AMHERST – Police made three arrests for possession of illegal drugs during the weekend, and continued to deal with issues caused by homeless people.
At 8:26 p.m. Friday, police were called to the bus stop near Village Park apartments, 497 East Pleasant St., after a passenger created a disturbance on a PVTA bus by swinging a bag at others on board, said Detective Marcus Humber.
Aljava Yamin Johnson, 41, who gave an address as 434 North Pleasant St., the First Baptist Church and site of the town’s homeless shelter, was arrested on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance ( marijuana), after officers discovered the bag contained 18 baggies of marijuana packaged for sale, Humber said.
Two more drug arrests were made at 1:49 a.m. Sunday, when police found a suspicious vehicle parked at Groff Park, 80 Mill Lane.
Catherine Grace Pentoney, 20, of 13 Dimock St., Leeds, and Haley Ray Shipman, 19, of 12 West St., Hadley, were arrested on charges of possession of a Class C substance (mushrooms), Humber said.
Four incidents involving homeless people began Friday, when police took a report of an assault at 9:18 p.m. at the homeless shelter. The victim told police that he may go to court to press charges.
A verbal altercation between homeless people was reported at 12:56 p.m. Saturday near the Not Bread Alone soup kitchen at 165 Main St., and a homeless woman reported at 7:21 p.m. Saturday that she was punched in the face by a man, who also shoved another woman, in an incident at the meal site.
At 4:49 a.m. Monday, police were called to remove a guest who was making threats to staff at the homeless shelter, Humber said.
Between 11:12 p.m. Friday and 12:26 a.m. Sunday, police summoned seven people to court for alcohol violations, including being minors in possession of alcohol and violating the town’s open container bylaw.
Police cleared out loud parties at 10:07 p.m. Friday at 1381 South East St., at 11:10 p.m. Friday and 1:49 a.m. Saturday at 559 West St., at 3:40 p.m. Saturday at 11 Phillips St. and at 9:58 p.m. Saturday at 96 Bridge St.
Officers also responded at 6:10 p.m. Saturday to Townehouse Apartments, 50 Meadow St., where they dispersed people who were gathered outside and smashing bottles.
In addition, officers advised a man carrying a “for sale” sign from a Main Street location at 12:59 a.m. Saturday to put it back where he found it, and another man was warned after he was found walking with a mailbox on Sunset Avenue at 1:27 a.m. Saturday, Humber said.
A sign for the Lord Jeffery Inn was confiscated from people on the University of Massachusetts campus by UMass police at 1:34 a.m. Saturday and was to be returned to the downtown inn.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
