OCCURRENCE AT PITTSFIELD WALMART: BLACKER THAN BLACK FRIDAY
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary
ED NOTE: THE PLANET has the sharpest, most adroit readership in the area. However, for the one or two who make it here and just don’t get it, we point out the high satiric content of the following post. The “gentleman” named herein has been accused by police of a crime. Until a court of law pronounces him guilty, he shall and must be considered innocent. So there.
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 2014) — This story is soooo Black Friday. It’s soooo Walmart. It’s soooo Pittsfield.
Though you might not think it “as Pittsfield” as a driver on South Street allegedly high on heroin smashing into an electric pole and nearly electrocuting an innocent passing motorist, but you might say it’s …
… soooo Black Friday at the Pittsfield Walmart.
The upshot is a man busted and dusted and held without bail. Charges filed: assault and battery, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
No, it wasn’t a fatal shooting. Those happen in parking lots of downtown Pittsfield supermarkets. No, it wasn’t roving bands of crazed youths. Those occur at Third Thursdays. No, it wasn’t a preview of next year’s at-large council race. This was the gummed intersection of ignorance meeting a lack of bliss and calling it a sale. In Pittsfield, a town so down that “down” looks like the top of Hill 78, that’s enough to draw a line of hundreds.
No, Stupid, You Can’t Buy Season’s Tickets to the Super Bowl
You know the type:
* They put their chairs out at curbside at 2 a.m. on July 4.
* They climb chain link fences so they can see what’s on the other side.
* They look into mirrors and can’t figure out which side of the body their left hands are on.
* They cut open pineapples in search of Sponge Bob.
* They volunteer for the mayoral campaigns of Peter Marchetti (without them, Peter wins).
* Their brainstorms are passing light drizzles.
Once upon an England Brothers’ Christmas window …
Seems that a base stealer with a bum knee went to Walmart on Black Friday, looking to score — what? Cheetos? Jolt Cola? Sen-Sen? Anyhow, Derek Quintero, 32, wanted to use a motorized cart. That apparently is asking for trouble at Pittsfield Walmart, honored by Forbes (or was it Fortune?) as the country’s worst store in the chain. Anyone who’s been there knows it’s an honor well deserved.
According to a report filed by the Pittsfield Police Department, a store employee argued with Quintero over use of the scooter. Motorized scooters for the HBOAL (healthy but obese and lazy) — that, too, is soooo Pittsfield, not that we make any such specific claim in this instance. In front of a bunch of customers and other gawkers, responding officers heard Quintero with voice raised, and they asked him to tone it down. Police say he refused. When they attempted to arrest him, they say Quintero resisted.
Stop THE PLANET if you’ve heard this one before.
Hey, Is There a Leak in the Roof?
After finally getting Quintero under control, police say he spit on another customer’s face and shoulder. The police report did not state whether that “other customer” thought the roof was leaking or if this was part of the new Walmart greeting.
Not content with his performance thus far, according to the police, when Quintero got in the car, he “threatened to rape and kill the officers’ families.” Small talk on a Black Friday … What’s the big deal?
On Friday last week, Quintero pleaded not guilty on all charges. Quintero is being represented by Ken “Don’t Worry, I’ll Get You Off With Life” Warren, who in a past life was to the Pittsfield City Council what Kim Kardashian is to butt implants. It brings to remind this riddle: What’s the difference between a jellyfish and a lawyer? One is a spineless, poisonous, amorphous blob. The other is a form of sea life.
Warren sang the usual sob story. Your honor my client has a bad knee … Your honor my client has an obsession with Walter Brennan as Amos McCoy … Your honor my client has been allowed to use a Wal Mart hover board before … Your honor, my client is a veteran; he served under Captain Crunch — or some such blather. Of course, Warren is obliged to do this. As we write, his client is innocent and shall remain until proven guilty.
Asst. DA Robert “Rolls” Royce of David Capeless‘ office begged to differ. He asked Judge William Rota revoke bail, citing Quintero’s past brushes with the law, i.e., “a long record of assaultive behavior for which he’s served jail time on several occasions” (from Andrew Amelinckx‘s article in The Berkshire Eagle). Judge Rota revoked bail. Rota’s Rooters applauded. Quintero is slated to appear in court on Dec. 10. The courts can hold him without bail for up to two months.
