Chief Scott D. Benton reports that the Whitman Police Department arrested and charged a man with showing a knife and threatening people during an argument in a parking lot over the weekend.
JASON PUOPOLO, AGE 35, OF RANDOLPH was charged with:
Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Carrying a Dangerous Weapon
Disturbing the Peace
Use of a Motor Vehicle Without Authority
At approximately 9:25 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, Whitman Police responded to Walgreens, 392 Bedford St., for a report of a fight in the parking lot.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with three people who said that a man, later identified as PUOPOLO, allegedly pulled out a large knife during an argument with them and threatened them. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The victims and witnesses told police that PUOPOLO fled in a dark colored Chrysler minivan that had damage to its rear end.
A call to be on the lookout for the vehicle was made to police officers in the area and in surrounding communities and the minivan was located a short time later at a home on nearby Auburn Street, less than a half-mile away.
Officers went to the house and through the subsequent investigation were able to determine that PUOPOLO was inside the home and positively identified him as the man who allegedly showed the knife. He was taken into custody without further incident.
The minivan was found to have been reported stolen recently out of Randolph. Inside the van, police found a large butcher knife that was located inside of a sheath, along with double-edged blade. Both items were seized as evidence.
The Randolph Police were contacted to report that the vehicle had been recovered.
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.