Guilty plea in February armed stand-off with Northampton Police

Timothy Strader, 47, of Westhampton, pled guilty today in Hampshire Superior Court to charges stemming from an armed standoff with the Massachusetts State Police and the Northampton Police in the early morning hours of Feb. 19, 2011, on King Street in Northampton.

Strader displayed an unloaded firearm to Massachusetts State Police Trooper Steven Larocco after Larocco pulled him over for speeding.  Larocco called for backup, and a 45 minute standoff ensued as police tried to persuade Strader to drop the weapon and surrender.  During the standoff, Strader yelled that he was having a “bad night” and told the police that they were going to have a “bad night” as well.  After holding the firearm to his temple for several minutes, Strader eventually dropped the weapon and was taken into custody.

Strader pled guilty to indictments charging him with 1)  assault by means of a dangerous weapon (a felony carrying up to five years in state prison) and 2) disorderly conduct (a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail). 

Calling the case an example of “every officer’s worst nightmare,” First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne, recommended that the Court sentence Strader to a six-month period of incarceration in the House of Correction on the disorderly conduct charge, and a five-year probationary period on the assault charge. 

Defense attorney Joseph Hanofee requested that the Court impose a seven-day sentence on the disorderly conduct charge, and continue the felony charge without a finding of guilt for three years.  Judge Cornelius Moriarty imposed a 30-day committed sentence on the disorderly conduct charge, and continued the felony charge without a finding for a period of five years, during which time Strader will be on supervised probation with stringent conditions and requirements.

Judge Moriarty praised the State Police and Northampton Police for demonstrating “great restraint” during the tense standoff with Strader, noting that the outcome of the case could have been far worse.