Leominster man with over $70k in toolbox and tire iron initiates crime spree with vehicular assault and police chase, culminating at a gas station where he left $900 and a hammer on the counter

LEOMINSTER — On Monday, December 2, 2024, at 12:14 a.m., Officer William Taylor of the Leominster Police Department was dispatched to the intersection of Mechanic Street and Water Street to speak with a 911 caller, Melissa [last name redacted], who had just been involved in a motor vehicle accident in her Honda CR-V.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Taylor, and from the narratives of all other officers referenced in the following story, and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“Melissa stated when she got off of Route 2 onto the Leominster Connector, she observed what she believed was a black pickup truck, which was later learned to be a brown Ford F-250 broken down on the roadside near the on-ramp to I-190; however, when she passed the Ford, it began to follow her,” Officer Taylor said. “After she crossed onto Mechanic Street, traveling west, the Ford pulled alongside her on her left, driving on the wrong side of the road, and began attempting to run Melissa off the road. Melissa turned right (north) onto one of the cross streets (which she believed was Fifth Street), into the French Hill neighborhood, to flee from the Ford. The Ford chased Melissa to Water Street, where she turned left (west). While traveling west on Water Street, between the intersections with Second Street and First Street, the Ford pulled alongside Melissa on her left, intentionally crashed into her, and ‘pinned’ her Honda, forcing her to stop. The Ford’s operator, later identified as Joshua Gardner, then got out and began throwing things at Melissa’s Honda. Joshua opened Melissa’s right rear passenger door and entered her Honda, saying his son was dead and his dead body was in Melissa’s Honda. Joshua was holding what Melissa believed was a red ‘gas can.’ Joshua fled when Melissa said she was calling the police.”

According to police, Joshua M. Gardner, 35, is a resident of 328 Main Street, Leominster, MA.

“Melissa described Joshua as a white male, slightly taller than herself. I observed scratches on the left front corner of Melissa’s Honda,” Officer Taylor said. Adding, “For the above facts, Joshua is being charged with Negligent Operation, Leaving the Scene of Property Damage, ABDW [Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon] to wit Motor Vehicle, Malicious Damage to a Motor Vehicle, and B&E [Breaking and Entering] to a Motor Vehicle for Misdemeanor.”

Second 911 call from Fourth Street

“While I was speaking to Melissa, a second call regarding Joshua came in from residents of Fourth Street, where Joshua was then causing a disturbance and damaging other property,” Officer Taylor said. “Dispatch advised Joshua and the Ford had been BOLO’d by Oxford police the previous evening at 5:45 p.m., according to which, Joshua was believed to be armed with a ‘long gun, rifle,’ and the Oxford Police Department had probable cause to arrest for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.”

“Dispatch promulgated a BOLO [Be on the Lookout] and contacted Worcester police with a request to attempt contact with the Ford’s registered owner, Mary [last name redacted], at her home address in their city, and relay a request to contact this agency,” Officer Taylor said. “As of this writing, Mary has not been heard from.”

The second 911 caller, a resident of 23 Fourth Street, reported that a vehicle matching the description provided by Melissa was parked outside their residence, and the driver had exited the vehicle carrying what appeared to be a “gas can.” Officer Patrick Flory – who happened to be patrolling the area at the time of the call – was dispatched to 23 Fourth Street to attempt to make contact with the suspect.

Suspect attempts to ram police cruiser during escape on dead-end street

“When I arrived in the vicinity of Fourth Street, the truck that was described left the area at a high rate of speed,” Officer Flory said. Adding, “The truck had turned onto Spring Street.”

Officer Flory activated the blue emergency lights on his cruiser and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.

“The truck showed no signs of stopping and continued on Second Street to Spruce Street,” Officer Flory said.

Officer Flory followed the truck as it sped down Spruce Street and turned onto Seventh Street, which is a dead end road.

