Leominster man charged with arson after leaving children unattended to burn stump outside condo complex

LEOMINSTER — On Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at around 3:17 p.m., Officers Shane Crawford and Jonathan Ramos of the Leominster Police Department were dispatched to the Pierce Manor condominium complex located at 593 Main Street to assist the Leominster Fire Department with a man who was burning a stump on the premises.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed personnel narrative of Officer Crawford and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“Upon arrival I saw water streaming down the road and a smoldering stump that was smoking and charred,” Officer Crawford said. “I then spoke with Leominster Fire Department Lieutenant Jay Lucier. Lt. Lucier informed me that they were responding to another call for service when they saw the stump actively on fire and burning, with a male, later identified as Mr. David Worth, standing by watching it burn. Lt. Lucier stated he attempted to have a conversation with Mr. Worth, however, he was dismissive and not receptive, stating that it was private property, and that he could do as he wanted.”

According to police, David K. Worth, 36, is a resident of 593 Main Street, Apt. 302, Leominster, MA.

Officer Crawford walked over to Worth and asked him what was going on, to which Worth simply responded, “nothing.”

“At this point, Mr. Worth picked up a large glass vase and a metal cover to a pot,” Officer Crawford said. “Mr. Worth then repeated that ‘nothing was going on.’”

Officer Crawford stated that there was a smoldering stump right there, so something was going on, but Worth was dismissive, responding, “that’s not a crime.”

Officer Crawford said Worth then began walking away from him in the direction of his condo.

“I then told him that I needed to speak with him to which he stated ‘Are you detaining me?’” Officer Crawford said. “I then informed him that I was detaining him. Mr. Worth then asked ‘For what?’ I then informed him for arson and that I needed his ID. Mr. Worth then began arguing with me on the legality of what arson was. Mr. Worth was refusing to identify himself. Mr. Worth continued to want to argue that he was on private property and that burning the tree stump was not arson. I attempted to reason with Mr. Worth, however, he refused to comply and demanded a supervisor.”

At this point, Officer Crawford requested the Leominster Police Department’s Street Supervisor Sergeant NY Mao to come to the scene. Officer Jonathan Ramos, who had already arrived to assist, attempted to explain the situation to Worth. However, Worth responded by stating that he was going to “answer no questions.”

Officer Crawford stated that Worth then began to walk away in an attempted to re-enter his apartment, at which point the officer informed him that he was not free to leave.

“Mr. Worth then was demanding to be detained, arrested, and charged with a crime,” Officer Crawford said. “Mr. Worth was still argumentative and refusing to identify himself, despite me informing him that he was detained, and that there was an active criminal investigation. Mr. Worth stated that he was going to go into his apartment, to which I stated that he was not and that he was not free to leave.”

Officer Crawford said that Worth then stated that there “was no crime” and began walking back towards the stump he had been burning.

“Given Mr. Worth’s defiant state and repeated attempts to leave the area, despite being told multiple times that he was not free to leave, I then grabbed his right arm and told him to place his hands behind his back,” Officer Crawford said. “Mr. Worth immediately brought his arm towards his waistline. I attempted to bring Mr. Worth’s arm behind his back while ordering him to do so. I could feel Mr. Worth’s muscular power fighting against me as I attempted to place his arms behind his back. I warned him that he would have more charges if he continued with his physically resistant actions.”

Officer Crawford said Officer Ramos then attempted to get Worth’s other hand behind his back.

“Mr. Worth then began using his muscular power in his arm to pull it towards his waistline as Ofc. Ramos attempted to place it behind his back,” Officer Crawford said. “Mr. Worth then sat down to the ground on his buttocks and placed his hands underneath his legs, interlocking them together. Mr. Worth continued to refuse to place his hands behind his back, despite lawful orders to do so.”

Officer Crawford said that Worth continued to fight with both him and Officer Ramos and then rolled onto his back, at which point he heard Officer Ramos say that Worth kicked him. After repeatedly warning Worth to place his hands behind his back or risk being tased, Worth finally complied, allowing the officers to handcuff him.

“Please note that this whole incident occurred on the front lawn of 593 Main Street, which is a very busy and heavily traveled portion of road,” Officer Crawdford said. “This also occurred at 3:17 p.m. on a Tuesday, a time when multiple schools were letting out.”

Officer Crawford noted that the stump was about two feet from the sidewalk, which is “moderately traveled by pedestrians,” approximately six feet from Main Street (Route 13), and about 25 feet from a building where multiple people live in condominium units. He also mentioned that residents from 593 Main Street came out with looks of concern to witness the spectacle caused by Mr. Worth.

Officer Crawford said that he then secured Worth in the back seat of a cruiser.

“Once Mr. Worth was in a cruiser in handcuffs, this is when he verbally identified himself,” Officer Crawford said. “Please note that Mr. Worth did leave his 5-year-old son [name redacted] and his 3 year old daughter [name redacted], unattended in their apartment so that he could burn the stump. Officers did go into the apartment and standby with the children until their great grandpa [name redacted] arrived to watch the children. A 51a was filed on behalf of the children.”

A 51A form is a mandatory report that professionals in Massachusetts, who work with children, must file with the DCF when they suspect that a child is being abused, neglected, or both.

Officer Crawford then went to speak with Lt. Lucier of the Leominster Fire Department who was still on scene.

“I then returned to Lt. Lucier who confirmed that Mr. Worth stated that he lit the stump on fire and that he was getting rid of it,” Officer Crawford recounted. “Please note that once at the station at booking, Mr. Worth stated that the building [where he resides – 593 Main Street] was condominiums and that he was on the Board of Trustees.”

Officer Crawford reported that he then spoke with Gabrielle Surette of Empire Management on a recorded line at the station. Surette informed him that the building is called “Pierce Manor Condos” and is managed by her company under contract with the Board of Trustees. She also mentioned that Mr. Worth is one of the three members of the “Volunteer Board of Trustees,” alongside Mr. Adam Fini and Ms. Susan Worth.

Officer Crawford then contacted Mr. Adam Fini, who confirmed that he is also on the board and explained that every condo unit owner has an equal say in decisions regarding the property, with equal ownership rights. He added that board members are elected and must adhere to the bylaws. When asked if burning the stump had been voted on and approved, Mr. Fini said it had not. Therefore, Mr. Worth does not have sole ownership of the stump, as all condo unit owners at “Pierce Manor Condos” share equal ownership, and any action must be voted on and approved.

Worth was charged with the following:

• Willful and Malicious Burning
• Vandalize Property
• Assault and Battery on a Police Officer
• Resisting Arrest
• Disorderly Conduct

Worth’s bail was set at $250 cash.

Worth was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Sept. 18, 2024. Worth’s next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for Oct. 24, 2024.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from September, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.

To learn more about News Link Live’s unique business model, please read the following:

An online business model that could replace local newspapers

The Medium is the Message by Marshall McCLuhan

The Ego and the ID by Sigmund Freud