Westford man who spit at hikers after claiming to have COVID-19 arrested

ASHBURNHAM, Mass. — Police have made an arrest in connection to an Ashburnham case where a man allegedly spat at two women resting on a bench on the Midstate Trail. At the height of the confrontation, the man allegedly spat and said, “I have COVID. I tested positive.”

That man has been identified as Hale Powell, 71, of Westford. He has been charged with a false threat of a biological agent, as well as assault and battery.

Ashburnham Police Chief Lorring Barrett Jr. said while times are stressful, there’s no excuse for Powell’s behavior.

“We’re dealing with different times right now and a lot of people are under a lot of different stress for obvious reasons,” Barrett said.

A judge ordered Powell to get a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 14 days or until he gets a negative test. He’ll need to share those test results with the women.

Shaking his head in court, Powell eventually agreed to take a COVID-19 test as part of his terms, before walking out of court with his wife.

“He is an established, well-respected member of the community and this is truly a 20-second aberration from the way he’s lived his life,” his defense attorney said.

The incident happened on Sunday while police say the two women were taking a break alongside the trail.

“They were resting on a park bench,” Ashburnham Police Lt. Chris Conrad said.

It’s unclear why they were not wearing masks, but that’s when a man passing by told them to put on a mask.

“I don’t care. I’m not going to wear a mask when I’m outside,” one woman said in response.

The man hiking by said, “It’s not the law.”

Police said while Gov. Charlie Baker did issue a mask mandate, it’s not a law.

The woman in the video then said to the man, “Good for you, do whatever you need to do.”

“Selfish is what it is,” the man responded back. “Completely irresponsible.”

Then the man abruptly turned around and charged at the women, spitting four times; he claimed to have COVID-19. The woman asked if he was OK. He said, “No, and you won’t be soon.”

Police say we all need to keep our cool.

“While everyone is frustrated we are all in this together,” Lt. Conrad said.

And, he added, enforcing the mask mandate is not up to the public.

“There’s other ways to deal with it and other authorities to deal with it than confronting it yourself,” he said.

Powell is due back in court in January.

Cox Media Group