Swampscott Man Arrested For Salem Commotion

Salem police said a man was arrested after he became belligerent in the City Hall Annex and subsequently caused a scene in Townhouse Square while "berating" an officer Monday.

At 11:55 am. Monday, police said they received a call reporting that a man was being disruptive at 120 Washington St.

Police said they met a man, Henry Bellows, 56, of 16 Lewis Road, Swampscott, outside the building. The officer was familiar with the man.

The man has "a longstanding battle with the building inspector over his former address" that was condemned due to unsafe conditions/fire code violations earlier this year, police said.

The issue, police said, is that the man isn't allowed free access to the condemned building. The inspector told him he would have to make an appointment to gain access.

When the inspector told him this, Bellows began to protest and threaten legal action, police said.

The officer said he encountered the man outside 120 Washington St. and intended to detain him briefly "to rule out that any crimes had been committed in the inspector's officer." 

At this point, police said, "Bellows began to berate the officer … then began to yell and cause a disturbance in Townhouse Square."

Police said people began to gather to watch the incident. 

At that point, police said, "solely due to Bellow's tumultuous, unruly behavior," he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

Police also checked in with the inspector, who said no crimes were committed. If Bellows had made an appointment, he would have been allowed into the condemned property to collect his belongings, the inspector said.

Swampscott Patch tried to find a telephone number to contact Bellows for his account but found no listing for him.