By Jim Clark

A police officer on conducting traffic enforcement at the corner of Mystic Ave. and Grand Union Blvd. observed a vehicle run through a solid red light at the intersection. The officer immediately activated the cruiser’s blue lights and pulled behind the car.

The vehicle reportedly slowed down but did not stop. While following the car, the officer ran the vehicle’s registration, and it was revealed that the registered owner may have had a license to carry a firearm.

The officer followed the car into the Home Depot parking lot while activating the cruiser’s siren. The car traveled all the way down one aisle of the parking lot, turned left, turned left again, then traveled a short distance up the second aisle before pulling into a parking spot.

The driver of the car, later identified as Joseph Lord, exited the vehicle, walked around the back, between his parked vehicle and the police cruiser, then began walking away from the officer towards Home Depot.

The officer ordered Lord to stop, at which time he reportedly looked at the officer and told him that he was not pulling him over. The officer informed Lord that he was pulling him over, and ordered him to return to his vehicle.

Lord reportedly became agitated and began shouting at the officer, calling him “a dirty cop.”

The officer then called for additional back-up and ordered Lord to return to his vehicle several times, which he refused to do, all the while berating the officer and calling him a liar.

Lord reportedly stated that he did not know he was being pulled over, yet contradicted this by stating that he did not hear the siren until he was in the Home Depot parking lot.

The officer informed Lord that he was subject to arrest if he did not comply, at which time he walked over to the front passenger side door and opened it.

Lord then grabbed three arms full of trash from the vehicle, and threw it into the parking lot.

Lord then entered his vehicle, on the passenger side and handed the officer his driver’s license and registration, then shut the door and rolled up the window. The officer ordered Lord to roll down his window so he could communicate with him, but he refused to comply.

After backup officers arrived on the scene, it was observed that in the back of the vehicle there was a paper target with apparent bullet holes in it. After running Lord’s license and registration, it was learned that Lord had a suspended license to carry, and should not have a firearm.

Police ordered Lord to exit the vehicle, and he complied. Lord was placed under arrest and handcuffed. While attempting to double lock the handcuffs, Lord reportedly reached back and tried twice to shut the car door, hitting it against an officer’s body.

Lord’s car was searched, and a BB gun designed to look exactly like a real firearm was discovered in a holster in the center console.

Lord was placed in a prisoner transport unit, after which he could be heard kicking the door or wall repeatedly. Once at the police station he was booked on charges of disorderly conduct, failure to stop for police, and littering from a motor vehicle.

During booking, Lord reportedly accused all the officers involved with his arrest of being members of the Klu Klux Klan.