Franklin-Hampshire Probation Employee Spots Probation Fugitive

Thanks to the sharp-eye and quick thinking of a Franklin-Hampshire County Juvenile Court Associate Probation Officer Carmen Monroy, a young man who absconded nearly a year ago has been found.

The teen—who is not being identified due to his involvement with the juvenile court— had violated his probation five times prior to his disappearance. After receiving a sixth violation notice—delivered to him by his Probation Officer Mark St. Amand—he fled and a warrant was issued on December 28, 2010. His offenses included breaking and entering, malicious destruction of property, and intimidating a witness. He is scheduled to appear before the judge Tuesday, December 13th, for a violation hearing.

“He knew that I would be asking for a DYS (Department of Youth Services) commitment,” said St. Amand.

There were no sightings of the teen until recently when Associate Probation Officer Monroy of the Franklin-Hampshire Probation Department’s Greenfield office spotted him. She was driving to a local store during her lunch break when she recognized the mother of the juvenile offender who was walking down the same street with a young man, and a friend toward a gas station.

“He (juvenile) had a black hoodie over his head. I drove by, did a U-Turn, parked my car at the gas station and then walked into the station’s store to make sure it was him,” recalled Monroy, a four-year APO.

The young man remembered Monroy from the court and quickly walked away. His mother hung her head and avoided eye contact.  Monroy walked back to her car and used her cell phone to call St. Amand, the teenager’s Probation Officer. St. Amand and Acting Chief Probation Officer James Muccino drove to the gas station as Probation Officer Paula MacDonald contacted the Greenfield Police Department.

When St. Amand and Muccino arrived, they found that the teen had disappeared again. Both searched the area, including stores in the nearby shopping center which is adjacent to the gas station but were unable to find the teen and his mother. When the police arrived on the scene, the police were able to confirm that the mother resided at a nearby hotel. The Probation Officers and police drove to the hotel where upon entering the hotel parking lot, they found the probationer who bolted. The Probation Officers and police pursued the young man who ran into a swampy area up the road. Police tracked him down and he was placed under arrest without incident, according to St. Amand.

“Thanks to APO Carmen Monroy, her quick thinking, and ability to positively identify a probation fugitive, we were able to find this offender who had evaded probation and police for nearly a year and take him off the street,” said St. Amand.

He added, “Now, he can get the resources he needs and at least earn his GED.”

Franklin-Hampshire Juvenile Court Chief Probation Officer Peter Kotch lauded Monroy and the Probation Officers for their work in the apprehension of the young man.

“Their teamwork and the partnership with Greenfield Police resulted in their finding this young man and bringing him before the court,” Kotch said.

Greenfield Police Chief Gary Magnan lauded the Juvenile Probation Department for locating the juvenile.

“We have a good relationship with the Probation Department. It is important in the sharing of vital information,” said Magnan.