NEWBURYPORT — Mayor Donna Holaday and City Marshal Mark Murray report that the Newburyport Police Department will charge a Methuen man following an altercation over the weekend.
DANIEL T. CAIN, AGE 61, OF METHUEN will be summonsed to Newburyport District Court at a later date on charges of:
- Annoying and Accosting a Person (Two Counts)
- Disturbing the Peace
- Disorderly Conduct
“This kind of behavior has no place in our community,” Marshal Murray said. “I’m proud of the thorough work the investigating officers did to identify this individual and hold him accountable.”
On Saturday, Aug. 22, a Newburyport Police Officer patroling near Michael’s Harborside was approached by two women who reported being accosted by a man while walking their dog on the Clipper City Rail Trail. During an initial investigation, the officer learned that the two women were approached by a man, later identified as CAIN, who was walking his dog without a leash heading in the opposite direction.
CAIN allegedly leaned into the two women, who are Black, and made offensive comments toward relating to their race and gender. One of the women photographed CAIN using her phone and provided the photo to police. CAIN then allegedly called the woman taking his picture a vulgar and disparaging word.
Through an aggressive investigation, Newburyport Police were able to identify and question CAIN. As a result of that investigation, the department has filed criminal charges against him in connection with the incident.
“This is an extremely disturbing situation, and I commend the Newburyport Police Department and Marshal Murray for mounting an aggressive and swift investigation that has identified a suspect who now have to answer for his actions in court,” Mayor Holaday said. “There is no room for this kind of hate and intolerance in Newburyport.”
Contrary to reports on social media, this incident is not connected with an incident from July 16 in which a group of youths was accosted downtown.
Saturday’s incident remains under investigation.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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