News

Cops not laughing after stunt with clown mask

By Julie Manganis
Staff writer
Published: December 2, 2008

SALEM — A man who terrified other bus passengers and touched off a massive police response when he put on a clown mask and pulled out a knife was bored and thought it would be humorous, his lawyer said.

But police and a judge aren't laughing, and Dwayne Erickson, 22, is being held on $10,000 bail at Middleton Jail following the incident Friday afternoon on Boston Street.

Erickson, a homeless man, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and violating a city ordinance prohibiting the carrying of knives during his arraignment yesterday in Salem District Court.

Just before 2 p.m. Friday, four Salem police cruisers, a team of detectives and police cruisers from Peabody went to an area on Boston Street near the Peabody line after receiving a 911 call about a man on an MBTA bus wearing a mask and holding a knife, Lt. Conrad Prosniewski told a judge.

The bus driver had also turned on the emergency "Call Police" sign.

The officers approached the bus with their weapons drawn and evacuated the bus, while ordering Erickson to put his hands in the air. During a pat frisk, they found both a double-edged knife and a clown mask.

A passenger told police that Erickson got on the bus at the Salem Depot downtown and sat down, then put the mask on and began to use the knife to cut at the mouth opening.

The other passengers were "extremely fearful," the lieutenant said.

Police soon learned that Erickson, who has ties to the northern part of the county and New Hampshire, had recently completed a 60-day jail term for larceny and has a record that also includes convictions for assault and battery.

"He was bored, and he thought it would be humorous," said his lawyer, Deb Anthony. "After a time he noticed people staring at him, and he took (the mask) off."

Prosniewski said the incident showed a lack of common sense and extremely poor judgment on the part of Erickson.

Judge Robert Cornetta increased Erickson's bail from the $7,500 set by a bail clerk Friday to $10,000 cash yesterday. He's not expected to come up with that amount, his lawyer said.

He's due back in court next month.