An Ill Wind Moves the Barometer to Falling
Yes, Virginia, North Street in Pittsfield once looked like this.
This case riveted THE PLANET because it exemplifies the current direction of public and communal life in Pittsfield, that growing boil of perceived threat and danger that keeps so many good citizens in their homes and off of the city’s mean streets and shops.
THE PLANET picks up on an angry, frustrated vibe emanating from Pittsfield proper. Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski have seen their beloved city hijacked out of self respect and decency by drug dealers and gangs; by families of the angels ensconced at Tommy’s Holiday Ranch (a.k.a., the Berkshire County House of Correction); by lowlifes, “gimme” groups, and drunks; by dropouts and welfare moms; by scammers and freeloaders of all sorts; by bad politics.
They look at a picture from the 1950s of downtown Pittsfield at Christmas. They scratch their heads and wonder: “What happened?”
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“Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that half of them are stupider than that.” — George Carlin.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Ah yes Dan. England Brothers….. from a bygone era. North street decked out in all its splendor. … my childhood. Even with all the downtown revitalization and paving the streets with gold at taxpayers expense by current and former mayors, couldn’t put homey back together again.
Pittsfield, a once glorious city now reduced to 3rd world status and spiraling toward bankruptcy. Your article today Dan, does make the point well.
Those who have gotten out are the smart ones. Those who stay will go down with the ship.
Actually the going down with the ship part could apply to the entire country since Obama is creating more and more debt, something which he once railed against.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Black Friday per say though I opted out this year it doesn’t really do anything for me as I hate shopping of any kind. But I have kids so I have to get them Christmas gifts. I never really felt like I saved on a Black Friday. This is just a bad apple spoiling it for everyone else. I never encountered any bad apples shopping if it ever came down to it I’d just let the person have the item if it means that much to’em. Do people even realize there’s still a month to Christmas shop and that new internet thingy you can basically get whatever you want. One year I paid $180 for a $75 toy online just so my kid could have the latest cool toy. It was then that I realized the stupidity of holiday shopping and have since grown.
Be careful Dan you are getting very close to HP and income inequality profiling here. I’m trying to figure out if Walmart fighting was over the new overweight Barbie doll or anorexic one ?
Is the main stream media news scripted/rigged/controlled?
Here is absolute proof positive that it indeed is:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eZVv2AOCnaA#t=86
@ of interest one word for that, Creepy!
I like what Conan said about it
“I don’t find that funny but Scary”.
Is it any wonder why people don’t trust the news they are being fed?
The ones who put the “news” on the AP and wire are the ones who control what the masses think. They have not yet figured out how to control the alternate media online…. yet…. but they’re working on it.
For now they’ve put out an army of shills/debunkers/plants on social media/blogs/comment sections.
It’s so sad that they do it the sad part is the majority of people believe the crap they say without thier own individual idea. A
Friend of mine was on Facebook Sunday night ( I don’t do fb anymore I deleted the while thing.) he’s telling me Wilson went into a 7 eleven to buy donuts and was shot by white males. Red flag #1 a cop going in to a 7 eleven to buy donuts! Red flag #2 shot by white males.
Every three seconds a child is aborted with a firearm. Seriously cnbc and the Berkshire eagle says so. And there was a letter to the editor today coralating abortion figures with declining school enrollment. And the mayor telling the public that a drugged up society is good and healthy how do you separate fact from fiction when you’re a dumb ass American who thinks the three food groups are red meat, sugar and alcohol…
Wait, why do I feel like I read this somewhere else? I barely noticed the original story – everyone should know by know that when you go to large stores we all go nuts. The stock aisles to deliberately annoy you and force you to scour.
Perfectly normal.
Regarding the heroin driver, why should I care if he must spend the remainder of his short life on methadone? Cheaper than telephone poles and taking the stuff would be his problem, not mine.
It is our problem charles because a sets a social standard of dependency on substance. People deserve better. There’s bothering wrong with having a problem and getting help. Just the right kind of help is needed. For some folks the idea of living a sober life is just too painful. Those that can overcome that hurdle will realize they’re better off and be more fulfilled. They will be more productive members of society.
It is our problem charles because it sets a social standard of dependency on substance. People deserve better. There’s nothing wrong with having a problem and getting help. Just the right kind of help is needed. For some folks the idea of living a sober life is just too painful. Those that can overcome that hurdle will realize they’re better off and be more fulfilled. They will be more productive members of society as well.
