Mass. man arrested after driving car into public works department employee, police say

A Gloucester man was arrested Thursday after he drove his car into a city public works department employee, according to police.

William Evans, 71, has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with the incident, Gloucester police said in a press release.

Officers responded to the Gloucester public works department facility shortly before noon for a report that there was “an unwelcome individual on the property,” police said. While traveling to the scene, they received an update on the situation informing them that a department employee had been hit by a car.

At the scene, officers located Evans and the city worker and quickly identified Evans as the suspect, police said. The public works department employee did not report any injuries resulting from the collision.

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The preliminary investigation indicates that Evans had come to the facility to drop off his recycling before the designated hours for doing so, police said. Normally, Gloucester residents’ recycling is picked up at their homes, but as employees of the city’s waste contractor — Republic Services — are still striking, residents must drop off materials directly at the facility between 12 and 6 p.m. if they want them recycled.

Evans arrived at the facility to drop off his recycling early and refused to move his car so as not to block public works department vehicles, police said. He then drove his car into the city worker.

Officers arrested Evans without incident, police said. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges in Gloucester District Court on Friday.