Cops at wits end with repeat offender

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Cops at wits end with repeat offender Friday, June 30, 2006

Author Norman Miller 508-626-3823 Metrowest Daily News

FRAMINGHAM -- A homeless man arrested Wednesday after he passed out on the train tracks is testing the patience of police, authorities said.
John English, 60, has been arrested or taken into protective custody 18 times since November 2004, and 60 times since Sept. 6, 1987, Lt. Paul Shastany said.
"All we can do is keep arresting him," said Shastany. "This guy has done everything he can to annoy the public. Almost all of his crimes are in the public view and it reflects poorly on the police. The natural reaction is for people to ask, 'Why aren't police doing something about this guy.'"
But, Shastany said, police have tried to do a lot for English throughout the years.
"We're trying to reinvent the wheel to get this guy treatment," said Shastany. "We've done everything we can do. We got him into alcohol treatment, and nothing works. He chooses to do these crimes. He knows exactly what he is doing."
English has been a problem for the police for years. He has been arrested repeatedly, mainly for trespassing and disorderly conduct, but things seemedq to take a turn for a worse since an incident in November 2004.
On Nov. 10, English went to a Concord Street apartment complex from which he was banned. ; He had been arrested twice that month for trespassing at the building.
That night, a woman called after English defecated in front of the apartment doors of two people he thought reported him to police, Shastany said.
"He's an abrasive, caustic guy," Shastany said about English. Shastany said English acts "indignant," when he is arrested. "No trespass orders don't faze him. Arrests don't faze him."
Since that arrest, English has been picked up 12 times for trespassing and taken into protective custody six more times for public drunkenness.
English's latest arrest was Wednesday at 6:46 p.m., when police found him passed out on the train tracks near the Chicken Bone Saloon holding a half empty pint of vodka. Shastany said English was charged with trespassing on railroad property.
Shastany said English needs to be helped, and he hopes the latest arrest would lead to the court ordering him to be sent Bridgewater State Hospital.
However, English pleaded guilty yesterday in Framingham District Court and was fined $50.

Cops at wits end with repeat offender	Friday, June 30, 2006
Author	Norman Miller 508-626-3823	Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM -- A homeless man arrested Wednesday after he passed out on the train tracks is testing the patience of police, authorities said. John English, 60, has been arrested or taken into protective custody 18 times since November 2004, and 60 times since Sept. 6, 1987, Lt. Paul Shastany said. "All we can do is keep arresting him," said Shastany. "This guy has done everything he can to annoy the public. Almost all of his crimes are in the public view and it reflects poorly on the police. The natural reaction is for people to ask, 'Why aren't police doing something about this guy.'" But, Shastany said, police have tried to do a lot for English throughout the years. "We're trying to reinvent the wheel to get this guy treatment," said Shastany. "We've done everything we can do. We got him into alcohol treatment, and nothing works. He chooses to do these crimes. He knows exactly what he is doing." English has been a problem for the police for years. He has been arrested repeatedly, mainly for trespassing and disorderly conduct, but things seemedq to take a turn for a worse since an incident in November 2004. On Nov. 10, English went to a Concord Street apartment complex from which he was banned. ; He had been arrested twice that month for trespassing at the building. That night, a woman called after English defecated in front of the apartment doors of two people he thought reported him to police, Shastany said. "He's an abrasive, caustic guy," Shastany said about English. Shastany said English acts "indignant," when he is arrested. "No trespass orders don't faze him. Arrests don't faze him." Since that arrest, English has been picked up 12 times for trespassing and taken into protective custody six more times for public drunkenness. English's latest arrest was Wednesday at 6:46 p.m., when police found him passed out on the train tracks near the Chicken Bone Saloon holding a half empty pint of vodka. Shastany said English was charged with trespassing on railroad property. Shastany said English needs to be helped, and he hopes the latest arrest would lead to the court ordering him to be sent Bridgewater State Hospital. However, English pleaded guilty yesterday in Framingham District Court and was fined $50.

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