“When I reached Seventh Street, I also turned down and could see the truck stopped at the dead end of Seventh Street,” Officer Flory said. “I radioed that the vehicle was stopped and waited at the intersection of Mechanic Street and Seventh Street. The truck then turned around and began driving straight toward me. The truck continued to accelerate. I quickly pulled onto Mechanic Street to avoid a possible collision as this operator’s behavior was erratic. It was apparent that if I had not moved my vehicle, he would have rammed into me on purpose. He then continued down Seventh Street where I lost sight of him. I then retreated efforts to keep eyes on the truck with concern for my own safety and the public’s.”

Officer speaks with witness on Fourth Street

While Officer Flory tried to apprehend Gardner in his vehicle on Seventh Street, Officer Taylor went to Fourth Street to speak with a witness, Joel [last name redacted], who resided in the second-floor apartment at 23 Fourth Street.

“Joel stated he looked outside his window when he heard Joshua smash the right rear window of his downstairs neighbor, Wascar [last name redacted]’s, Acura MDX, that was parked in their driveway,” Officer Taylor said. “Joel saw the Ford parked in the driveway and Joshua came out from between the Acura and other cars in the driveway, wielding what he believed to be a tire iron in each hand (please note that the weapon Oxford police suspected Joshua of using in their incident was also a tire iron). Joel observed Joshua head onto a neighbor’s porch before driving away. I observed the Acura’s smashed right rear window. I seized a socket wrench set as evidence that was at the edge of the driveway, which Joel pointed out to me, and said he believed Joshua had thrown, as Joshua was throwing things. I knocked on doors at the neighboring residence where Joel had seen Joshua go onto the porch; there were no answers.”

Alltown gas station incident

At around this time, Officer Taylor said a third call came in regarding Gardner, this time from two employees of the Alltown gas station on New Lancaster Road.

“A third call came in regarding Joshua from employees, Barbara [last name redacted] and Omar [last name redacted], at the Alltown gas station at 280 New Lancaster Road, where Joshua caused another disturbance and threatened to kill Barbara if she called the police, before fleeing towards the highway,” Officer Taylor said. “Officers [Brett] Bourne and [Tiffany] Craven responded to that location and took their statements and observed camera [surveillance] footage.”

Officer Taylor noted that in the gas station’s surveillance footage, Gardner was seen carrying a red Milwaukee [brand] tool box, which he believed could easily have been mistaken for a gas can, as earlier described by Melissa. “It was after obtaining that footage and observing Joshua’s RMV photo, I believe there was probable cause to confirm Joshua’s identity as the suspect,” Officer Taylor added. “Note that the incidents at these three aforementioned locations (Water Street, Fourth Street, and Alltown gas station), were an unbroken sequence of events; in other words, one continuous crime-spree.”

While Officers Bourne and Craven were en route to the Alltown gas station, dispatch informed them that Gardner had entered the gas station, tossed $900 on the checkout counter, and then left heading towards the highway on New Lancaster Road. Upon their arrival, the officers found a hammer on the counter.

Officer Bourne then spoke with Barbara, the assistant manager at the Alltown gas station. She described an encounter with a man who was acting erratically and sweating profusely. He entered the store carrying a red Milwaukee toolbox filled with $100 bills in one hand and a hammer in the other. Barbara also reported that the man told her, “They kidnapped my kid.”

“Barbara stated that she was scared and felt threatened by how the male party was acting,” Officer Bourne said. Adding, “Barbara then stated that the male party tried to hand everybody cash and was seen placing money on shelves and the counter. Barbara stated that this male party tried to give another customer money and then prior to leaving, put money on top of the soda cooler.”

Barbara said that after the man left the business, he came back in, kneeled on the ground next to the front door, and offered a female customer $30,000 for her vehicle.

