A 65-year-old Pittsfield man is facing charges including assault and battery with intent to commit murder after police say he stabbed a woman near Pearl and Eagle streets, leaving her with a severe abdominal injury. Officers rendered first aid at the scene before she was rushed to Berkshire Medical Center. David Smith was arrested without incident later that day near North Street.
The stabbing happened Saturday, Sept. 19, at about 1:26 p.m. Responding officers located the woman suffering from a severe abdominal injury and immediately began first aid before she was taken to Berkshire Medical Center. The Pittsfield Police Department detailed the arrest in a statement posted to Pittsfield Police Department on Facebook.
Investigators worked to identify a suspect, relying on witness interviews, evidence collection and a review of neighborhood surveillance footage, according to the same police statement. That investigative work led them to identify David Smith, of Pittsfield, as the suspect. Officers then located Smith in the area of North Street and took him into custody without incident, per WWLP.
Charges Filed in the Case
Smith has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with intent to commit murder, iBerkshires.com reports. As with any pending case, Smith is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The specifics of what led to the confrontation, including any relationship between Smith and the victim or the weapon involved, have not been detailed in the available police reporting. The woman's identity, age and current medical condition have also not been released.
Police Thank School and YMCA Staff
In its statement, the Pittsfield Police Department also thanked community members along with the staff at Pittsfield Public Schools and the YMCA for their assistance in resolving the incident, according to the department's Facebook post. The department did not elaborate further on the nature of that assistance in the material made public so far.
