TYNGSBOROUGH — On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Tyngsborough police responded to Lake Mascuppic following a report that an unauthorized individual was operating the Tyngsborough Police Marine Unit on the lake.
According to Tyngsborough Police Chief Shaun Woods, when officers arrived on scene, they observed a 63-year-old Tyngsborough man operating the police boat with its lights activated. Chief Woods said the man returned the boat to its dock after officers told him to do so.
A caller reported that the man had earlier attempted to enforce town boating bylaws while operating the boat and had ordered several people to leave the lake, according to Chief Woods.
As a result of an investigation conducted in consultation with Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Tyngsborough police intend to issue a summons for the man to appear in Lowell District Court on a charge of impersonating a police officer. (The man’s name was not released because he has not yet been formally charged or arraigned in court.)
A clerk-magistrate will determine at a later date if there is enough evidence for the criminal charge to proceed to arraignment, Chief Woods said.
The Town of Tyngsborough has since removed the boat from the dock where it had been secured at the lake to prevent further unauthorized access.
