Police: Dracut Man Threatened Garage Owner, Demanded Money

Police have charged a former Brookline resident with extortion after he allegedly threatened a garage owner and demanded money.

Police say Richard F. Joyce, a 58-year-old now living in Dracut, walked into a Aspinwall Avenue auto body shop with two other men and a beer in his hand on Aug. 4, demanding the owner pay him money reportedly owed him by the his parents, one of whom is now deceased. Joyce and the other men allegedly threatened the owner repeatedly before leaving, with one man reportedly brandishing a box cutter as they walked away.

The owner told police Joyce had done some clean-up work for his family years ago, but that he had not seen him in more than two years and had no idea what he was talking about.

After his arrest on Aug. 5, Joyce reportedly told police he had helped the owner's father sell a piece of property years ago and believed he was owned a finder's fee. He reportedly denied threatening the victim and told police he was unaware that a box cutter had been shown during the incident.

Joyce faces charges of extortion and joint venture in assault by means of a danger weapon.