Published: 03/22/2007 Police issue warning letter to councilor for verbal spar By Katie Farrell Staff writer
AMESBURY - Police have sent a letter to Municipal Councilor Mario Pinierio warning him they have "sufficient probable cause" to charge him with assault against Cider Hill Farm co-owner Karen Cook, but Cook has advised them to drop the case.
The police department's nearly month-long investigation followed a verbal altercation between Pinierio and Cook after the Feb. 22 council meeting in Town Hall, a special morning meeting during which councilors set the date for a recall election against Councilor Michelle Thone. Lt. Gary Ingham sent Pinierio's attorney, Debra Dow, a letter Monday informing her that the investigation was closed and no criminal charges will be filed against Pinierio. Ingham told Dow that "sufficient probable cause existed to seek a criminal complaint for assault" but Cook stated her desire was that the case not reach the criminal level. Pinierio yesterday declined to comment on the report or answer any questions about the incident. According to a police report, Cook said she was approached by Pinierio after the meeting adjourned, while she was standing in the back of Town Hall auditorium. The two began discussing the council's decision to set a split tax rate in December. Pinierio, 66, of Gardner Street, represents District 2. Pinierio, along with the majority of councilors - Christopher Lawrence, Thone, Donna McClure, Hank Brennick and Alison Lindstrom - voted in favor of a split tax rate in December that increased property taxes on business, and caused many homeowners' tax bills to increase only slightly. The controversial measure drew public outcry from residents and business owners who argued it would hurt the downtown. According to Cook's statement, as the conversation continued, Pinierio "got closer" and "began wagging his finger at my face." Pinierio "began discussing loudly" the tax situation, telling Cook "if I am so concerned about where the money is being spent, I should be upset regarding the superintendent of schools' raise" and children not being able to get textbooks. Cook stated in the police report, "he was extremely inappropriate in his behavior, became more and more angry, hostile and volatile, in close proximity to my face and person, wagging his finger at me, from the beginning of our conversation. I've never experienced anything quite like it."
In a March 15 letter to Sgt. Mark Gagnon, Dow said Pinierio was requesting that police pursue an assault and battery complaint against Linda Meskie, a witness to the incident who walked over and physically took Pinierio's finger away from Cook's face, several times, saying "Please don't point." Police did not pursue that investigation or charges against Meskie. "Physically touching someone who has differing political views is not acceptable and cannot be allowed to continue in this town," Dow wrote. "Similarly, reporting someone to the police because they do not politically agree with your position, or actually stand up for their own political views, establishes a dangerous precedent; this is particularly the case when the police are involved in encouraging such reporting." Dow also requested the employment log for Ingham from Feb. 1 to March 15, under the Freedom of Information Act. That request was denied by Ingham, who argued it is exempt from public records law. In his letter to Dow, Ingham said Pinierio's behavior was "very much out of line." "This is particularly true considering the fact that, at the time of the incident, Mr. Pinierio was acting under of the authority of his official position as a City Councilor, in a public building and interacting with a female constituent. Mr Pinierio acted in a hostile and aggressive manner towards Ms. Cook," Ingham wrote. Cook has declined to comment publicly on the incident, but called it "unfortunate." "Abuse of any kind cannot be tolerated," she said. The mayor's office and the Municipal Council also received copies of Cook's complaint. Mayor Thatcher Kezer said he doesn't expect to call for additional police presence at future council meetings. He only chose to do so when the council voted on whether to split the tax rate due to the confined meeting space in the Ordway Building, Kezer said. "They're on call; they're right next door," Kezer said recently. Ingham said recently that the police are becoming concerned about how things are "getting a little out of hand" due to the political climate in town. Reports of e-mail threats, allegations and other offenses come into the station almost daily that need to be reviewed and addressed, Ingham said. Some cases are more serious than others, but "it's all relating to politics," Ingham said.
"The present political environment is the catalyst for all of it," Ingham said. "Over the last several weeks, it's taken a more aggressive escalation and that is a concern. It's getting to the point where things like this have to be addressed."
Posted by: USMCMP5811
Ok, why report the matter if you're not going to go through with the complaint..sheeeesh......
Posted by: alphadog1
what a waste of time & resources!
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops