Charges Are Dropped Against Edgartown Constable

MARTHA'S VINEYARD — Charges of defacing property have been dismissed after the Edgartown district court ordered monetary restitution in the case.

Paul Bagnall, 65, of Edgartown was facing vandalism charges for an incident last summer where police say he was caught on camera driving his truck onto a neighbor's property after an argument.

The property defacement charges against Bagnall have been dropped on the recommendation of the probation department after paying $1,500 in restitution Tuesday.

According to the Vineyard Gazette, Mr. Bagnall was arraigned last December and pleaded not guilty.

Authorities say the dismissal came just as a bench trial on the charge was about to start.

For more than three decades, Bagnell has served as the Edgartown shellfish constable, and had no comment on the matter.