A vandalism charge against longtime Edgartown shellfish constable Paul Bagnall has been dismissed after the Edgartown district court ordered monetary restitution in the case.
Mr. Bagnall, 65, of Edgartown had Oct. 21, 2020 charges in Edgartown of defacing property dismissed on the recommendation of the probation department after paying $1,500 in restitution Tuesday.
The disposition took place Tuesday morning before the Hon. Benjamin C. Barnes.
The charges stem from an incident in the summer of 2020, in which Mr. Bagnall allegedly drove his truck onto a neighbor’s property after an argument, creating tire treads and damaging the lawn. The incident was filmed on video, according to police reports.
Mr. Bagnall was arraigned on Dec. 31, 2020 after district court clerk magistrate Liza Williamson found probable cause in the case during an October clerk magistrate hearing.
A bench trial was scheduled for Tuesday before Mr. Bagnall and the prosecution reached the restitution agreement.
Mr. Bagnall has served as the Edgartown shellfish constable for more than three decades, receiving the Massachusetts Shellfish Officers Association officer of the year award in 2007.
He was represented in court by Edgartown attorney Martin (Skip) Tomassian.
Edgartown officials have declined to comment on the matter, citing rules on personnel issues.
— Noah Asimow
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