Planet we need a “like” button and “edit” option. Just throwing that out there.
A heroin addict may choose any number of methods to kick the habit. But barring those that are most appealing (non-medicated), I’d rather be in the company of of methadone treated drivers than heroin-happy drivers.
They may never become ‘productive’ members of society – that’s not up to anyone but the individual.
I agree but we’ve set a low standard with a poor quality of life. The clinics are ok with it because though thier not for profit status protects them from paying thier fair share of tax like the rest of us it’s lucratuve business.
Methadone users shouldn’t drive either. Word from a few drug using friends say that they get high from it. Switching from heroin to methadone is just exchanging one drug addiction for another, users aren’t presented with a long term plan for getting off of methadone at the clinic.
From this site: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/job185drugs/methadone.htm
Effects on Driving: The drug manufacturer cautions that methadone may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks, and that the sedative effects of the drug may be enhanced by concurrent use of other CNS depressants, including alcohol. In healthy, non-methadone using volunteers, single doses of methadone will impair driving ability.
Point taken. For what it’s worth, it appears then that a methadone driver is no better than a cellphone driver. Either way, the driver in question was stoned.
Mayor Dan Bianchi stood in front of an audience at Crosby recently and told the attendees that Methadone and Methadone clinics are very good for our society because doctors, lawyers , teachers, an several of your closest friends need Methadone. He also told the crowd Methadone clinics are good corporate citizens and contribute to a good way of life in Pittsfield.
Sparkie the mayors judgement is impaired from his excess of ego and drive for an abundance political power. I don’t give a crap what his wife drives the people love rob ford because he makes necessary cuts. So what he tried some crack everyone’s doing something these days. The people who exposed the photo of him in the act I’m sure celebrated with a few bottles of booze.
I can agree with the Mayor on the issue of Spectrum. They are proven players in treating heroin addicts and have a very strong track record in counseling/treatment strategy. You need to say more than “I hate methadone” to challenge their presence.
DIllenger has nothing on this guy!
Did they say what time it was? Was he trying to get in with the 12:05 AM mob? Gutsy move if he was. Usually more people come out of there with bad knees than go in..
I would not join in on that adventure without a bubble suit.
Dan, really good work today – you are on top of your game. But I am concerned that now that you’ve pubished a photo of what North St. used to look like, the mayor will ‘find’ 100k to decorate 100 North St. like that. The decorations will make the permitting process easier, ya know.
My daughter and nieces were at Wal Mart and saw the disturbance. They thought of it as “entertainment” but they are teenage girls. I think of it as a sad sad sign of the decline.
DV the pictures tell the story. Great piece.
Also on the deranged junkie behind the wheel who knocked out the poll almost killing someone and causing a few hrs of no power for our area it hits close to home. I’m glad I was gone early and it was passed the time my chd commutes out of district to school. Be careful out there I shouldn’t have to remind people of the PHS crash there’s a lot of drugged up lunatics on the rd. I choose to yield like holiday shopping traffic positioning just isn’t that important to me or dire. We all have plenty of limited time
I wish I had a ‘like” button for this, Scott. 🙂
Excellent post Scott! Was this dude coming from the meth clinic?
Thanks Guys, @ Bea I doubt it. It’s like a brave new world out there Those who choose not to partake in mind altering substances are viewd as oddballs.
BB. He wouldn’t have been high on heroin if he came from the , Meth clinic, now would he?
The aisles in the stores are so crammed with junk that they are begging for disaster. Can you just imagine if someone yelled fire? There would be hundreds trampled to death. There is a super market near there that is even worse. I did think there were laws against making exits impossible to get to in a hurry but this is Pittsfield and things can get over looked for a few bucks.
Target and BJs seem to get it that people need room to walk and get out in case of emergency. Others not so much. Isn’t greed grand?
The strategy in retail is to lure customers deep into a labyrinth of stuff, mostly things no one will ever purchase and never knew existed. They hide therein the few things most need to purchase usually way below or above eye level. The hope is you’ll go mad and purchase more things then you want. Generally, we do or we just go ballistic and ram other customers with our carts.
This is likely what happened that afternoon at Walmart. It was just a regular retail event, let’s stop denormalizing it.
