Investigation reveals how a prostitution sting in Western Mass. caught a police chief
A black 2024 Toyota Tacoma drove up to the Hoosac Valley High School last Thursday and parked near the football field at about a quarter to 10 p.m.
A little less than an hour earlier, an undercover police officer's phone lit up with a text message: "You free for out [sic] call?"
The question came from a number registered to Cheshire's Police Chief Michael Alibozek , according to an affidavit by Det. Lt. Ryan Dickinson of the Massachusetts State Police.
The undercover officer posed as a sex worker who had posted an ad earlier that same day on a website for independent escorts, agency escorts and other adult service providers.
The ad included the undercover officer's phone number, which prospective customers could use to contact them.
The undercover officer, identified as "UC" in court documents, told Alibozek she was available that night, but asked if he could meet "a little more south?"
"Really don't wanna go out," Alibozek texted. "It's ok if you don't wanna come here. My daughter will be home at 10:30ish so it has to be a quickie."
"UC" and Alibozek arranged to meet at the high school by the football field parking, court documents show.
"Your not [law enforcement] are you," Alibozek asked the undercover officer.
"Hell no! Im not risking getting in trouble!!!" the officer replied. "Are you [law enforcement]....?"
"Hell no," Alibozek replied.
The text message thread included explicit language about what "services" Alibozek wanted and said that he would be driving a black Toyota pickup truck. The messages show Alibozek arrived at about 9:29 p.m.
At about 9:46 p.m., a state police cruiser pulled into the parking lot, and troopers removed Alibozek from his truck before arresting him.
Alibozek was placed on paid administrative leave by Cheshire officials last week after his arrest on a charge of engaging in sexual conduct for a fee.
He appeared for his arraignment on Monday in North Adams , and his lawyer, Elizabeth Quigley, told MassLive: "He looks forward to his day in court. He is presently most concerned with addressing the underlying charges in a consistent manner and preserving his privacy, especially regarding his family."
Chief says he tries to 'get girls off the street'
After being read his Miranda rights on the night of Nov. 6, Alibozek spoke with state troopers while sitting in the back of a cruiser.
He told them that he "went on a website to try to get girls off the street," court documents state.
"He meets with them, talks with them, and attempts to set them straight," court documents state. "He has touched base with approximately 4 or 5 females in the past year."
Alibozek told investigators that he found the website about a year ago, and described meetings with the women as "more of a talk and attempt to get them on a straight line than doing anything with them."
He has met with one woman from Pittsfield and one from Lenox in the past four to five months, he told investigators. "These specific females have not been back on the website since, and he hopes they are doing well," court documents state.
When he last met with the women, he explained to them the risks of being on the street and alluded that law enforcement may monitor them for sex solicitation and prostitution sting operations, documents state.
"Alibozek believes that these females would be able to corroborate his story, however, he wouldn't have any way to get a hold of them now," the documents state. "It has been approximately 5-6 months since he met up with them."
He told investigators that he met in Allendale with a woman from Pittsfield who was Russian and bought her a meal from McDonald's and talked with her.
Alibozek said that he is married and that his wife did not know about the meetups with the women, the report states.
"He noted that she would not approve of this," the report reads.
He told officers that he chose the school because "everyone knows where that is."
A trooper took Alibozek's phone and confirmed "UC" had communicated with him by calling Alibozek's phone. Troopers also found $506 in cash after searching him.
The probable cause report states that, based on what Alibozek communicated to the undercover agent, he intended to violate the state's law on engaging in sexual conduct for a fee.
Court appearance
Alibozek, 53, of Adams, made his first court appearance in Northern Berkshire District Court on Monday, where a judge entered a plea of not guilty.
A probable cause report states that Alibozek made an "overt act" to meet up with a woman — who was an undercover law enforcement officer — for a sexual relationship, according to court filings.
"Prior to meeting, [Alibozek] communicated their intentions to be a customer for a sexual relation and agreed to pay, to engage in sexual conduct," court documents state.
Alibozek appeared briefly in court, where the facts of the case were not discussed and a reading of the charge was waived by his attorney.
He was released on personal recognizance and is due back in court on Dec. 22.
The town of Cheshire, located about 10 miles north of Pittsfield, has not appointed an interim police chief as of Monday, according to Town Administrator Jennifer Morse.
On Friday, the town's board of selectmen appointed former Chief Timothy Garner to serve as an administrative consultant, Morse said.
In 2022, Alibozek was chosen to replace Garner as police chief, according to The Berkshire Eagle.
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