Man brought axe to town… plus, propane tank “explosion” set fire to deck… and other news briefs [VIDEO]
HYANNIS – Last evening, multiple police units responded to a report that a man was carrying an axe in the area of 7-Eleven on Main Street. Officers arrived and had the man produce the axe, seizing it for safe keeping. One source said the man claimed he had been threatened by another man with a knife, and he felt more comfortable having access to the axe just in case…
What really was going on is still uncertain. But what is certain, is this particular man’s bizarre behavior has been showing up on the police radar a lot lately.
(Click to enlarge photos…)
Monday evening, police received reports that this individual was making obscene gestures to passing motorists. One report said he had been getting rough with a couple of Teddy Bears he had been carrying around, throwing them onto the sidewalk and yelling things at them. It was alarming behavior to say the least.
Early this morning, police caught up to the individual again after receiving reports he may had been trying to break into a restaurant in the downtown area. Police spoke with the man on the village green bandstand, trespassing from him from the vicinity of the restaurant in question.
HN NOTE: Now that the Main Street area has become sort of a giant outpatient ward for the homeless, mentally ill, and those suffering from addiction, police find themselves in the middle between those with special needs and the merchants who would like to see the area become more conducive to their summer tourism industry.
In the case of this individual who is acting out in a potentially dangerous way, officers are being extra careful to document every incident. Last evening, patrols handled the man with respect, patience, and concern. They are use to routinely dealing with bizarre and alarming behaviors, but when the man showed up on Main Street with an axe, it raised their concerns to another level.
In other news:
HYANNIS – A man told HN he was suddenly awakened and felt the need to look out his bedroom window. He then heard a hissing sound and noticed flames shooting from a propane tank – then boom! The deck was on fire!
At about 2:14AM, police rushed to a report of a propane tank explosion and a fire that had caught onto the deck at 95 Angell Road. It’s a good thing the decking was fire resistant, a source told HN…
It’s also a good thing the man awoke in time to see the flames.
The fire was out shortly after police arrived.
The following video highlights the scene shortly after the explosion.
[Press play… select HN in the settings and enlarge player for best quality…]
In other news:
HYANNIS – North Street was shut down for a period of time last evening when a woman became disoriented and drove her vehicle into a utility pole support pole on the opposite side of the street. Her vehicle continued on for a couple hundred feet and leaving the support pole across the roadway, blocking traffic. The woman was not injured and the road remained closed as Eversource Energy repaired the pole.
7/1/2015
Robert Bastille,
P.S. – Today’s HyTown Vignette is brought to you by Bread… [For no particular reason, just had a hankerin’ for some soothing mellow music from the late sixties… today is a full moon after all. So, crank it!]



















