Victim: Road Rage Led to Former Sudbury Chief's Arrest

Richard Glavin, the former Sudbury Police chief who resigned last week after his arrest on multiple charges in Tyngsboro, is accused by the victim of his alleged road-rage incident of driving onto a sidewalk, pounding on his car and threatening to kill him, the Lowell Sun is reporting.

Glavin, 51, of 30 Nevada Road, Tyngsboro, is free on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty in Lowell District Court last Friday to charges of operating under the influence, assault and operating to endanger in connection with the May 2 incident.

His next court date is June 19 for a pretrial conference.

In court documents obtained by the Sun, Tyngsboro police reported they received a call at 9:31 p.m. for an accident in the area of Chronopoulos Way. Responding officers found a Honda Civic being driven by the victim. The Honda had damages consistent with being sideswiped and a broken side mirror. A Ford Fusion was being driven by Glavin.

The victim told officers Glavin hit his car twice, had "road rage" and attempted to harm him, the Sun reported.

According to court documents, police said Glavin yelled at an EMT, was "extremely unsteady" on his feet, had bloodshot eyes, had an odor of alcohol and slurred speach

Glavin allegedly told officers he was drunk, and a search of the his car revealed three open vodka bottles, the Sun reported.

Glavin allegedly told the victim, "If you keep that up I'll beat the (expletive deleted) out of you,'' and  "If you ever do that again I'll (expletive deleted) kill you.''

Town Manager Maureen Valente announced his resignation today through a press release.

"We regret to announce that Police Chief Richard Glavin has resigned from his position with the Town effective immediately," she wrote. "Last evening Chief Glavin was involved in an out of town, off-duty incident which led to this decision. (At the time of the incident Chief Glavin was operating a Town vehicle). Chief Glavin served the community with distinction for over 20 years and we wish him nothing but the best as he deals with whatever personal issues he must address. Unfortunately, the events of last evening necessitate this action."

Glavin, who spent the last 22 years of his career in Sudbury, had been the permanent chief since Jan. 1, 2010.

Glavin served as patrol officer, detective, and sergeant, according to a Boston Globe report. In 2004, he was promoted to executive lieutenant, the second in command of the department.

He has a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Western New England College in Springfield. In 1994 he was awarded a commendation and the Medal of Honor by the Department for extricating a severely burned motorist from a vehicle engulfed in flames.

Also in 1994 he received a commendation for his part in the arrest of a group of professional criminals that were committing a rash of night time burglaries in North Sudbury.