Contact: Beth Stone (508) 584-8120
HINGHAM – A Weymouth man who allegedly made threats to shoot down a flag flying in front of Derby Street Shoppes has been found to be dangerous and released with conditions, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
On Thursday April 13, 2023, the Hingham Police were made aware of a specific threat that was to take place at the Derby Street Shoppes. The mall management company had retained a voicemail message regarding a Pride flag that was on display. The caller, later identified by police as Gage Scammell, 29, of Weymouth, stated he was going to go to the Derby Street Shoppes, shoot the flag down with a rifle, and burn it if it was not taken down within three days. On the voicemail, Scammell also made disparaging statements regarding the Jewish faith.
Upon receipt of the voicemail, Derby Shoppes management immediately notified the Hingham Police. Through the course of an investigation, officers were quickly able to identify the caller as Scammell and place him in custody. Hingham Police charged Scammell with one count each of Bomb/Hijack Threat with Serious Public Alarm, Threat To Commit a Crime, and Attempted Civil Rights Violation.
At his arraignment on April 13, the Commonwealth moved for a dangerousness hearing, which was scheduled for today. After pleading not guilty to the charges, Hingham District Court Judge James Byrne found Scammell to be dangerous. The Commonwealth moved for Scammell to be held. Judge Byrne released Scammell on personal recognizance, and adopted the Commonwealth’s conditions of release, including that Scammell:
- maintain/seek employment
- stay away/ have no contact with Derby Street Shoppes or employees
- wear a GPS monitoring bracelet with an exclusion zone of Derby Street
- adhere to a curfew from 11p.m. to 5 a.m.
- not consume alcohol, with testing twice daily
- undergo a substance abuse evaluation
- attend Alcoholics Anonymous twice per week
- not carry weapons, but for a pocket knife for work
Scammell is next scheduled to be in court on June 7.