Lowell Man Arrested In Tewksbury Accused Of Box Cutter Murder Threat

TEWKSBURY, MA — A Lowell man was arrested Saturday outside of a Tewksbury motel after being accused of threatening to kill people with a box cutter, the Tewksbury Police Department said.

Justin Maryland, 47, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, threatening to commit a crime (murder) and disorderly conduct, authorities said.

According to police reports, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the Tewksbury PD received a report of a man yelling, waving a box cutter and threatening to kill people in the parking lot of Motel 6, located at 95 Main St.

A spokesperson for Motel 6 contacted Patch to say the suspect was not a guest at the motel.

The first officers at the scene located the suspect, later identified as Maryland, and ordered him to stop, but Maryland did not comply, police said.

The Tewksbury PD said its officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by keeping their distance and repeating their commands while aiming a department-issued Taser at Maryland.

Maryland eventually did comply with the officers' commands and he was taken into custody without further incident, according to the department.

The Tewksbury PD said officers located a box cutter in Maryland's jacket.

"This was outstanding work to bring this man safely into custody by de-escalating this incident," Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan Columbus said. "I'm grateful, due to the officers' quick response and actions, that no one was hurt during this incident."