Nahant parking ticket turns into arrest for Lynn man

NAHANT – Police arrested an irate motorist after the Lynn man ripped up a traffic ticket, refused to leave the police station and made threats, according to officers.Matthew Hatch, 21, 50 Bullfinch St., Lynn was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct Tuesday evening.Lt. Thomas Hutton, who is the public information officer, said the officers gave the suspect every chance to exit the station without incident.”He literally talked himself into jail,” Hutton said. “The officers repeatedly told him to leave and how to appeal the ticket. He was told repeatedly to leave or ‘we’re going to arrest you.'”Hutton said Hatch was issued a $300 citation for going 40 mph in a 25 mph zone.”We received complaints from a resident in town, who complained about him speeding around town,” Hutton said. “He has also been issued citations in Nahant previously for speeding and tossing trash out the window of his vehicle.”Essex County District Attorney’s Office Spokesman Steve O’Connell said Hatch pleaded innocent at his arraignment on Wednesday. Lynn District Court Judge Ellen Flatley issued a bail warning and Hatch is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing sometime in October.Hatch, who was driving a 1999 Chevy truck, went to the station to complain about a speeding ticket he received from Sgt. Stephen Schultz, according to a police report.”He stated he was not going to pay it and ripped it up,” Schultz wrote in the report. “He then asked me if there was a trash barrel. I stated no and told him to put it in his pocket.”Hatch asked if he could leave the ticket on the table in the lobby of the station and he was told no. Schultz told Hatch to put the ticket in his pocket.”He went on about how he was from Lynn,” Schultz wrote in his report. “I explained how to respond to the ticket properly and asked CP (complainant) to leave several times before escorting CP out of the station for failing to disperse. I told him if he came back in he would be arrested for trespassing.”Hutton said after being escorted out of the station, Hatch remained outside the station and made a cell phone call and two of his friends came to the station, according to the police report.Officer Eugene Spelta told all three men to leave, but Hatch again said he would not leave.Spelta told Hatch to remove his truck from the police station lot or it would be towed, but the suspect told police to tow it and then stated he “was going to punch the tow truck driver in the head,” according to the police report.Hutton said Spelta and Schultz asked Hatch to leave again and once again he refused to leave and would not move his vehicle.Schultz explained how Hatch could properly appeal the ticket and asked him to leave.”Once again the party (Hatch) refused,” Schultz wrote. “And became belligerent, hostile and raised his voice to both officers.”After Schultz explained he could be charged with disorderly conduct if he refused to leave, Hatch continued to rail against the officers and refused to obey their orders, according to the police report.He was then arrested.