By now the story of Joel Michaud’s arrest has broken and is now being discussed on the TKO message boards. Basic to the details is that Michaud was charged with various charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, threatening to commit a crime, and discharging a weapon within 500’ of a dwelling. The problem occurred when a company showed up at Michaud’s South Street home to repossess his wife’s vehicle.

Michaud spoke with the Observer and wishes citizens to know there is another side to the story. Various points Michaud raises include the following:

• He questions the contention that Kingston Police would be quoted as saying “You’d better be careful; you’re probably going to have trouble with this guy.” Michaud believes this would be prejudicial and out of character for an officer to state. “I have held, for 15 years a License to Carry with no restrictions from Kingston and recently renewed it. If I was a dangerous person the card would not have been renewed or the police would have stood by while these guys grabbed the truck.”
• Michaud said he was sleeping when the trio arrived. Lisa Michaud had asked the men to leave four times without success. Lisa told the Observer that “The men said they weren’t leaving “without the F’n truck”.
• Michaud contends “these were some pretty good sized guys. I asked them to leave and pointed out that his property is marked “No Trespassing”. Michaud said they ignored his request and grew agitated. He said one of the three advance toward him and said he’s put Michaud in a coffin. According to Michaud, the man went to his truck and appeared to take something from the front seat, upon which Michaud retrieved his licensed handgun from the house. Although he saw no weapon, the man advanced toward him in a threatening way
• When Michaud saw the police arriving, he took the gun into his office, cleared it and placed it on his desk, unloaded. He then went back outside to meet with police. Even with police present, “one of the guys continued to antagonize me” stated Michaud.
• Joel Michaud said he was fearful of where this situation was going. It was late at night, I live on an isolated lot, there were three large men on my property refusing to leave, my wife and kids were home and I was not able to get these guys off my property. I was fearful for my family and felt it was necessary to protect myself and my family. I was protecting my home and family against three guys who were aggressive to a point of fear. The one guy continued to taunt me after I had fired two warning shots, he was daring me to shoot him and continued to advance. I was relieved to see the police arrive.”
• Michaud denies saying that if they didn’t leave “They would be eating through a straw.” According to Michaud, that statement was attributed to him by the owner of the repo company, a person who wasn’t present.”
• Michaud said he was disappointed that Planning Board Chairman Tom Bouchard would have used this incident to make remarks about his effectiveness as a Planning Board member. “I have enough problems without Tom piling on with political issues. He has a right to his opinions, but this was not the time.”
• Michaud wants the residents of Kingston to know that he is not some kind of vigilante. “I was genuinely concerned for the safety of my family and myself. My actions were one of self defense.”

Join the discussion: The Joel Michaud Story

Search the Observer