Former Arlington resident Christopher Loder, 40, currently of Palermo, Maine, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, May 18, after town police arrested him the day before on charges of threatening to kill two Arlington police officers and injure a police dispatcher.

The Boston Globe on Thursday, May 19, reported further details about the case.

On Saturday, May 14, police received a call allegedly from Loder stating he was going to beat up two officers and that he was going to bring a group of military friends and "spray" the officers with an AK-47 and an AR-15.

After an intense investigation by Arlington detectives they developed many leads and tracked the suspect to Palermo, Maine.

Arlington police obtained a warrant for Loder’s arrest. He was later arrested by police at 26 Grove Street, Arlington, where he was temporarily staying with a friend.

In response to questions about why the suspect may have made threats and whether he may belong to an organized group that opposes government, Capt. Robert Bongiorno wrote:

"Mr. Loder is well known to the Arlington Police Department and it appears he had prior dealings with both officers. At this point, we have no knowledge of his involvement in any antigovernment movements."

He is charged with three counts of threatening to commit a crime. He is being held at Arlington police headquarters, where he will be transported to Cambridge District Court to face the charges.

 

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This story was first reported Tuesday, May 17, 2011, and updated May 19.