ATHOL — On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Athol Police Dispatch received a 911 call from a 50-year-old resident of Lenox Circle who said a woman was at his residence smashing windows.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Sergeant Paul Forand and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“It should be noted that although it was 6:00 a.m., it was dark outside with no light from the sky,” Athol Police Sergeant Paul Forand said. “[The reporting party] also stated the female had two knives at one point but he had taken them from her.”
Sergeant Paul Forand said that he and Officer Greg Fortes were dispatched to the scene.
While responding to the scene, Sergeant Forand said that he and Officer Fortes were informed by dispatch that the woman had gained access to the residence and was now inside.
Upon arrival at the residence, Sergeant Forand and Officer Fortes were met by the reporting party, who identified the woman as Courtney Lawton, a woman Sergeant Forand said is known to the Athol Police Department.
According to police, Courtney M. Lawton, 26, is a resident of Orange, MA.
“[The reporting party] stated Lawton had left the residence just prior to the police arriving,” Sergeant Forand said. The officers then searched the exterior of the property with the reporting party and did not locate Lawton.
Sergeant Forand said he continued speaking with the reporting party while Officer Fortes began checking the adjacent areas.
Sergeant Forand said he also requested help from Orange police to canvass the area and was informed that Lieutenant Adam Cooley and Officer Noah Welch, both of the Orange Police Department, were responding to the scene.
“Due to the seriousness of the allegations made by [the reporting party], I also requested the Orange Police Department K-9 to respond,” Sergeant Forand said.
While the other officers were checking the area, Sergeant Forand continued to gather information from the reporting party as well as a 53-year-old woman who was inside the residence with him at the time of the incident.
“According to the parties, Lawton had been walking around the area yelling and screaming for some time prior to the 911 call being placed, which they reported was a normal occurrence,” Sergeant Forand said.
Court documents indicate that Lawton is an acquaintance of the reporting party and the woman who was with him at the time of the incident.
“The parties reported Lawton then began banging on the doors and windows of the house trying to get inside,” Sergeant Forand said.
The parties reported that Lawton then broke a window in a front door and one of the residence’s front windows.
“According to the reporting parties, Lawton then went to the rear of the residence and kicked in a door the led to the garage, which subsequently allowed her access to the main residence,” Sergeant Forand said. They said she then grabbed a large kitchen knife, held it up in the air and said she was “going to kill” them.
“[The woman] stated she was in fear so she hid behind [the reporting party] and then eventually retreated to her room,” Sergeant Forand said. “[The reporting party] stated he was able to take the knife from Lawton and pass it off to [the woman] to hide away. According to [the reporting party], Lawton became more upset, grabbed a bag, and left the residence. This is all about the time the officers were responding and arriving.”
Shortly after speaking with the reporting party and the other witness, Sergeant Forand said Orange Police Officer Kyle Johnson and K-9 Zeus arrived on scene.
“K9 Zeus, Officer Johnson, and I started a track into the Silverlake Cemetery, which is directly behind the residence,” Sergeant Forand said. “The track led to Lawton’s location, which was near the pickleball courts at Silverlake Beach.”
Lawton was then placed under arrest and transported to the Athol Police Department for booking.
“Once at the station, Lawton was read her Miranda rights from the notice posted on the booking room wall,” Sergeant Forand said. “Lawton was booked, provided a clean change of clothes, searched, and placed in secure cell 5.”
Courtney M. Lawton, 26, of Orange, was charged with the following:
- Breaking & Entering Building Nighttime for Felony
- Assault with Dangerous Weapon (two counts)
- Vandalize Property
Lawton was arraigned in Orange District Court on Oct. 16, 2026. Following her arraignment, she was held pending a dangerousness hearing. which was scheduled for Oct. 19, 2026.
During her dangerousness hearing on Oct. 19, Lawton was found dangerous and ordered held without bail for 120 days until Feb. 16, 2027. Her next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for Nov. 13, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in October, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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