Third Suspect Charged in January Homicide

A Pittsfield man was arraigned on murder and firearm charges in Berkshire County Superior Court on Monday.

According to the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office, Dasean Smith, 21, became the third person charged with homicide in connection with the Jan. 20^th shooting death of Jaden C. Salois, 18, in Pittsfield. A grand jury indicted Smith on the murder charge last week, and members of the Pittsfield Police Department’s Drug Unit arrested him on a warrant Friday afternoon in Pittsfield. The District Attorney’s Office presented the case to the grand jury and obtained the indictments.

Today, Smith also was arraigned on the charges of carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm while committing a felony. Judge Mark Mason ordered Smith held without bail. The judge set a pre-trial hearing in the case for Dec. 9^th.

The grand jury last week also indicted Carlos Pascual-Polanco, 19, and Chiry Omar Pascual-Polanco, 22, both of Pittsfield, charging them with the murder of Mr. Salois, a resident of Dalton who was shot on Edward Avenue near Elm Street in the city at around 2:13 a.m. Jan. 20^th.

The Polanco brothers were previously charged with murder in Central Berkshire District Court and ordered held without bail. They are expected to be arraigned in Superior Court on July 2^nd.

The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office appreciates the hard work and ongoing efforts by members of the Pittsfield Police Department in this case, and sends sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Salois

Berkshire District Attorney,  Andrea Harrington