*** HN AUDIO *** REPORT OF RIFLEMAN & LOUD BANG AT MARSTONS MILLS SOCCER FIELD WAS LIKELY PIPER BRANDISHING BAGPIPES
MARSTONS MILLS, Massachusetts – [HN NOTES] – Multiple Barnstable Police units scrambled toward the McBarron soccer field at 930 Old Falmouth Road earlier today for a report of man holding a rifle. The report came in from a third party, a town hall employee, according to radio transmissions. A patrolman in the area heard a “loud boom” at the time of the call. Nearby West Villages Elementary School was in the process of being placed on lockdown and advised to shelter in place. Additional police units from Hyannis responded to assist.
Officers arrived swiftly and surrounded the area. (One responding unit was preparing to launch a drone.) A quick search of the area revealed nothing suspicious, accept a man brandishing bagpipes at the soccer field. He had reportedly been playing the bagpipes as well (which can be deadly in and of themselves, if not played well, and correctly!) Although he may have been, HN’s fairly certain the bagpipes themselves were not “loaded…”
According to witnesses in the area, the “loud boom” was believed to have been a passing construction vehicle that possibly hit a pothole.
The entire thing apparently turned out to be a misunderstanding, called in by someone with good intent… and perhaps better chalked up to, “better safe than sorry.” The following HN Video contains actual Barnstable Police radio transmissions related to today’s bagpipe scare.
[HN VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]
P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Sinéad O’Connor… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]












