There’s a delay in the start of the federal corruption trial of a former police chief from Berkshire County. That’s after Joseph Buffis’ lawyer said her client needed medical attention.

Buffis is the former police chief in Lee, Massachusetts, charged with extorting thousands from residents facing prostitution charges and stealing tens of thousands from a charity toy fund.

His trial was scheduled to start Monday, but in a hearing Friday, Buffis’ attorney Lori Levinson told the judge her client had been taken in for an MRI, according to a court transcript.

Levinson didn’t say much more about his health, but the prosecutor told the judge that in his private conversation with Levinson, she’d provided more details that suggested Buffis’ condition was worse than she was describing in open court.

The judge cancelled the panel of potential jurors scheduled for Monday. Instead, he’ll meet with lawyers late Monday morning to see if the trial can move ahead Tuesday.