WINCHENDON —On Monday, March 18, 2024, at 1:50 a.m., Chief Daniel Wolski of the Winchendon Police Department was exiting the police station to get into his cruiser when he heard someone yelling from the Central Street area.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Chief Wolski and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“I observed Ed Ford in the roadway of the police station entrance,” Chief Wolski said. “Ed was flailing his arms and repeatedly yelling ‘F$ck you! F$ck you!’ He then began pointing at me when he realized he had gained my attention.”
According to court documents, Edward Ford, 38, is primarily homeless in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire.
Chief Wolski mentioned that he has previously had multiple similar interactions with Ford.
“Every time he sees me walking in public on Central Street he erupts into a profanity-laced rant directed towards me,” Chief Wolski said. “It has come to the point that I have become hesitant to do foot patrols on Central Street (an activity the public has expressed they like) as to avoid a possible encounter with Ed. It is obvious Ed suffers from a mental health disorder and it appears as the Chief of Police, I have become the ire of fantastic delusions he possesses. Ed shouts that I murdered a woman behind the Carriage House Restaurant and that I am selling drugs to the youth of Winchendon. I have largely ignored Ed when he engages in these outbursts because I am considerate of his mental illness.”
Chief Wolski stated that he encountered Ford on Central Street on two prior occasions, once on August 24, 2023, and again on August 31, 2023, during which Ford’s actions constituted a “breach of the peace.”
“After these two incidents I had Officer Brandon Lucier speak with Ed and tell him that he needs to refrain from his disorderly outbursts in public, otherwise he could be subject to arrest,” Chief Wolski explained. “In every instance Ed is not merely making disparaging remarks but also creating an alarming scene by shouting profanities, pointing, and flailing his arms in the vicinity of motorists and pedestrians. Bearing these incidents in mind, I pulled up alongside Ed in my cruiser and told him he needed to stop screaming and swearing as he was creating a disturbance on Central Street. I told Ed it was unreasonable for him to behave this way every time he encounters me and that he had been previously warned that if he did not stop, he may be arrested.”
Chief Wolski added that he would be happy to speak with Ford inside the station to allow him to “air his grievances.” However, this offer did not influence Ford’s conduct, as he persisted in “screaming and swearing on the street.”
(This cartoon is an AI rendering of Genevieve DiNatale)
“Ed continued to yell ‘f$ck you’ and shout that my ‘time was almost up,’” Chief Wolski said. “I noticed Ed had a large sword sticking out of the back of his jacket, visible above his head and shoulder.”
Officer Wolski noted that passing motorists and a nearby pedestrian were drawn to the commotion.
“I warned Ed several times that he needed to stop his disorderly behavior or he was going to be arrested,” Chief Wolski said. “Detective Caleb Similia exited the police station at this time as he could hear the commotion Ed was making from inside and he asked if I needed assistance. Ed began to walk away but repeatedly turned and continued shouting ‘F$ck you!,’ ‘I know you murdered that girl,’ and “Your time is almost up!’ I told Det. Similia that I intended to arrest Ed at this point.”
Det. Similia approached Ford and told him to stop. According to Chief Wolski, Ford continued walking, despite Det. Similia’s order.
“Det. Similia grabbed Ed’s arm and told him to stop,” Chief Wolski said. “Ed did not comply and a struggle ensued. I rushed to Det. Similia’s assistance and we brought Ed to the ground and ordered him to put his hands behind his back. Ed actively resisted, drawing his hands in towards his chest. Despite several attempts to pull Ed’s arms behind his back to handcuff him, while ordering him to comply, he continued to resist. Ed was eventually taken into custody with the assistance of Lt. Kevin Wolski, Officer Richard Oinonen and Officer Brandon Lucier who came from the station as they observed the commotion.”
Chief Wolski added “that during the course of the tussle” with Ford, police found several large knives secured to a belt he was wearing.
Ford was charged with three counts of carrying a dangerous weapon (for the knives/sword) and assault and battery on a police officer (for his interaction with Chief Wolski).
Ford was arraigned in Winchendon District Court on March 19, 2024.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from March, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.
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