Sheriff Who Seized Armory Will Relocate to Refurbished Facility

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A sheriff who relieved his overcrowded jail by commandeering a National Guard armory and refusing to budge won a victory Thursday when the state promised him another refurbished armory.

Under the agreement, approved by Hampden County Superior Court Judge George Keady, county Sheriff Michael Ashe will move from the Springfield armory to a vacant armory in Holyoke about 10 miles to the north once the state has made about $77,500 worth of repairs to the building.

It was not clear where funds would come from for Ashe to run the armory as a jail. So far, up to 26 inmates have been kept at the Springfield armory.

“Obviously, we’re tremendously pleased,” said Ashe, who seized the Springfield armory on Feb. 16 under a 17th Century law that orders citizens to give “suitable aid” to law enforcement efforts.

“Everyone has won,” said Lawrence Fletcher-Hill, the state assistant attorney general handling the case.

Holyoke officials, however, were unhappy with the decision, saying their armory lacks parking, is surrounded by homes and sits across the street from a preschool and kindergarten.

“Our primary concern is that 500 young schoolchildren should not be exposed to a jail 40 yards from their facility. It’s highly inappropriate,” said Mayor Martin Dunn, who ordered city lawyers to try to get a court order blocking the move.

Ashe said only minimum-security prisoners near the end of their terms would be sent to the armory.