15-year-old Ross W. Karnbach Jr. of Palmer last month.
Officer John Melnick arrested Earle H. Harris IV, 23, of 501 Monson Road, and Eric B. Ashwell, 23, of 935 Glendale Road, Wilbraham; Sarah A. Radle, 19, of 38 Editha Ave., Agawam, and Lauren M. Wilson, 22, of 342 Southwick Road, Apt. 36, Westfield.
All four will be arraigned today in Palmer District Court, Lt. John J. Janulewicz said.
"We're serious about enforcing the law," Janulewicz said yesterday.
"Everyone's been good so far. We appreciate that town residents are staying away from the property. Unfortunately, these were the first ones. Hopefully, these will be the only ones."
Janulewicz said the men were walking across the spillway that connects Bondsville to south Belchertown, and the women were in the woods.
Karnbach attempted to cross the same spillway when he was swept into the rain-swollen Swift River on June 29. He was pulled from the water after a frantic search and later died at Springfield's Baystate Medical Center.
Bondsville Fire Chief Steven R. Sadusky said while the water has receded, the site is still dangerous.
Sadusky said some people have criticized the land trust's no trespassing stance, saying they have used the property for years and are familiar with it.
"Times have changed. ... It doesn't make it OK," Sadusky said.
Belchertown police have also been given the OK to make arrests, but have not made any yet. The land trust has been clearing brush to make the site more visible for public safety officials.
The land trust took over ownership earlier this year from the Endelson family. The Endelsons had all but abandoned the site, a popular summertime fishing and swimming spot, even with its painful past: There was another drowning there in 1991.