Charges Remain for Driver Following xpedx Incident

According to police, the man who was arrested for driving through the xpedx picket line last week did not suffer a medical emergency causing the incident, and as a result the charges against him remain.

On Thursday, October 4, police say that an independent truck driver approached the picket line and when detail officers stopped him he suddenly accelerated. Police said one officer who was on the stairs of the truck had to hang on to the side of the moving vehicle.

At the time of the incident, police did not release the driver’s name, saying they were investigating if a medical event was the cause.

But Lt. Joe Desmond confirmed this week that a variety of tests showed there was nothing medically behind the incident, and the charges stand.

Gerald Smith, 78, of 24346 Maxwell Street in Parksley, Va., is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and batter with a dangerous weapon, failing to stop for police, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

Smith was transported to a Winchester Hospital via ambulance from the picket line but was arraigned that day in Woburn District Court.