Pittsfield Man Arraigned On Attempted Murder Charge In Stabbing

A city man faces an attempted murder charge after allegedly stabbing his brother-in-law in the head then leading police departments on a car chase before his arrest Wednesday.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that Stephen Moss, 31, of Brown Street, has also been charged with aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop for police.

He was arraigned Thursday before Judge Jennifer Tyne and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A Pittsfield police spokesman described the stabbing victim’s condition as “critically stable.”

The victim’s wife identified the suspect as her brother, She said Moss pushed his way into their apartment with a knife, screaming, and punched her husband in the head repeatedly.

A police report states that During the attack, Moss allegedly also stabbed the victim in the head and “stomped” his face after the man dropped to the floor.

Moss fled in a blue Audi, and police put out a BOLO, for the vehicle. Police said a car matching the description was spotted by an officer near the intersection of East, Elm, and Fourth streets. The driver made an illegal U-turn and fled on East Street when the officer attempted a traffic stop, Moss eventually lost the officer on Pomeroy Avenue.

An off-duty Great Barrington Police Officer spotted the vehicle on Route 7 in Lenox, and, after alerting other agencies, pursued Moss with other officers from Lenox and Stockbridge and the state police, police said.

Moss was stopped after Stockbridge police deployed a device known as a “stop stick” used to deflate the tires of a vehicle in pursuits. Moss fled the vehicle and went into the woods on foot. Moss was quickly caught and taken into custody.