Massachusetts State Police arrested a Saugus man after a dispute following an unsecured load in the man’s pickup truck on Friday morning.
Joshua Thomson, 32, was charged with failure to stop for police and disorderly conduct from a person.
At 10:30 a.m., Thomson was pulled over on Route 1 in Revere after a state trooper noticed his unsecured load of scrap metal items and a hot water tank, according to a State Police press release. The tank was secured with only one bungee cord and the tailgate of the truck was down.
Trooper Tah Yem reported that the truck, described as a Ford F150, was traveling in both the right travel lane and the breakdown lane at a slow speed. When Yem pulled him over, Thomson reportedly began to argue with him, saying that his load was secure.
The trooper issued Thomson a citation for having an unsecured load and gave him a warning for the marked lanes violation, according to police. Yem advised him to get off at the next exit and properly secure his load, given it was unsafe to other motorists.
As the trooper walked back to his car, Thomson reportedly got out of his truck and began recording him with his cellphone while walking in the right travel lane. Thompson got back into his pickup truck after being ordered to, but not before throwing insults at the trooper.
Thomson began traveling southbound going about 25 mph in a 55 mph zone, all while holding his cellphone out the window to record Yem, who was traveling behind him. He created a traffic backup, as he was unable to stay traveling in his lane, before exiting Route 1 onto Route 16, according to police.
The trooper pulled Thomson over for a second time and issued another citation for unlawful use of a cell phone, marked lanes violation, and breakdown lane violation. As Yem began walking back to his cruiser, Thomson reportedly exited his vehicle again, yelling more insults and threatening physical harm to the state trooper.
After being ordered back into his vehicle, Thomson proceeded to take an illegal left turn. Yem attempted to pull him over for a third time, but Thomson refused to stop, according to police.
The Saugus resident eventually pulled over in a parking lot, where he was placed under arrest. He was booked at the State Police Barracks in Revere, where police say he continued to threaten the state trooper. Thomson was later taken to Chelsea District Court for arraignment.
Bella diGrazia can be reached at [email protected].
