LEOMINSTER — On Sunday, August 3, 2025, at approximately 2:28 a.m., Leominster Police Officers Renzo Vasconcelos and Mackenson Adescar were dispatched to Carter Park after a man called in to report he was being hit with a stick.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Renzo Vasconcelos and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“The caller, William [last name redacted], stated that the two individuals who were involved in the incident were walking down Summer Street and the one who hit him was Wild Bill,” Officer Vasconcelos said. Later adding, “Upon arrival, I observed Andrew ‘Wild Bill’ Berg, walking in the intersection of Depot Square and Water Street.”
According to police, Andrew W. Berg, 64, is homeless in Leominster, MA.
Officer Vasconcelos said he told Berg to stop walking and come speak with him.
“I asked Andrew what happened a few minutes ago,” Officer Vasconcelos said. “Andrew told me nothing and that he was just walking. I asked Andrew if he hit anyone with the stick that was currently in his hand (four feet long wooden stake). Andrew said no. I then told Andrew that someone called and said that he did, in fact, hit someone with the stick. Andrew said that none of that happened and that his stick is his walking stick.”
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Officer Vasconcelos said he then had Berg detained for officer safety and probable cause for arrest for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Officer Noah DeCesare, who had arrived on scene as backup, placed Berg in handcuffs and remained with him while Officer Vasconcelos left the area to speak with the reporting party, William, who was with Officer Adescar.
“Once I arrived at William’s location, I asked him what happened. William told me that he was in Carter Park when Andrew and his mute friend walked up to him,” Officer Vasconcelos said. “William said that he had owed Andrew money.”
Officer Vasconcelos asked William what happened once Berg approached him.
“William told me that Andrew hit him with the stick, took $30, and a carton of Crown cigarettes,” Officer Vasconcelos said.
Officer Vasconcelos then asked William where Berg struck him.
“William lifted his shirt and showed me,” Officer Vasconcelos said. “William had a red mark on his left hip that looked consistent with a strike from a stick. I then asked William what kind of bills Andrew took to make up the $30. William told me Andrew took a $10 and a $20 bill.”
Officer Vasconcelos said that, at this time, he radioed Officer DeCesare and asked him what kind of cigarette and what dollar bills Berg had on him.
“Officer DeCesare told me that Andrew has a carton of Crown cigarettes and a $10 bill and a $20 bill,” Officer Vasconcelos said. “I then told William we would get his property back for him in a minute. I asked William if he needed medical attention and he said no.”
Officer Vasconcelos said he then went back to Berg’s location and asked him if he hit someone with his stick again.
“Andrew said William owed him money,” Officer Vasconcelos said. “I then told Andrew he was placed under arrest for armed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Officer DeCesare then transported Andrew to the police station. Officer Adescar then returned William’s belongings to him. I brought the four foot long wooden stake to the police station for evidence.”
Andrew Berg was charged with the following (Officer Vasconcelo’s explanation for the charges are in quotations):
- Armed Robbery: “Andrew struck William with a four foot long wooden stake and took $30 and a carton of Crown cigarettes from William’s person.”
- Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon: “Andrew struck William with a four foot long wooden stake during a robbery.”
Berg was arraigned in Leominster District Court on August 4, 2025. Following his arraignment, he was ordered held without bail under a dangerousness finding until his next court date, which was a pretrial hearing scheduled for Aug. 5, 2025.
After Berg’s pretrial hearing on August 5, 2025, he was later released on conditions.
On August 21, 2025, the Commonwealth filed a motion to revoke Berg’s bail, alleging he violated an active harassment prevention order while out on release.
On August 29, Berg was arrested for domestic assault and battery, prompting the Commonwealth to file a second motion to revoke his bail.
A third motion to revoke Berg’s bail was filed by the Commonwealth on September 3, 2025, after he allegedly violated his release conditions by consuming alcohol.
The court granted all motions, and Berg was ordered held without bail until his next hearing on Dec. 1, 2025.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in August, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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