Man Assaulted with Baseball Bat at Varney Park
The man was assaulted after an argument about a basketball game, police said.
Police arrested two people last night at 6:55 p.m. after police were called to Varney Park for a report of a disturbance and fight involving a baseball bat.
Police said the fight started over a dispute about a basketball game going on at the park.
Police said a 45-year-old Chelmsford man had been assaulted by two people, one of whom used a baseball bat to physically strike him. Officers detained the suspects involved in the incident after they drove off from the area. The baseball bat was found at the scene, police said, and the two suspects were charged in the incident.
Zachary Laporte, 17, of 20 Bridge St. Nashua, N.H. charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct.
David Garcia, 41, of 390 Lowell St., Peabody, will be summoned to court and charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct.
Police said a 14-year-old male of Market Street in Lowell, who was a passenger in the motor vehicle police stopped, was also arrested on two outstanding warrants.
The 45-year-old victim was assaulted after attempting to diffuse the situation, police said.
Police said the man declined medical transport at the scene, but said he would seek treatment on his own.
Debra Leblanc
6:38 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
This is why it should be residents only..
John Gault
7:57 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
<This comment has no sarcasm>
There was a rather long discussion about whether the beaches should be resident only or not. In the thread were posted a few examples of violence and general bad behavior at Freeman Lake.
Now there was an assault in the same area on a respected coach who was trying to break up a fight.
During both threads, not ONCE did any BOS member post to say they were looking into fixing these issues.
However, if RVL turns up on the Patch, 9 times out of 10 you can be sure to see a retort by a member.
Since I usually poke fun of people who seem to blame everything on the BOS, I also have to point out the other side, when the BOS don't seem to be recognizing an issue.
Am I wrong? Comments?
Brad Rigby
10:59 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
John Gault, your “no sarcasm” disclaimer on this posting was helpful here; I’ve definitely appreciated the extraordinarily dry humor in many of your past comments.
As far as I know, only two BOS members have mostly posted on the Patch (or most other such outlets) over the past year or so, and one of them has drastically (ahem) “KURtailed” his posting tendencies since being voted in as Chairman of the BOS (I’m guessing he may have perceived some pressure to rein in his frequent posting habit). The other, Matt Hanson, has posted somewhat frequently, but not generally in a “retorting” manner but earnestly attempting to explain what the Board has been doing. Both of them seemed to post primarily to avoid having one side of a divisive issue be presented and have serious allegations go unchallenged by the Board. I would say one shouldn’t take the absence of BOS postings on issues in general to suggest that they are unaware or unconcerned about them.
Jon Kurland
6:32 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
John - Here is what is taking place to address this concern. The police are now enforcing the curfew on the park, there now is an officier and cruiser at the park from noon until 8 p.m., the DPW is enhancing the lighting in the park to improve visibility and the DPW is investigating installing surveillience cameras which will moniter different areas of the park and which will feed directly into the police station. These cameras will also record any incidents that might occur in the future. The imposition of fees was considered but create legal and logisitical concerns. This will all be discussed at our next meeting.
Phil Stanway
6:53 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Thanks for the update Jon. I could not make the last meeting but want to make the next one so when is it?
As for the comment on "not the best part of town" Varney is one our best open spaces in town and also located in NoCho a new community garden, Deep Brook, 70 acres of westlands below the dam, Crooked Springs, Ball fields, Freeman lake, a common , an old town hall, Wotton St Farm and soon Oak Hill. bottom line... comment is just silly.
John Gault
5:21 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012
Thank you for your follow up Mr Kurland.
Phil stanway
8:23 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The land for Varney Park was deeded to the town as a public park(see patch story). If it had been deeded as a town park that would be different.... but its was not. Heart Pond was acquired with CPC money (state kicks in) so that has to be open to everyone. No matter what people want or feel these are the facts. I would love to see the original deed and what restrictions were included... maybe Patch could get a copy?
Eileen Cushing-Craig
9:20 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Maybe it's because we're having such a hot, dry summer, but it does seem that the activity around Varney Park/Freeman Lake really merits more monitoring by the police, at least in the short term. I live on the other side of town, so I am not there very often. My son's team plays baseball at the baseball field at Varney, and when I have been there watching, I have witnessed some of the problems that have been reported here by other commenters: loud, fast-moving cars roaring up and down the streets around the park, people changing babies and leaving dirty diapers in the street, overflowing trash cans, just a general lack of respect for the neighbors, and lack of caring for the beauty of the spot. Not sure what the answer is, but at a minimum, our police department could step up its patrols around the lake especially in the hot summer evenings.
Phil stanway
12:31 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I have been to Varney a lot this summer and CPD has stepped up monitoring the area and can be seen many times walking not only Varney but out to the area below the water tower. enforcement of no cooking or booze (on both beaches) has decreased the number of incidents. If any issues do happen and they are called CPD is on site in minutes. Its a very busy place but both the volunteers and CPD are doing a great job. I have not had a single report of any issues with the volunteers or lifeguards so far this year. Yes it gets packed and yes the number of people do pose issues BUT if you exclude this tragic event the summer has so far been without major incident.
The people involved in this incident should however have the book thrown at them... no community service.. jail time.
Townie
5:01 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Not a great area of town!
Maria Karafelis
11:41 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I resent that statement. Do you live in North Chelmsford? It's a wonderful area, the neighborhood surrounding the lake, playground and ball field is very quaint. Varney Park and Freeman Lake are a great asset for the North Chelmsford area. One incident does not make it a "not a great area of town".
Oreo
12:22 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Hey Townie,
At least we are not stuck up like you!!! You friggin jerk
Diane McCusker
11:13 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
Here it is..... who is cleaning the beach? Does the town pay anything to clean and keep up the beach? I hear that a volunteer does everything...On another note, considering that Ayotte field is the Chelmsford high school varsity baseball home field, as a parent, I would be concerned that my child was playing in that environment. Does the town maintain any part of Ayotte field?
Does anyone have any information on this???
Diane McCusker
Phil Stanway
5:48 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012
COSS maintiains Heart pond and supports Santago Rios at Varney. The baseball fields are maintained by Green Acres (they do a great job) the playgorund is handled by Varney Park group.
Ryan McNeal
12:57 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Ryan McNeal
Hello Everyone;
The ball field and park area is literally my back yard and over the past few years my wife and I have witnessed a growing problem. Unfortunately, there has been a large increase in despicable actively in the park and an even greater disrespect for the park. Again, unfortunately, an act of violence has lead to the town and the community "waking up" to what is happening. As you read in Jon Kurland's response, there has been a large increase in police activity in the area. Thank you to them. They seem to have curbed the undesirables at the park however, the extra patrols are only a temporary fix. A planning committee is in place and are providing recommendations for some major park improvements. At the last meeting a large contingent of the community was present and able to voice concerns in regards to public safety at the park. Thankfully the message seemed to have gotten across. My hope is that before any improvements are addressed, the BOS and the Town Manager's office will help to improve the safety of the park goers as well as the community as a whole. Please do all that you can to help out in the situation. Go to the park and beach. Let's overrun the undesirables. Say thank you to the Chelmsford PD. Say thanks to Santiago for his tireless efforts. Attend all of the meetings and voice your concerns. We cannot let this slip by any longer!
Mira Rondak
9:01 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Santiago should be recognized for all of his efforts however, more support is needed.