Crime & Safety

What Caused the Commotion Outside 120 Washington St. Monday?

For those of you who saw a commotion downtown around lunchtime yesterday, we have an answer for you.

Wondering what the commotion outside 120 Washington St. was about on Monday?

We found out for this edition of You Ask...Patch Answers.

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This is what the scene was all about:

said a Swampscott man was arrested after he became belligerent in the City Hall Annex and subsequently caused a scene in Townhouse Square while "berating" an officer Monday.

At 11:55 am. Monday, police said they received a call a man was being disruptive in 120 Washington St.

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Police said they met a man, outside the building. The officer was familiar with the man who as has "a longstanding battle with the building inspector over his former address" that was condemned due to unsafe conditions/fire code violations earlier this year, police said.

The issue, police said, was that the man isn't allowed free access to the condemned building. The inspector told him he would have too make an appointment to gain access. When the inspector told him this, police said Bellows was unhappy, began to protest and threaten legal action.

The officer said he encountered the man outside 120 Washington St. upon arrival, and intended to detain him briefly "to rule out that any crimes had been committed in the inspector's officer."

At this point, police said "Bellows began to berate the officer…then began to yell and cause a disturbance in Townhouse Square."

Police said people began to gather to "watch this," in reference to the interaction with the officer.

At that point, police said, "solely due to Bellow's tumultuous, unruly behavior," he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

Police also checked in with the inspector, who said no crimes were committed. If an appointment had been made, the inspector said the man would have been allowed into the condemned property to collect his belongings.


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