A man who fled from police during a traffic stop and endangered the lives of officers and the public during a dangerous motor vehicle pursuit through Pittsfield was sentenced to 1 ½ years in jail on Monday by Central Berkshire District Court Judge Mark Pasquariello.

A jury on Monday morning found the defendant, Mark Marauszwski, 58, of Pittsfield, guilty of three charges: reckless operation of a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle with a suspended license and failure to stop for a police officer. On Monday afternoon, the judge sentenced Marauszwski to one year in the House of Correction for reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and a concurrent sentence of six months for driving with a suspended license. The judge also issued Marauszwski a $100 fine for failure to stop for a police officer.

The jury did not make guilty findings on the charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. 

Deputy District Attorney Richard Dohoney argued in court that Marauszwski’s attempted escape from police posed serious safety risks to the community.

“The top priority of the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office is to keep the public safe and protect the police officers who safeguard our communities,” District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.

The charges stem from Jan. 25, 2017, when Pittsfield police officers stopped Marauszwski in his sports-utility vehicle on Bartlett Avenue in Pittsfield. The defendant then drove off, leading police on a pursuit through the city that involved multiple collisions before it ended in Springside Park.

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