Ever go to Bobs Country Kitchen in Lanesboro? The tables are so tight in rows that you couldn’t get out of there in a hurry if you tried. Where is the fire inspector here?
That’s where you climb over the tables and out the window.
Charles, methadone isn’t a high? Didn’t know that.
Heroin really isn’t a high either anymore after a while they’re taking it to just not be sick. I believe methadone acts in this sense. A lot of people do the methadone until things turn around financially and they can get high again. It’s a vicious cycle and I have sympathy for those struggling with addiction. I have a family member addicted to opiates. Good person and craftsman but he just can’t get it together. Was a drug abuser when he was young then broke his back the rest is history.
BB, you said, “Was this dude coming from the meth clinic”. The report states he was under influence of heroin. Two different substances with two different effects. Your post is off topic, in other words.
With that said though Bea it still screws up your mind and your judgement so yeah neither one should be driving but they are. And so aren’t people abusing alcohol, marijuana and other drugs.
Scott, you and KathyL win me over on the effects of methadone on driving. Still, I’d rather a methadone patient be behind the wheels than a heroin abuser. No one can stop a person from driving, as we all know too well. Let’s not completely blow this out of proportion though. Actual injuries to Moore (brain/spinal injuries) and R. Calamari (loss of life) from perfectly respectable people utterly irresponsible drivers. Both acts were swept under the carpet and at least one party continues business as usual in spite of it.
I don’t know Chuck I’m torn between some on crystal method, or someone huff paint, just can’t decide who I want driving at me.
I’ll take distracted cellphone drivers for $250 Alex. At least if they happen to look up from the device at the last second when they react they’re doing so with a sober mind/body. Charles refer back to KL’s link. Let’s do our own expiriemnent you all huff paint, take methadone, snort crystal meth and I’ll try and navigate while commenting on planetvalenti.com. We’ll do it in the walmart plaza Black Friday next year. A cop with a needle in his ass can be the judge.
Off topic…sorry…today I saw the Mayor’s wife driving a brand new BMW 535…looks like Mayor’s double dipping with the 2 jobs is paying some nice dividends!
Never judge a person by the car he or she drives.
It may just be her way of flipping off the taxpayers.
B M W you say? Big Deal. Some ball player just signed a 390 million dollar contract. I’m sure Our First Lady worked for it. And you are off topic.
I am not a Walmart basher. Thank God for the store. Low and middle income people could not survive without that store. It’s the people that are the problem not the store. The people that work at Walmart are good people, but obviously some of the customers can be a problem. I have seen customers go in the store and not respect the order they find there in the clothing aisles for example. People need to respect the fact that the store clerks are working hard to keep the store looking nice and people should applaud and respect their efforts to do so. It’s all about acting kind and nice. Kind and nice are not bad words. If everybody acted that way the world be be a great place to live in.
All people, except for the organically disturbed or sociopathic, go into any large retail store kind and nice. It’s only within they secumb to the stresses that have been researched and tested by marketing experts. This is why sensible people avoid these places in high stress shopping seasons.
Off topic, wonder if those 5 St. Louis Rams players will come out with hammer’s. Show there disgust for the brutal murder of a Bosnian man brutally murdered by 3 black youth’s.
After listening to Charles, I’m now cured of all the confusion.
@ Charles…it’ Succumb. Secumb is something else, dunno what?
ouch.
Any former heroin addict can tell you that if they really want to get sober they stay away from methadone and embrace buprenorphine /suboxone as it is dispensed at a physicians office and is a real life
changing treatment for opiate addiction. Addiction is a disease that can be cured by weekly counseling and buprenorphine treatment.
I never heard any therapist state that addiction can be cured. Those who succumb (thanks PK!) to addiction never truly escape.
They do only if they realize they can never partake in any mind altering substance ever again. But you’re right the impulse is only kept at bay. One drink or drug and they’re right back to excessive use. Many addicts relaps and get get sober. I can’t believe the guy who almost killed someone was not presented as a danger to the community or released on the condition he refrain from drug use and driving.
Clean Water and the distribution of clean water throughout the world will be the next great economic engine for the economy and the jobs that will go with it. Think Pittsfield, but the whole world will needs and wants it. Write the check China.
If Dr. Wang knows as much as the Wizard says he does, we could be n to something here.