LYNNFIELD — Edward Raymond Allen, 24, will be spending the holidays in jail.
On Thursday, he was ordered held without bail at the Essex House of Corrections in Middleton, following a dangerousness hearing at Peabody District Court. He will be held until his next court appearance on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m.
Allen is facing a litany of charges in connection with a party he allegedly hosted at his residence at 170 Moulton Drive in Lynnfield. The party involved multiple incidents of underage drinking and other illegal activity, resulting in an hours-long confrontation between party goers and police that stretched from Friday into the early hours of Saturday morning.
Among the charges Allen is facing are kidnapping, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, keeping a noisy and disorderly house, providing liquor to persons under 21 and disturbing the peace.
“The actions that took place in that home were a threat to our community,” said Town Administrator Rob Dolan. “To put it bluntly, the only things in that house when we entered (Thursday) were two abandoned dogs and a stripper pole.”
The discovery and the serious nature of the charges against Allen prompted the Select Board to hold a special meeting Thursday morning. The board voted unanimously to board up the home after concluding that the property was unsafe.
“The Select Board, upon hearing our recommendation, acted immediately to declare the house a public-safety hazard, and swift action was taken. I am happy to say that the dogs were rescued (by Animal Control) and are safe and cared for.”
Dolan provided an update of the situation at the meeting.
“We have a very serious situation there on Moulton Drive,” he said. “As you know, there was a significant party last weekend in which there was a tremendous amount of illegal activity that resulted in the arrest of the person that occupies the home. That person is currently in court.”
Select Board Chair Dick Dalton said that public safety requires that the building be secured “forthwith,” and the building inspector be ordered immediately to enter said premises with such workmen and assistance as may be necessary to cause the structure to be made safe and secure.”
Dolan said a NEMLEC (Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council) SWAT team unit went into the home under “suspicion of possible weapons,” and that the unit entered the home forcibly through the back door, leaving portions of the back of the home “open.”
“As a result, we have evaluated the property and found it to be a public-safety hazard to the community for the reason that there is full access to the property to anyone which could result in crime, fire, etc.,” Dolan said.
He said multiple attempts have been made since the party to contact the U.S. Bank Trust — the record owner of the home — to secure the property, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
“We have tried desperately, tirelessly for three days to look for the owner of the home,” said Dolan. “I’ve had experience with this and it’s almost impossible to find the management company or the person who is responsible for the home.
“In speaking with our fire chief, our building inspector, and our police chief, we believe the home causes a significant risk to public safety as well as to the neighborhood and our own personnel. My recommendation, with the advice of the two chiefs, is to declare the building unsafe and have it boarded until further notice.”
Town Counsel Thomas Mullen outlined the applicable provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 143 that permit the town to take the action recommended by Dolan.
He explained that under Section 6, “the building inspector, upon learning that a property may be unused, uninhabited or abandoned and open to the weather shall inspect and he’s done that. He’s found, as you heard, that it is uninhabited and open to the weather, and he shall forthwith send a letter to the owner requiring that the building be made secure, which he will get out today.”
Mullen went on to say that Section 7 states that “if that person doesn’t act promptly, or if the Board of Selectmen orders that the public safety requires immediate action, then the building inspector may take immediate action to secure the building. “
Select Board member Phil Crawford said that while he didn’t have any questions, he agreed the town needed to take action.
“I think we should act on it immediately,” he said.
Select Board member Joe Connell asked if the occupant of the home would be able to get into the home if he is released following the dangerousness hearing.
“He will not have access and we will padlock the door,” Dolan said.
“Fantastic,” Connell said.