“Barbara stated that the female customer stated, ‘no,’ and the male party stated, ‘suit yourself then,'” Officer Bourne said. “Barbara stated that the male party then left the store again and got into another vehicle. Barbara stated that she didn’t know what vehicle he got into and stated that she didn’t know what he was doing in the vehicle. Barbara then began to call the police at this time and locked the door to the business.”

Barbara said that while she was standing at the entrance door, the man approached the door and asked her if she was calling the police.

“Barbara stated, ‘yes,’ and then stated that the male party threatened her by saying, ‘get off the phone or I’m going to kill you,'” Officer Bourne said. Barbara said that after he threatened her, he walked over to the truck he was driving, took the plate off, and drove away.

“Barbara stated that the male party took a left on a right turn only and drove outbound on New Lancaster Road, in the opposite direction, using the wrong lane,” Officer Bourne said.

Officer Bourne said that before reviewing the gas station’s surveillance footage with Barbara, he put on nylon gloves and collected the money for evidence.

“Before collecting the money, Officer Craven walked over to me and stated she found a $100 bill on the ground outside,” Officer Bourne added. “Officer Craven believed this to be in connection with the box of money that the male party was holding (Officer Craven later relayed to me outside prior to leaving Alltown gas station that the $100 that she found outside on the ground was in the general area of where the male party had parked his truck). I placed the $100 with the $900, counted all 10 – $100 bills and placed them into an evidence bag. Barbara stated to me that the hammer was left on the counter in the store which I also placed into an evidence bag. Officer Craven relayed to me that she also found a ‘Worcester, MA, Home depot receipt’ and what appeared to be some sort of ‘small broken screwdriver with a black handle’ next to where she found the $100 bill. I placed both the receipt and the screwdriver into an evidence bag.”

After collecting the evidence, Officer Bourne then reviewed the surveillance footage with Barbara.

Officer Bourne reported that while reviewing the surveillance footage, he observed a Caucasian male dressed in a gray sweatshirt with a white logo on it, black sweatpants, and sneakers. The man had a black duffle bag slung over his shoulder and was carrying what initially appeared to be a red gas container, but was later confirmed to be a medium-large red Milwaukee toolbox in his left hand.

“This male party entered the Alltown gas station through the door closest to Subway and Dunkin Donuts (two other businesses that operate inside Alltown gas station) at approximately 12:55 a.m. and proceeded to walk towards the Alltown gas station checkout counter,” Officer Bourne said. “While approaching the counter, the male party walks down the first aisle and takes out a handful of money and puts it down on the merchandise next to a customer who was browsing the store. The customer appeared to be confused and concerned and backed away from the male party. The male party then walks towards an employee of Alltown, identified as Omar [last name redacted]. Omar was seen standing on the opposite side of the aisle. The male party is then seen putting money down on top of a store machine in front of Omar.”

While Officer Bourne examined the surveillance footage, Officer Craven interviewed Omar, the store clerk who appeared in the video, to get his firsthand account of the incident.

“Omar stated that he was standing by the cooler in the middle of the store checking the temperature when he heard the male party enter,” Officer Craven said. “Omar said that he had his back to him when he entered, and he noticed that the male party was not acting normal. Omar said that the male was walking around the store quickly and not making much sense when he was speaking. Omar stated that he asked him if he was okay and the male party stated, ‘Would you be okay if you just had your kid, kidnapped?’ Omar said that he witnessed the male party put the cash on the counter along with a hammer. I asked Omar if he felt threatened to which he said ‘no.’ Omar said that the male party was not holding the hammer in the threatening way, he simply placed it on the counter along with the cash. Omar also said the male party had mentioned something about $50,000 but he could not say what it was in reference to.”

Meanwhile, in the surveillance footage, Officer Bourne said that after the man put the money on the machine next to Omar, he then walked toward the front entrance of the store and opened the door slightly while looking back at the store’s employees.

