*** CONFIDENTIAL TIP LEADS TO UPDATE *** SON OF MASS. STATE POLICE...

BARNSTABLE, Massachusetts – Earlier this week – and quite “out of the blue” – HN received a tip that Reid Mason, son of Colonel Christopher Mason of the Massachusetts State Police, had “ended up skating on all those gun charges,” according to the exact wording of HN’s confidential tipster.

Somewhat astonished, for not having heard or been able to find any other reports claiming the same, HN began digging and learned that on September 15, 2022, Reid Mason had tendered an “admission of facts sufficient for a finding of guilty” on all five firearm charges.

According to a “Conditional Tender of Admission” form filed in Barnstable District Court, the defendant and prosecution apparently came to an agreement leading up to Mason’s admission to sufficient facts, instead of entering into a trial by judge or jury. On the 5 counts of improper storage of firearms, the prosecution recommended 1 year probation along with certain conditions… and the defendant apparently agreed. The Honorable Judge Daniel O’Malley then ordered a “CWOF” or continuation without a finding until 9/15/2023 on all 5 firearm charges.

During the adjudicated “CWOF” and/or probation period between 9/15/2022 until 9/15/2023, Reid Mason was ordered to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and comply with the recommendations of the evaluator. Mason was also ordered not possess any firearms or to apply for a LTC (license to carry firearms). Mason is also required to pay a $50 VWF (victim/ witness fee) by 9/1/2023. And if young Mason is able to adhere to these “stringent” orders, the entire matter of the 5 firearm charges will likely be considered to have been satisfactorily dealt with in the eyes of this particular court.

And regarding the aforementioned firearm charges, the following is the actual Barnstable Police Department narrative for requesting a May 24, 2022 hearing regarding the incident which happened back on February 28, 2022 (NOTE: It took nearly 3 months to finally bring the matter before the court, with the May 24, 2022 magistrate hearing finally being scheduled after Turtleboy Daily News, Howie Carr, and Hyannis News began asking questions in early May):

On Monday, February 28, 2022, I Ptl. Rogorzenski, was assigned to plain clothes in unmarked police cruiser E330 with Ptl. Cunningham assigned to the Town of Barnstable. At approximately 0015 hours, while performing a security check at [ ] 11 Barnstable Rd. (19th Hole), I observed a black Jeep Wrangler bearing MA Reg 2SYP85 parked in the parking lot. The vehicle was turned off and I observed a male, later identified as Reid Mason (11/26/99), slumped over the driver’s side and partially hanging out the driver’s side door. In fear that the male was in need of medical attention, we then checked on his wellbeing.

As I made contact with Mason, he seemed extremely disoriented. Mason stated he does not need any medical attention and that he was just sleeping in his vehicle. While speaking with Mason, I was overwhelmed by a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. His eyes were red and glassy and had a difficult time answering questions.

At this point, I observed what appeared to be two different firearms located on the passenger seat next to Mason. Mason was then escorted out of the vehicle due to my observations. Once Mason exited, I located five (5) firearms, one semi-automatic rifle and four semi-automatic handguns in the area of the front right passenger seat. Note: Four (4) of the five (5) firearms located are registered to Mason. A Glock 17 was located inside of the vehicle and at this time has been unidentified on the registered owner. I then located an assortment of cases of ammunition located in two (2) separate backpacks. (Attached Form)

Mason was able to obtain a ride home by a family member following a brief investigation. Mason was advised that all firearms and ammunition located on this date had been seized and his LTC has now been suspended pending a review by BPD.

All firearms and ammunition were transported back to BPD where they were documented and secured in locker #74. Mason’s LTC has been seized and entered into evidence.

It should be noted for the purpose of the report that all firearms at the time of my initial encounter were unloaded. At no point, was there a round in the chamber and a magazine seated in the firearm.

Based on my opinion of Mason’s sobriety, I believe he lost the ability to exercise control over the firearms located inside of the vehicle. Mason’s level of intoxication compromised his ability to immediately reach the firearms and satisfies the charge of improper storage of a firearm. A copy of this report was forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office to review my interpretation of intoxication and its influence on control as it applies to the improper storage statute.

A second Barnstable Police Department supplemental narrative by Patrolman Nicholas Atcheson was also entered on May 4, 2022, and filed in Barnstable District Court as follows:

On 03/02/22 I, Ptl. Atcheson, was assigned to marked cruiser E234 patrolling the North Side of town. At approximately 1252 Sgt. D’Angelo and I were dispatched to [a residence on] Rte. 6A for a Firearms Surrender.

We arrived at the residence and met with Reid Mason (11/26/99). Mason surrendered the following shotgun to me:

20 gauge Benelli Montefeltro [#N206195G19] with a black case.

Mason signed the BPD Firearms Donation/Surrender Form.

I Submitted the shotgun into property for safekeeping: 22-438-PR

……………….

There are still unanswered questions regarding the Reid Mason matter. Some of those questions are listed here:

1. This encounter reportedly happened on February 28, 2022. Why did it take nearly three (3) months to bring an application for criminal complaint in front of a magistrate’s hearing?

2. The above police narratives are dated as being entered on May 4, 2022. Were there initial reports entered on or shortly after February 28, 2022, the date when the firearms were all actually seized? If so, will they be made public?

3. Both aforementioned encounters, dated February 28, 2022 and March 2, 2022, were completely excluded from the public Barnstable Police log. While it is sometimes necessary for record keepers to redact log entries by blacking out the entries. These particular entries were completely “ghosted” or not ever actually logged. One looking at a log that has been redacted is not able to discern the content but is able to see that something actual happened. In this case, there is absolutely nothing in the public log that would indicate that something happened on the aforementioned dates. That is problematic and raises concerns, especially because HN knows of at least one example in recent years that started off as a “wellbeing check” which concluded in the confiscation of firearms where the log entry was not completely removed (nor even redacted) from the public log.

4. Is it common practice for the Barnstable Police patrol division – over two months later – to refer matters of this nature to the DA’s office for an “interpretation of intoxication?” This line in the above report is also problematic and raises concern because patrol officers are trained and expected make decisive judgments about “levels of intoxication” on a daily, routine basis.

5. The above narrative mentions that “Mason was able to obtain a ride home by a family member following a brief investigation.” Is there an earlier report the specifies who that “family member” is? Again, this line is problematic and raises concerns. Police officers are trained observers and report writers. In a case of this nature, involving the son of the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, would it be advisable to not mention the identity of the person picking up and taking custody of the alleged intoxicated subject just found with 5 firearms (one possibly unregistered)?

6. Who was the family member who picked up the allegedly intoxicated Reid Mason? Was it State Police Colonel Christopher Mason who picked up his allegedly intoxicated son? If it was Colonel Mason, did he use his state police cruiser? Is there a state police GPS record of Colonel Mason’s cruiser traveling the 5-to-10-minute drive from his home in West Barnstable to downtown Hyannis? (Yes, the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police does have a residence within the Town of Barnstable.) Is there any state police record as to the speed and whether emergency lights may have been activated on Colonel Mason’s cruiser on the early morning of February 28, 2022?

The above questions need to be answered in order to clear all individuals surrounding this matter of any and all suspicions of a cover up.

The following HN Video shows Mason’s May 24, 2022 magistrate’s hearing in its entirety…

[HN VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]