Magazine Solicitors Cause Problems; Several Arrested

A series of complaints from residents about rude magazine solicitors led to at least four arrests this week.

The complaints came in Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from a number of streets, including Blodgett Creek, Albion, Echo, Cypress, White Bark, Ballymore and Falmouth.

Police encountered the first of the salesmen on Albion after a Bodgett Creek resident said the man came to the door and asked her husband, "Who's in charge?"

An officer found him on Albion; a report said officer noted that the man "could be pushy." He told him to leave the area.

The next day, though, another complaint came in from Echo Drive, where a resident said when his father refused to buy a magazine, the solicitor swore at him.

Police located the same man they'd warned the day before, who lives in Tennessee, on Stoughton Drive and arrested him.

On Thursday, residents on Cypress Drive reported two nicely dressed men were selling magazines without a permit. Both were picked up on Howe Road and cited for soliciting without a permit.

A few minutes later, there was a report of two men going door-to-door on White Bark. Police found them sitting in the grass; they told the officer their boss told them to stop selling until they had a permit.

A Ballymore Street resident then complained a man had just come to the door and said he wanted $300 for magazines. Police located him and warned him to stop soliciting.

A short time later, a Falmouth Drive resident asked a solicitor for his credentials, and the man replied he didn't need any.

Police located that man, too, and arrested him.