“The male party then walks a few feet towards the checkout counter next to what Barbara states is a soda cooler and stops,” Officer Bourne said. “The male party then walks to the checkout counter and attempts to go behind it, but Barbara stated that she told him, ‘You cannot come back here.’ While watching the CCTV [surveillance] footage, it is then shown that the male party walks towards the front entrance/exit again, and before exiting, he puts another handful of money on top of the soda cooler, drops his drink, and leaves the store. After the male party leaves the store, approximately 20-30 seconds later, a woman customer wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt enters the store. About 15-30 seconds later, the CCTV footage is showing the male party look inside the store window in the direction of where the woman walked and is seen ducking his head and running towards the direction of where the woman parked her vehicle. Since I couldn’t see footage showing the woman’s car, Barbara stated that the male party opened her driver’s side door and passenger side door. I then saw Barbara walk towards the door while on the phone and then a few seconds later, the male party walked back into the store and kneeled on the ground in front of the store, placed the red Milwaukee toolbox on the ground and opened it. In the video it appears that the male party was talking to the woman customer who was wearing the pink sweatshirt. Barbara stated that the male party was asking the lady if she wanted $30,000 for her vehicle. Barbara stated the lady said ‘no’ and the male party stated, ‘Okay, suit yourself.’ Barbara stated that then he left and ‘is now going to his truck.’ As seen on the CCTV footage, it shows the male party walk towards his vehicle which was the truck that he was operating. The first video evidence ends here.”

Officer Bourne said the gas station’s second surveillance video shows the male party outside flailing his arms toward Barbara, who was on the phone with police. This is when Barbara stated the man told her to “Get off the phone or I’m going to kill you.”

“In the video it shows the male party then attempts to take off the back license plate of the truck without success and then walks around the vehicle and gets into the driver’s seat of the truck,” Officer Bourne said. “It then shows the male party driving away towards the one-way exit of Alltown gas station. Barbara then stated to me that the male party took a left onto the wrong way and drove towards the onramp of the highway, outbound, away from the city.”

Two additional Fourth Street residents call police with statements

Officer Bourne then left Alltown gas station and returned to the police station, where he joined Officer Taylor. Officer Taylor reported receiving calls from two witnesses between 5:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m., who wanted to give statements. The witnesses, Amari [last name redacted] and Voshon [last name redacted], live at 17 Fourth Street.

“I spoke to them each on recorded lines, of which I advised them,” Officer Taylor said. “Amari and Voshon each stated they were sitting in a car parked in their driveway when Joshua approached, asked for a ride, saying his vehicle was broken down, offering them money, and making statements that did not make sense, before throwing things, and being heard smashing Wascar’s Acura’s window, out of their view.”

Officer Taylor added, “Amari described Joshua as a white male with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a green hoodie with yellow print and dark jeans, carrying a red gas can (same as Melissa); Voshon described Joshua as a white male of medium build, 5’7”-5’10”, at least 30 years of age, wearing a black hoodie with yellow print, with a buzz cut, with green or blue eyes. Both Amari and Voshon agreed to come to the station at a future time for a photo array, which was later assembled by Detective [Leonardo] Colon.”

Suspect is apprehended at his residence

Officer Taylor said that at approximately 6:54 a.m., he was informed by dispatch that they received a call from a man who said he lived with Gardner at 328 Main Street, which is a sober home.

“This caller stated Joshua had been causing problems earlier, and when he texted their ‘landlord,’ Jerome [last name redacted], about Joshua, Jerome said to call the police,” Officer Taylor recounted. “I responded with other units to the residence. Jerome was in the driveway and pointed me to the Ford, which was parked running, further back, with Joshua seated in the driver’s seat as its sole occupant. Jerome said he had come because Joshua was not doing well.”

Officer Taylor continued, “I feared Joshua may again use the Ford as a weapon against police or recklessly flee at a high speed and endanger the public, or may be armed with a firearm (as was BOLO’d by Oxford PD). I therefore immediately placed Joshua in handcuffs (adjusted for proper tightness and double-locked) and directed him to sit with his back against a nearby tree, subsequent to his compliance with Officer Dennis Hatstat’s exit order from the Ford.”

