Cops: Man flashed gun at youth tourney
WESTFORD » A Boston man was arraigned in Ayer District Court Monday in connection with allegations that he brandished a firearm at another parent during an altercation at a youth basketball tournament in Westford on Sunday.
Jose Mow, 34, is charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition, improper storage of a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing a public assembly and operating a vehicle after revocation of a license, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Westford Police Chief Mark Chambers.
“This was a frightening and potentially dangerous situation that has no place in youth sports,” Ryan said in a statement. “We have put a focus in Middlesex County on building a culture of safe and respectful behavior on the sidelines at these types of events and that is not what occurred (Sunday). These types of altercations among adults are unacceptable and can have lasting impacts on our young people.”
According to a press release, Westford Police responded to The Mill Works athletic facility on Town Farm Road about 3 p.m. Sunday for a report of a disturbance involving a man with a firearm. Witnesses told police the man had fled and provided a description of the vehicle.
Officers later located Mow driving the suspect vehicle. Police say they found the gun in a diaper bag in the car, and Mow was arrested.
Investigators believe Mow was attending the basketball tournament at the facility where his son was playing and allegedly got into an altercation with a parent from the opposing team. During the altercation, Mow allegedly brandished the handgun to the other parent, a 48-year-old New York man.
The altercation caused tournament attendees to flee the facility, the press release states. Investigators have reviewed video from the scene and are still trying to determine what led to the altercation.
At his arraignment, Judge Tejal Mehta ordered Mow held on $1,000 bail in this case, and his bail was revoked on an open case out of Boston. Mow is due back in court June 6.
“We are very thankful for all the witnesses that came forward to lead to a quick identification of the parties involved which resulted in the arrest and seizure of the firearm” Chambers said.