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Concord Man Arrested Over Scarecrow Signs Targeting School Superintendent

The charge stems from a May harassment-prevention order obtained by Superintendent Laurie Hunter.

Overview

  • John Grace, 56, was arrested Tuesday at his North Branch Road home and was arraigned in Concord District Court, police said.
  • Police say signs directed at the Concord-Carlisle superintendent began appearing on Sept. 22, and the case remains under investigation with limited details released.
  • The displays featured makeshift scarecrows with messages such as “The hatchet for Hunter!” and “Fire liar hunter,” according to photos and local reports.
  • Concord police identified Grace as a suspect after an investigation conducted with Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, according to a police statement.
  • School committee leaders condemned the displays as disturbing and voiced full support for Hunter, while records show Grace faced related charges in 2022, with one count later ending in a not-guilty verdict and another dropped.