MA State Police arrest 22 protesters on pipeline construction site

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6 

SANDISFIELD, Mass. (WLNE) — Massachusetts State Police arrested 22 protesters for trespassing and refusing to leave a restricted area at the ongoing construction of natural gas pipeline extension in Sandisfield Saturday afternoon.

The arrests were made at the site of the Kinder Morgan pipeline extension, which is being installed through a portion of Otis State Forest to connect two existing pipeline branches.

The arrests were made peacefully and without resistance, similar to other trespassing arrests made at the pipeline project in recent weeks. All 22 demonstrators were charged with trespassing for refused to leave a restricted construction site.

Those arrested were transported to a Berkshire Sheriff’s Department facility for booking.

"As with with previous protest arrests, the defendants are expected to be released on personal recognizance pending a court appearance," state police said in a press release.

Those arrested were as follow:

1. Eesha D. Williams, 42, of Dummerston, Vermont;

2. Catherine N. Woolner, 66, of Northfield;

3. Benjamin J. VanArnam, 30, of Easthampton;

4. Stephen J. Stoia, 69, of Northfield;

5. Edward D. Stockman, 73, of Plainfield;

6. Dennis P. Carr, 62, of Cummington;

7. Erik W. Burcroff, 61, of Plainfield;

8. Micah L. Carpenter-Lott, 24, of Riverton, Wyoming;

9. Joan L. Levy, 65, of Pelham;

10. Steven D. Botkin, 62, of Pelham;

11. Fergus R. Marshall, 68, of Chicopee;

12. Martin H. Urbel, 74, of Northampton;

13. Rema Loeb, 84, of Plainfield;

14. John K. Cohen, 79, of 86 of Northampton;

15. Mary C. Link, 64, of Ashfield;

16. Ronald Coler, 61, of Ashfield;

17. Esther Coler, 33, of Ashfield;

18. Nina Anderson Coler, 62, of Ashfield;

19. Carol Lewis, 74, of Amherst;

20. Alice McKusick, 35, of Colrain;

21. Patricia C. DeAngelis, 71, of Amherst; and

22. Kevin Young, 32, of Northampton.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017