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A Rochester man who carjacked a Volkswagen Beetle in 2019 a car later found with its radio and hubcaps stripped admitted his crime in federal court Monday.
Jacob Loyd, now 21, pleaded guilty to carjacking and firearms possession in furtherance of drug trafficking. When arrested in June 2019, he had 15 bags of cocaine on him.
Loyd admitted to carjacking the Volkswagen at gunpoint on Gothic Street in northeast Rochester on June 16, 2019. He ordered two people out of the car, telling them, Don t do anything stupid; don t look up or I ll blow your head off.
He struck one of the victims in the head with the gun as the person got out of the car, court papers say. Loyd was with two others when he stole the car, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher.
Guest columnist Norman Coady: The savior that is People’s Institute
In this file photo, student’s at the People’s Institute participate in a Fourth of July parade in 2016. Gazette file photo
Published: 5/5/2021 1:44:50 PM
People’s Institute is housed in a big brick building on Gothic Street in Northampton. For most of the day, the only outward sign of its purpose is the yelling and laughter of the 2 to 5 year olds taught inside and let loose to play in the back.
But if you happen to find yourself down on Gothic Street at 8:30 in the morning or 4:30 in afternoon you will witness the flock of cars that cruise in with their hazard lights on to dispatch and retrieve their children. There’s the one kid in the morning being gently coaxed into school with the soothing words of an administrator. In the afternoon there’s the packs of kids flying out the door, down the steps, leaping into the arms of their parents or guardians, backpacks overflowing with projects.
Elliot Hartmann-Russell: Police chief not in a position to complain
Published: 1/21/2021 11:10:06 AM It was with a sense of satisfaction and wonderment that I read of the resignation of multiple officers from the Northampton Police Department (“Northampton chief: Commission’s police department report contains flaws,” Jan. 16)
Here are two reasons explaining this feeling: For one, it seems painfully clear to me that any officer holding a sincere regard or loyalty to the city would not abandon their commitment at the first sign of change or discomfort, or when faced with increased oversight. I say good riddance to fair-weather police who aren’t able to face higher standards of accountability and who aren’t ultimately invested in the well being of the city.