A Boston fireplace lieutenant has been arrested and held in jail with out bail, because the army veteran faces dozens of prices for firearm offenses and meth trafficking.
Boston Fireplace Lt. Joshua Thompson, who took house greater than $160,000 final 12 months, was arrested by Milton Police on Tuesday for allegedly violating a restraining order.
The 38-year-old father of three — who has been with BFD for greater than 12 years — was initially arraigned on Wednesday in Quincy District Court docket and held with out bail, because the decide scheduled a dangerousness listening to for Friday.
In the meantime because the Milton Police investigation continued, Thompson was charged with extra offenses — together with a number of gun prices and trafficking methamphetamine.
In keeping with a Metropolis of Boston spokesperson, he has been positioned on “unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the court proceedings and an internal investigation.”
Thompson’s spouse informed police earlier this week that her husband was maintaining firearms inside his house, whereas Thompson’s license to hold had been revoked.
“Any possession of firearms was extremely troubling to the police,” the Norfolk County prosecutor stated throughout Friday’s courtroom listening to.
His spouse then obtained a restraining order in opposition to Thompson. She detailed a number of alleged incidents from the previous 12 months.
“Mr. Thompson is escalating,” the prosecutor stated. “His pattern of behavior is becoming more unhinged and more dangerous as he goes… the defendant’s behavior is becoming more erratic and more paranoid as the time continues.”
As an illustration, Thompson allegedly blew a leaf blower in his spouse’s face. He additionally allegedly pressured her to flush her wedding ceremony ring down the bathroom.
Thompson allegedly used a knife to stab a car’s tires whereas his children had been within the automobile, and he allegedly yanked the automobile’s wheel whereas his spouse was driving with the children.
His spouse reportedly discovered an app on her cellphone that recorded her conversations and areas. Thompson allegedly stole her cellphone a number of instances within the final 12 months.
Thompson can also be accused of breaking into her house and changing the smoke detectors with hidden cameras.
“That is extremely paranoid and troubling behavior,” the prosecutor stated.
His spouse reported to police that Thompson was maintaining a big assault-style firearm in his house. Additionally, as a result of his license to hold was revoked, police knew that he had not turned over three registered weapons.
Consequently, Milton Police obtained a search warrant for Thompson’s house. When police knocked on his door, Thompson was allegedly adamant that there have been no weapons within the house.
Police then executed the search warrant on the house and located: 5 assault-style rifles that had been unregistered, 5 unregistered handguns, about 2,000 rounds of ammunition, 76 handgun and rifle magazines, 4 ballistic vests, and a number of tourniquets stashed across the house.
Weapons had been discovered in numerous hidden spots within the house. As an illustration, police discovered a handgun inside a cooler subsequent to the entrance door.
“These firearms were strategically placed inside of the home, different vantage points,” the prosecutor stated. “When they would find a firearm, they would likely find a ballistic vest as well as a tourniquet in that area… Mr. Thompson appears to be preparing himself for some type of conflict.”
Police additionally discovered 100 drugs that seemed to be Adderall. Police examined them and decided that the drugs had been optimistic for meth.
“It’s the Commonwealth’s belief that the defendant is abusing methamphetamines, and that is leading to the state of paranoia he appears to be living in,” the prosecutor stated.
The Norfolk DA’s workplace was calling for him to be held with out bail behind bars, warning that Thompson wouldn’t observe any circumstances and stay-away orders.
On the opposite facet, Thompson’s protection lawyer known as for his shopper to be launched.
“Absolutely no history of violence whatsoever,” his lawyer stated. “No violent tendencies… no indications that he’s a dangerous person.”
Thompson is a “decorated” army veteran, spending time within the Navy and Military, serving in Iraq. He’s a gun collector and has been identified with PTSD, his lawyer stated.
“He’s the antithesis of a dangerous person,” the lawyer added. “He’s a dedicated first responder.”
Thompson “made a mistake” and did not register the weapons, his lawyer stated.
“At no time in Mr. Thompson’s life has he ever been alleged to have used a firearm improperly, discharged a firearm improperly, or threatened another individual with a firearm,” the lawyer stated.
Thompson ought to be at house to be along with his younger children, as a substitute of being locked up for extra time, the lawyer added.
He also needs to enter a therapy facility, the lawyer stated. The middle would assist him with psychological well being and substance use. His lawyer additionally steered that Thompson have a GPS monitor as a bail situation.
The decide after the dangerousness listening to dominated that Thompson be held in jail with out bail. He was additionally ordered to obey the phrases of the restraining order.
The subsequent listening to date within the case is Sept. 23.
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