LEOMINSTER — On Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Officer Tyler Labell of the Leominster Police Department was dispatched to Market Basket following a report of a homeless woman sleeping on the sidewalk.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Tyler Labell and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Dispatch stated the manager, Mike, was the caller,” Officer Labell said. “Upon arrival to the area, I noticed the female sleeping on the sidewalk. She woke up without issue, and I was able to speak with her. I asked what her name was and she refused to identify herself. Later I was able to identify her as Nadine Partridge.”
According to police, Nadine C. Partridge, 41, has a residential address in Gardner, Massachusetts, although dispatch initially relayed the caller’s description of her as homeless.
“I asked Nadine if she needed assistance,” Officer Labell said. “Nadine stated that she was all set. Nadine was sober and appropriate at this time. I asked Nadine if she had anywhere to go and she responded inside Market Basket.”
Officer Patrick Doherty, who also responded to the scene, stayed with Partridge while Officer Labell went to speak with the caller, Michael.
“I went inside Market Basket and informed Michael that the female stated she was going to be coming into the store,” Officer Labell said. “I advised Michael of his rights to trespass. Michael was fine with her coming into the store now but if she bothered anyone, he was advised to call the police.”
At approximately 9:30 a.m., Officer Labell was dispatched to Market Basket again following a tip that an intoxicated homeless woman was harassing customers.
“Upon arrival, I went to speak with Michael again,” Officer Labell said. “I advised him of why I was there and asked if he wanted Nadine trespassed, and he stated yes. We went over to the café where Nadine was this morning, and she was no longer there. There was no other information from the caller, so we believe Nadine had left.”
Officer Labell said that as he was leaving Market Basket, he drove around the corner of the building and located Partridge between Market Basket and the movie theater.
Officer Labell said he informed Officer Christian Schwartz, who responded to the scene to assist.
“I went up to Nadine and began speaking with her,” Officer Labell said. “I asked her name and this time she told me her name was Nadine Clark. I noticed a paper bag by her feet with a bottle in it and no cap on top. I asked Nadine what it was, and she stated wine.”
Officer Labell said he went over and looked inside the bag and saw the wine bottle was about half full.
“Nadine stated she was drinking it and that it was no big deal,” Officer Labell said. “I then noticed a small nip inside Nadine’s left hand without a cap on it.”
Officer Labell asked Partridge to place the nip into the bag with the wine.
As she was putting the nip into the paper bag, Officer Labell said he noticed that it was a half-full nip of Jose Cuervo brand tequila.
“I informed Nadine that open containers in public, on a public way, upon any way to which the public has a right of access as invitees, is a violation of City Ordinance Sec. 14-14 and is arrestable in the City of Leominster,” Officer Labell said.
Officer Labell said he called the street supervisor, Sergeant Elvin Vasquez, and informed him of the situation.
“Sergeant Vazquez confirmed the decision of making the arrest of Nadine,” Officer Labell said. “I advised Nadine to turn around and place her hands behind her back. I grabbed ahold of Nadine’s left wrist, and Officer Schwartz grabbed her right wrist. We attempted to place her hands behind her back, but Nadine was resisting.”
Officer Labell added that Partridge was bent at the waist as officers attempted to place her hands behind her back. They then placed her face down on the ground.
“The paper bag with the bottles was knocked over in the process,” Officer Labell added. Later adding, “I placed a handcuff on her left wrist and Officer Schwartz attached his handcuff to it, to get them to reach the right wrist.”
Officer Labell said he was able to empty Partridge’s jacket pockets and placed her property into a cruiser. Partridge was then placed into the prisoner compartment of the same cruiser where her property was placed, and she was then transported to the Leominster Police Department for booking.
“While in transport, dispatch stated ‘Clark’ was an alias and her real last name is Partridge,” Officer Labell added.
Nadine C. Partridge, 41, of Gardner, was arrested and charged with:
- City Ordinance 14-14: Open Bottle Law (Alcoholic Beverage)
Partridge was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Dec. 31, 2025. During her arraignment, Judge Whitney Brown decriminalized the municipal ordinance/bylaw charge and found Partridge responsible. The case was filed later that day, and Partridge was released on personal recognizance.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the arrest in this story took place in December, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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