Police investigating death of toddler in Florence

By EMILY CUTTS

@ecutts_HG

Published: 07-21-2017 9:25 AM

NORTHAMPTON — Police are investigating the death of a toddler at Meadowbrook Apartments Thursday.

A Northampton Police crime scene services van was parked outside a set of gray townhouses Thursday evening near the Bridge Road entrance to the development. Two officers were sitting in a second marked police SUV. Officers on scene would not comment on the situation or how long they had been there.

Neighbor Louise Saalfrank said she was cleaning her house Thursday morning around 9 a.m. when she saw a fire engine and police outside her window.

Her neighbor, she said, came running out of her house crying.

“That poor baby,” Saalfrank said.

Across the road, Brenda Thompson said from her daughter’s home in the Meadowbrook development the family involved were good people.

“It’s a tragedy,” Thompson said. “It’s just heart-wrenching.”

Thompson said she understood police had a job to do but it was hard on the neighborhood children to see officers there all day.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Smith students occupy admin building, demand divestment from weapons manufacturers
A ‘hub’ blueprint begins: City kicks off planning for new Resilience Hub downtown
Ex-super, medical director of Soldiers’ Home change pleas, upsetting some families of 76 who died during pandemic
Area property deed transfers, March 28
Valley Art Supplies finds right mix by adding bar to longtime Easthampton business
Three candidates in running for Amherst superintendent

The Northwestern district attorney’s office described the child as almost 2 years old. The office shared few details about the incident, but confirmed that Northampton Police and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating.

Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.

]]>