LEOMINSTER — On Sunday, September 1, 2024, at approximately 12:20 p.m., Officer Tanner Jakola of the Leominster Police Department was dispatched to the area outside the food court at the Mall at Whitney Field, located at 100 Commercial Road, in response to a report of an older white male huffing vapors under a tree.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Jakola and Officer Ramos and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
When he arrived on scene, Officer Jakola spoke with a mall security officer who said that he witnessed a man – later identified as Raymond Golden – sitting under a tree outside of the food court huffing vapors from an aerosol can. The security officer stated that he approached Golden to ask if he was okay, and Golden responded saying that he was fine. The security officer then observed Golden take another huff off of the aerosol can in his presence.
According to police, Raymond Golden, 52, resides at 42 West Street, Leominster, MA.
Officer Jakola said he then walked over to Golden, who was still sitting under the tree when he arrived on scene.
“Next to Raymond was a plastic bag containing three bottles labelled ‘Duster,’” Officer Ramos said. “I asked Raymond if he needed medical attention, he declined. I asked Raymond if he was huffing the duster bottles, to which he responded he was not. Raymond advised he purchased the duster bottles to clean keyboards he had at home and was waiting at the mall for the bus to bring him home. I picked up one of the duster bottles and it was empty. Dispatch advised Raymond had a non-extraditable warrant out of Florida. Raymond was able to tell me where he was, what the warrant out of Florida was for, and where he lived. Raymond was also able to walk in a straight line. Raymond was advised to leave the property, which he did.”
Officer Jakola said that about 15 minutes later, Officer Tiffany Craven told him that she saw Golden sitting under a tree near the Market Basket parking lot, huffing from a Duster bottle. Market Basket’s parking lot is about 200 yards from the food court.
“I responded to the location,” Officer Jakola said. “I witnessed two ‘Duster’ bottles next to Raymond. One was full, the other was nearly empty and cold to the touch. I advised Raymond he could either go to the hospital or to jail. Raymond elected the hospital. While waiting for an ambulance, Raymond advised the conditions of huffing vapors last only 10 minutes, which leads me to believe Raymond was familiar with the substance and intentionally used it to get high. Raymond was advised he would be summoned to court. Leominster Fire transported Raymond to the hospital.”
Officer Jakola requested a hearing for Golden on the charge of “Smelling Substance with Toxic Vapor.“
Incident on September 3, 2024, at Blossom Street and Abbott Avenue
On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at approximately 7:35 p.m., Officer Jonathan Ramos of the Leominster Police Department was dispatched to the intersection of Blossom Street and Abbott Avenue following a report of an individual huffing canned air.
“I arrived on scene and began to look for the involved individual, believed to be Mr. Golden based on the reported information,” Officer Ramos said. “Upon arrival, I confirmed that it was in fact Mr. Golden. He was lying on his back on the easement between the property of 118 Blossom Street and the roadway.”
“I observed Mr. Golden holding an aerosol can in his right hand,” Officer Ramos said.
As he began to exit his cruiser, Officer Golden said Golden was holding the aerosol can with his mouth on the opening.
“It is common, based on my training and experience, that individuals doing this are normally inhaling C02 cannisters or keyboard cleaner,” Officer Ramos said. “These products are known to produce an intoxication when inhaled in the manner that Mr. Golden did as they contain toxic vapors. I heard Mr. Golden intentionally inhaling the toxic vapors while I could hear the can being depleted of the air inside of it. Mr. Golden appeared to be doing so for the purpose of causing intoxication, exhilaration, or dulled senses.”
Officer Ramos approached Golden and announced his presence.
“Mr. Golden appeared to be in a trans-like state and had pin point pupils which are consistent with being under the influence of an intoxicating substance,” Officer Ramos said. “Mr. Golden was still holding the can in his right hand. Mr. Golden’s statements were not making any sense and he was unable to speak clearly. I ordered Mr. Golden to give me the can, which he struggled to do. I felt the can to be so cold that it could have caused skin damage with prolonged exposure. The can being this cold is consistent with fresh use.”
Officer Ramos said he helped Golden sit up while he waited for the Leominster Fire Department to arrive on scene to provide Golden with medical attention. Officer Nicholas Rice had also been called to the scene for backup.
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“Mr. Golden declined to go to the hospital after being medically cleared,” Officer Ramos said. “He was then placed under arrest for being in violation of MGL 270/18 Smelling Substance with Toxic Vapor. Mr. Golden, while in my presence, inhaled an aerosol can of keyboard cleaner that contained toxic fumes for the purpose of causing a condition of intoxication. Mr. Golden then tried to recant his decision once he was informed that he was under arrest.”
Officer Ramos said he handcuffed Golden behind his back, searched him, and then transported him to the station for booking. Officer Ramos said that as he searched Golden’s backpack, he found three aerosol cans which he placed into evidence.
“There is one can that is mostly empty, which he was consuming in my presence,” Officer Ramos said. “There were two other cans in his backpack, which were sealed. I have placed these items into evidence locker 001.”
Officer Ramos stated that the Leominster Police Department had previous interactions with Golden for similar behavior on August 26, 2024, September 1, 2024, as well as during the current incident and an earlier one on the same day, September 3, 2024.
“On 8/26/2024, Officer Schwartz observed Mr. Golden seemingly passed out with a can of duster near him. The can was reported to be ice cold,” Officer Ramos said.
“On 9/1/2024, Officer Rice responded to a call for the report of a male party who appeared to be huffing from a can,” Officer Ramos said. “Mr. Golden was in possession of a can of compressed air that was reported to be very cold.”
“On 9/1/2024, Officer [Tanner] Jakola responded to the report of an older male party huffing vapors,” Officer Ramos said. “Officer [Tiffany] Craven, while on scene, witnessed Mr. Golden inhaling the vapors from the duster bottle.”
“On 9/3/2024, Officer Dingman responded to the report of an overdose,” Officer Ramos said. “Mr. Golden denied inhaling the toxic vapors, although the footage clearly shows him inhaling the vapors then falling off of a bench. He appeared to be incapacitated.”
Officer Ramos conducted a background check on Golden using the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and discovered two charges for “Inhale Ingest or Poss W/Int Harmful Chemicals” from Florida. He noted that the first charge was dated May 21, 2024, from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the second was from August 7, 2024, from the St. Lucie County Clerk of Court.
Following his arrest on Sept. 3, 2024, Golden was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Sept. 4, 2024. Following his arraignment, Golden was released on his own personal recognizance.
His next court date was a pretrial diversion hearing scheduled for Oct. 9, 2024.
Under MGL 270/18 in Massachusetts, penalties for inhaling a toxic substance can include a fine of up to $200, a jail sentence of up to six months, or both.
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.
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