Concord Man Heading to Court Over Fireworks Noise

Noise from fireworks during a party over the Fourth of July weekend has one man facing a summons.

According to a summons report and civil complaint documents, Shawn J. Osgood, 33, of Concord, received the summons at 10 p.m. on July 6, for disturbing noises, generally.

An officer was called to the Beaver Meadow area for a report of fireworks being detonated and causing noise. The officer searched the area and while on Margerie Street, met up with Osgood, who reportedly approached the officer and told him that he was the one shooting off the fireworks for an annual pig roast that happens each year at the home. The officer told Osgood there were neighbors complaining about the noise and he would need to stop. Osgood reportedly stated that he spent $1,000 on the fireworks and they were detonated at the residence every year. The officer told Osgood he was giving him a warning for the noise violation but if he had to come back, he would be summoned to court.

Osgood allegedly requested to speak to a supervisor and reportedly was told by the watch commander that he needed to stop shooting off the fireworks or he would receive a summons.

During the interaction with Osgood, according to the officer, fireworks continued to be set off.

“After warning Osgood, he said he would stop the fireworks or just ‘move to another location,’” the officer reported.

But about two minutes later, “a large amount of fireworks were shot off,” and continued to go off for 30 to 45 seconds, the officer alleged.

The officer returned to the home and Osgood reportedly told the officer that he was unable to get to the person lighting off the fireworks in time.

Another officer arrived and later, the two left the scene but one allegedly heard a woman yell, “Concord PD sucks!”

Osgood was issued a summons and he allegedly told the officer that he might as well continue lighting off the fireworks. The officer then told Osgood he would be arrested and taken into custody and Osgood reportedly yelled back to his friends to pack them up.

“Osgood was argumentative throughout the remainder of the contact, telling us he would make sure each one of us had to go to court over this,” the second officer alleged.

A check of records later indicated that police had been to the residence in 2004 and 2011 for fireworks noise complaints, according to the summons report.

Lt. Timothy O’Malley, the commander of the criminal investigations unit for the department, said the specific ordinance dealing with consumer fireworks noise issues was City of Concord Ordinance 13-6-1 Noise Prohibited. The ordinance states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued any excessive, unnecessary loud noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, inures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the city limits.”

There is no set time for when fireworks detonations are allowed or disallowed, according to the ordinance.

O’Malley said officers “don’t go searching for fireworks noise complaints.” After receiving a complaint, patrol officers will search for the complaint location and will issue a cease and desist warning first. Later, a summons or arrest could occur, if the activity does not stop after a warning had been issued, according to O’Malley.

Osgood has a court date on Aug. 26, according to the complaint.