Chief Richard D. Howe
20 Westford Road
Tyngsborough, MA 01879
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jordan@jgpr.net
Tyngsborough Police Charge Man Following Attempted Boat Theft
TYNGSBOROUGH — Chief Richard D. Howe reports that the Tyngsborough Police Department will charge a man after he allegedly attempted to steal two boats on the Merrimack River earlier today.
A BURLINGTON MAN, AGE 45, will be issued a summons on the following charges:
- Malicious Destruction of Property over $1,200
- Arrestee Furnishing False ID to Law Enforcement
- Larceny over $1,200
At 12:33 p.m., Tyngsborough Police were dispatched to shore of the Merrimack River near 141 Middlesex Road after a bystander observed a nude man behaving suspiciously in the area of docked boats.
Upon arrival, officers located the suspect fully nude and attempting to untie a boat from its moorings. A second boat had already been untied when officers arrived. When officers approached him, he jumped into the river and swam to a distance where officers could not reach him.
Out of concern for his safety, officers requested the assistance of the Tyngsborough Fire Department, which responded to the scene and deployed a boat into the river and subsequently retrieved him downstream. Once he returned to shore, the man was transported to Lowell General Hospital for observation.
“I’m glad that our officers were able to intervene before this suspect was able to successfully leave the scene with a stolen boat,” Chief Howe said. “I’m also grateful that nobody was injured as a result of this incident, and for the professional and quick response of the Tyngsborough Fire Department in safely rescuing him from the water.”
Upon further investigation, officers determined that the suspect caused damage to the interior of one of the boats and also allegedly provided a false name to officers.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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