GREENFIELD — A Greenfield woman faces five charges after she was recorded driving erratically through the Franklin County Fairgrounds and using the vehicle she was driving to nudge two people trying to stop her.
Brianna L. Gates-Yobst, 27, of Wildwood Avenue, appeared in Greenfield District Court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and single counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of property under $1,200. She was released after posting $300 bail.
According to a report filed by Greenfield Police Officer Christopher Rowell, he and Officer Aaron McCloud were dispatched to the Franklin County Fairgrounds at approximately 10:50 a.m. Saturday for a report of a driver operating erratically within the property’s confines. Officers were informed that Gates-Yobst had driven at high speeds around the fairgrounds’ track and midway areas, honking the vehicle’s horn and swerving at people. Vendors were setting up for Greenmind Fair & Share, a music and arts festival hosted by Green Mind Events.
One vendor recorded a video of Gates-Yobst driving erratically on a fairgrounds roadway, stopping near the Dole Building and using the vehicle to nudge two people when they confronted her. At least two people in golf carts can be seen catching up to the vehicle to confront Gates-Yobst. Someone involved with Greenmind Fair & Share turned off the vehicle’s engine and took Gates-Yobst’s keys to prevent her from fleeing before police arrived. The video can be found on the Facebook page of Destiny Klein, the festival’s coordinator.
According to Rowell’s report, damage was visible on the vehicle’s left front lower bumper and quarter panel. The report states Gates-Yobst had previously been in a romantic relationship with Dennis Nicholas Hall, the owner of Green Mind Events. Hall reportedly told police Gates-Yobst was upset that Klein, the mother of his children, was asked to help with the festival while Gates-Yobst was not.
Klein told the Greenfield Recorder she saw Gates-Yobst careen through the fairgrounds’ back entrance, and the vehicle nearly struck her. She said she hurt her knee diving out of the vehicle’s way. The police report states minor scrapes and dirt marks were observed on Klein’s legs.
Klein reportedly told police she informed Gates-Yobst at an event in April that, due to her previous issues with Hall and Klein, she was not allowed at any future festivities hosted by Green Mind Events.
According to Rowell’s report, Gates-Yobst allegedly told police that the most severe charge she should face is destruction of property, because she accidentally struck a golf cart while attempting to exit her vehicle.
Steve DeJoy, the weekend groundskeeper at the fairgrounds, said he was one of the people in the golf carts trying to stop Gates-Yobst.
“It was kind of scary,” he told the Recorder. “It was not something that we like to have up there.”
Gates-Yobst is due back in court for a pretrial conference on Sept. 1.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.