Lynnfield Father, Son Targeted Home With BLM Sign: DA

LYNNFIELD, MA — A Lynnfield father and son were arraigned on Tuesday in connection to a string of vandalism and harassment incidents in town on one home with a Black Lives Matter lawn sign.

A 21 -year-old man and his 55-year-old stepfather are facing several charges including vandalism, property damage and civil rights violations, following a months-long investigation by the Lynnfield police and Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

Both men pleaded not guilty.

On August 17th, Lynnfield Police responded to a report of vandalism at a home on Summer Street. Police found obscenity directed at Black Lives Matter spray painted on the driveway. The homeowner said that their Black Lives Matter sign was stolen the night before, but they didn't report it. Since then, police responded to and investigated a series of acts of vandalism and property destruction at the same home including an obscenity spray painted on a tree, several stolen Black Lives Matter signs, and eggs and tomatoes thrown at the house.

On Tuesday morning, Lynnfield Police officers saw a man approaching the home with a carton of eggs. When officers approached the man, identified as the 21-year-old, a struggle started. Not long after the struggle did the man's stepfather show up in his car and tried to run officers over, according to the DA.

“This department spent countless hours responding to these reports and working with the homeowners to identify the perpetrators,” said Lynnfield Police Chief David Breen. “I am hopeful that these arrests and eventual prosecution of these individuals will help provide some peace of mind to the victims and send a message to others that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in this community.”