GARDNER — On Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, at approximately 7:26 p.m., Officers Bryant Powlowski and Frimpong Antwi of the Gardner Police Department were dispatched to Heywood Hospital following a report of a man using drugs in the waiting area.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Frimpong Antwi and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Upon arrival, I observed Eric Francis, whom officers had dealt with prior to this call…walking out of the hospital to smoke a joint,” Officer Antwi said. “I advised him that he was not allowed to smoke on the hospital premises and that it would be in his best interest to get checked out first. I walked with him back inside to the waiting area.”
According to police, Eric James Francis, 37, is a resident of Gardner, MA.
Officer Antwi said the reporting party, Francis’ mother, told him Francis had just returned from the bathroom and that she “strongly believed” he had used meth while in the bathroom.
“I then approached Eric, who was seated on the waiting chair, and asked him if he had used any drugs while in the bathroom, and he denied using any,” Officer Antwi said.
Officer Antwi said he then asked Francis if he would mind if officers checked his backpack and belongings to ensure he didn’t have any drugs on him and he said yes, consenting to the search of his belongings.
“After a thorough search, Officer Powlowski and I discovered some syringes and three smoke pipes, but didn’t find any drugs,” Officer Antwi said. “Eric then asked to leave the hospital since he wasn’t under a section, and I advised him that he was free to leave after he was checked out by the medical staff, and also due to his current outlook and the fact that his mom was worried about him being off his medications. He declined any medical help and still opted to leave, as soon as he stood up to grab his belongings and a backpack, a glassine baggie with a white powdery substance fell onto the floor.”
Officer Antwi said that, based on his training and experience, he believed the white powder in the baggie was methamphetamine because its texture and packaging were consistent with how meth is packaged on the street.
“He then admitted to what it was and asked if he could go see a medical professional,” Officer Antwi said. “Eric was placed in handcuffs under arrest and transported to the station.”
After Francis was booked he was placed in a holding cell.
Officer Antwi said the suspected meth weighed 0.34 grams and was placed in an evidence locker.
Eric J. Francis, 37, of Gardner, was charged with:
- Possess Class B Drug
Francis failed to appear for his arraignment, which was scheduled for Dec. 22, 2025 in Gardner District Court and a default warrant was issued for his arrest.
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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