NORTHAMPTON — A man coming out of a convenience store Tuesday morning got quite a surprise when he observed another man sitting in his car, fumbling with a set of keys, police said.
Randy Lavalley of West Hatfield man stopped at Zee Mart, 15 Locust St., on Tuesday to purchase coffee and snacks, he told police, and left his car unlocked.
That’s when he saw the stranger sitting in his driver seat. The man didn’t get far, however. He didn’t even start the engine, police said, because the keys left in the vehicle were Lavalley’s work keys. Lavalley could not be reached for comment.
The stranger in the car, later identified by police as 19-year-old Everett M. Cuffee, of Florence, exited the vehicle and tried, in vain, to hit the owner with his fist and then fled on foot after the car owner tossed his hot coffee on him, police said.
Shortly after the incident was reported, officers located a man in the area of Locust Street who fit the description provided by the driver. Cuffee eventually conceded he’d come from Zee Mart and that a man had thrown coffee on him, but he was unsure why, according to police.
He was transported to the station, but unable to do what police asked him during the booking process, the report stated, because he kept “nodding off.”
Cuffee advised police he takes prescription medications, but was not under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, according to the report. He was transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital for medical evaluation.
On Wednesday in Northampton District Court, Cuffee pleaded not guilty to attempted larceny of a vehicle, breaking and entering into a vehicle during the day, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Cuffee is due back in court Jan. 20.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.