Thursday, 4:30 PM
Teen charged with disrupting Boston police radio communication
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff
A West Roxbury High School senior today pleaded not guilty to charges that he repeatedly interfered with Boston police radio transmissions over the past month, allegedly blocking the transmission of information from 911 callers to officers on the street.
Paul Lydon Jr., 17, was arrested Wednesday night at his Child Street home. Police said they found him holding a two-way radio that caused feedback on department issued radios.
Wearing a white T-shirt and wispy goatee, Lydon was silent today during his brief arraignment before Judge Mary Driscoll in West Roxbury Municipal Court. He was charged with disturbing the peace and receiving stolen property. Police allegedly also found a dozen calculators stolen from the high school.
The teen's parents, Paul Lydon Sr. and Diane Genovese, said after the arraignment that their son has wanted to go into law enforcement since he was a toddler and that he has a fascination with electronics, especially radios.
"His dream is to be a cop. That's why he plays with radios,'' Diane Genovese said. "But he doesn't think before he acts.''
Paul Lydon Sr. said that staff members at the high school turn to Lydon to fix electronics and that his son has a ham radio license.
The couple said that their son was an honors student at West Roxbury High School, had not missed a class in 2 1/2, and was also attending classes at a Boston technology college. They said he had been given the calculators by staff because they were being thrown out.
Jennifer O'Keeffe, Suffolk assistant district attorney, said in court that Lydon was previously convicted as a juvenile of impersonating a police officer and calling in a false fire alarm. She described Lydon's alleged electronic sabotage as "a very dangerous thing for the police department.'' She said the Federal Communications Commission has been notified by police about his actions.
Bail was set at $500 cash, an amount Lydon's parents said they would post today.
