NORTH ADAMS -- A Weymouth man who allegedly mugged his boss in New Ashford this week was arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Friday on a slate of assault and robbery charges.
Arthur W. Jones III, 43, is accused of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, larceny over $250 from a person over 60, unarmed robbery of a person over 60 and larceny from a person disabled or over 60.
Arun Ankola, 60, the owner of The Springs Econo Lodge Inn & Resort on Route 7 in New Ashford, told state police Jones beat, bound and robbed him at roughly 11 p.m. on Wednesday, reads Massachusetts State Police Trooper Timothy G. Cooper's report.
According to Ankola, Jones dragged him down a set of stairs into the building's basement, tied him up with an extension cord and took $300 in cash and an ATM card.
Ankola claimed Jones threatened to kill him if he didn't supply his ATM PIN number, but he still refused. After Jones left, Ankola freed himself and called 911.
The report notes signs of Ankola having been assaulted, his glasses and other articles strewn about the lobby and red marks on his arms and neck.
Ankola was later treated at Berkshire Medical Center for injuries to his shoulder and hand allegedly sustained during the attack.
Police caught up with Jones the following morning, according to Lieutenant Jeffrey Bradford, of the Pittsfield Police Department.
"Our detectives followed up with
This occurred at roughly 11:10 a.m. Bradford said the city police were already "familiar" with Jones, and the warrant for his arrest issued after Wednesday's alleged assault was only one of three out on him at the time.
The others, from Pittsfield and Roxbury, stemmed from charges of larceny over $250 and possession of a Class B drug, respectively.
Jones was arraigned Thursday in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield on the larceny charge, for allegedly stealing $1,250 in cash and a $200 cell phone from a family member in January.
Jones, an Econo Lodge hire of roughly a week, had been banging at the door to the main lobby before Ankola let him in Wednesday night.
According to Cooper's report, Ankola said his truck was taken by Jones several days earlier and that he was providing a room for Jones' father.
Jones is being held at Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction on $25,000 bail and $250,000 surety. According to Northern Berkshire District Court Clerk Magistrate Timothy Morey, the case will likely be bound over to Berkshire Superior Court due to the nature of the charges before April 24, a date set in court Friday.
To reach Phil Demers, email
pdemers@thetranscript.com.
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