Officer Taylor said he read Gardner his Miranda rights from a card he carries with him while on duty, “prior to asking to hear his side of the story, should he wish to give it.”

“Joshua claimed he had been awake for days, with alcohol and cocaine in his system, and denied remembering the events of the previous night, believing he had been home,” Officer Taylor said. “The truck had damage on its right side, consistent with the crash earlier described by Melissa, which Joshua claimed was old.”

Officer Taylor reported that Officer Hatstat found a plastic bag containing a white, powdery substance in the center console of the Ford, which was within reach of where Joshua had been seated and was suspected to be cocaine. Additionally, on the driver’s side floor of Gardner’s Ford, Officer Hatstat discovered a glass pipe with burnt residue and a copper scrubber, identified by Officer Taylor as paraphernalia used for smoking crack. Officer Taylor also noted that plastic sandwich baggies, commonly used in street-level drug transactions, were found throughout the vehicle’s interior.

“Officer Garrett Hardy alerted me to a gram scale, which I know are similarly used for illegal drug distribution, with white powder on it, which I suspected was cocaine, on the passenger side floor,” Officer Taylor added. “The red Milwaukee toolbox Joshua carried at each of his previous crime scenes was in plain view behind the front seats; it was open a few inches and contained envelopes (which I later counted to be 25 back at the station). Officer Bourne alerted me that the envelopes were full of cash.”

Officer Taylor then arrested Gardner for the following offenses:

1. Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute
2. Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
3. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
4. Malicious Damage to a Motor Vehicle (two counts)
5. Intimidate Witness/Juror/Police/Court Official
6. Breaking & Entering for Misdemeanor
7. Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
8. Leave Scene of Property Damage
9. Fail to Stop for Police
10. Fail to Stop/Yield
11. Disturbing the Peace (two counts)

After Officer Taylor pat frisked Gardner, Officer Dennis Hatstat transported him to the station for booking.

“I requested a detective unit response and a tow for the Ford back to the station to be impounded pending a search warrant for the tire iron and further cocaine/crack-use contraband and paraphernalia,” Officer Taylor said. “Officer Hardy awaited Quality Towing, which responded, then followed him back to the station.”

Detectives execute search warrant on suspect’s truck

On Dec. 4, 2024, Detective Leonardo Colon, a detective with the Leominster Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau, reported that he obtained a search warrant for Gardner’s 2017 Ford F-250, which had been secured in a vehicle bay at the Leominster Police Station after it was towed from the scene.

Det. Colon and other members of the Leominster Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau’s Drug Enforcement Unit, along with detectives from the North Worcester County Drug Task Force, executed the search warrant on Gardner’s vehicle and discovered the following:

1. 27 envelopes containing large quantities of United States Currency, totaling $70,320.00
2. Loose cash totaling $322.00
3. $21,000 fake U.S. currency
4. 26 envelopes
5. 0.0590 grams of crack cocaine (a Class B substance) all over the interior floor and center console of the truck
6. Tire iron
7. Open box of Glad ziplock bags
8. Three crack pipes
9. Nokia flip phone
10. Samsung cellphone
11. Damaged Samsung cellphone
12. Cooper Brillo pad
13. Scale

Following the execution of the search warrant, Gardner was charged with an additional count of Possession of a Class B Substance with Intent to Distribute.

Court Proceedings and Judicial Decisions

Gardner was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Dec. 3, 2024. Following his arraignment, Gardner was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. On Dec. 9, 2024, Gardner attended a dangerousness hearing, during which he was found dangerous, and ordered held without bail until April 2, 2025. On Jan 6, 2025, he attended a pretrial conference, which was continued to Jan. 27, 2025. On April 2, 2025, Gardner will be transported to court for a bail hearing.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from December 2024, 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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