Island Man Arrested For Allegedly Threatening To Shoot Barber

An island resident was arrested by the Nantucket Police Department Monday night and arraigned in court Tuesday morning for allegedly threatening to shoot an island barber who he discovered at his residence cutting his housemate’s hair.

Newton Lawrence, 32, is facing charges of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon. He is being represented by attorney Jim Merberg and had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf during Tuesday morning's arraignment. Lawrence was released on his own personal recognizance and ordered to return to court Oct. 9 for a pretrial hearing.

According to the police report, Nantucket police officers responded to a residence on Essex Road at 9:42 p.m. on September 23 after receiving a report from a man about an assault involving a firearm.

The alleged victim told police that at approximately 6:30 p.m. Monday evening, he was at the Essex Road residence performing barber services for another tenant at the home when Lawrence “aggressively approached him” upset that he was there and requesting he leave the property.

The alleged victim stated that Lawrence allegedly brandished a firearm and loaded a round in the chamber by pulling the upper slide back and releasing it during the altercation in an attempt to threaten him. The alleged victim also stated that Lawrence told him he will “put one in your head” referring to a bullet and that Lawrence proceeded to grab the man’s chest/lower neck area in an aggressive manner with his hand.

Merberg told Nantucket District Court Judge James M. Sullivan during the arraignment session that the gun was “some sort of an airsoft gun” and not a firearm. He added that Lawrence should be released on his own personal recognizance because he has no history of failing to appear in court.

Sullivan said given the lack of a prior history of defaults and substantial ties to the island, the court was satisfied that Lawrence would appear for future court dates. He did order a stay away and have no contact order from the alleged victim as a condition of his release.