Reports: Man arrested after threatening Pedroia family

"The reason why Samuels allegedly threatened the Pedroias was note stated by the Woodland police."

Might have been helpful for you to have mentioned the recent dustup between Pedroia and his hometown, stemming from comments he made in a recent Boston Magazine article. The two events are almost certainly related.

I love Pedroia, but he seems like a cocky punk.

WHAT?????????????????????

How dare he threaten the Destroia! I hope they NEVER let this guy out of jail! What has this world come to? People are whacked!!!!

Wow, and I thought I was upset about the blue socks on the road.

>"It's a dump," Pedroia said to writer Tommy Craggs. "You can quote me on that. I don't give a s---. "Everyone wants to get out of there. You don't want to stay in Woodland. What do you want to stay in Woodland for? The place sucks."

Way to go, how to make friends and influence people. Another millionaire who thinks he's better than everyone else. How rare.

Jimmy, have you ever met a pro athlete who isn't cocky? His attitude is one of the reasons he's made it as far as he has in the pro ranks and one of the reasons he was the best player in the A.L. last year.

and Harry makes it seem like this is Pedroia's fault... This guy Samuels is obviously unstable. Pedroia could have talked about anything in that article and this guy would have still made the same threats. maybe he was making threats before this article came out...

I'm just thankful this guy is in jail right now... I hope he stays there for a while.

Clueless blogging. This is probably related to Pedroia's brother who was arrested for child molestation.

Cocky yes, Confident absolutely. I understand that before he bats he'll usually tell his teammated, oh this pitcher has nothing I'm going to knock a hr off him. Even if he strikes out, he'll come back and say, he's got nothing, I'm going to knock a hr off him next at bat. Apparently his teammates appreciate his fire, drive and humor.
Note: He's also an ASU guy, as is Tito. Mark my words, Tito ever leaves to manage another team, The Destroia WILL follow.

It may have something to do with the fact that (Dustin) Pedroia's brother was arrested a few months ago on pedophilia-related charges, i forget the exact details.

You've got to be kidding me! So a death sentence is warranted for just being cocky?
Do you THINK about what your saying?????

Jimmy,

It's his cocky-ness that has helped make this undersized man overcome the odds. You need to be supremely confident to succeed at that level, especially when you're not the stereotypical size, weight... I'll take it!`

So, being cocky is a bad thing in sports? I don't think so. Don't you think maybe ol' Ted was a little "cocky"??

Pedroia is a cocky punk gross.

Harrybosch:

I just now read that Boston Magazine article... you're right, it has to be related to that. They need to throw the book at anyone making threats like that but I actually read a lot of the comments left on that BM story by people from his town and I must say I wish Dustin would have kept his mouth shut. I hate to read about young kids in his own home town being so disappointed by someone that should be their hero.

Pedroia is a punk, he deserves to be beat up but death threats is taking it too far.

Ruh RUHOOOOOOO!!! The guy slammed his home town!
Be on the lookout for a 5 7" man wearing a Red Sox uniform! Make that a 5ft 5" and lower just make sure they shave before you bring them to the station! BE ON THE LOOKOUT! over and out!

Actually, Pedroia's brother was in trouble with the law recently, so that could also be a motive for the threats as well...

Harrybosch needs to do a little research. That "dustup" was a result of an incident between Pedroia and the Woodland community that decided to link him to his estranged brother, to whom he hadn't spoken in years. Why did they have to drag Dustin's name into a matter involving his brother when they hadn't spoken in forever? I'm not going to mention what the incident was, but you can look it up if you want. I'd be pissed if I was Pedroia, too.

From the BM article:
"Woodland is a bedroom community of more than 50,000 people that lies 20 miles northwest of Sacramento. It is often described as being something out of Our Town, which is an odd point of comparison for a place once known by its early settlers as "By Hell." "It's a dump," says Pedroia, whose parents run a tire store on Main Street and whose family seems to occupy a position in Woodland roughly equivalent to that enjoyed by the Grimaldis in Monaco. "You can quote me on that. I don't give a sh*t." He shakes his head."

Pedroia acknowledges he's angry with the town for something he won't specify, though it's safe to assume it involves his older brother Brett's arrest, in January, on child-molestation charges. (Brett has pleaded not guilty.) "Everyone wants to get out of there," he goes on. "You don't want to stay in Woodland. What do you want to stay in Woodland for? The place sucks. The newspaper there, I don't really get along with. I come from your town. You should embrace me. I play for the Boston Red Sox. You haven't had a lot of major-leaguers come out of your city."

the threats are related to the fact that Dustins brother was arrested on felony sex charges with a minor - a young boy I believe.

What a shame to have a nice guy threatened by some maniac. Dustin Pedroia is an outstanding example of leadership, determination and proof that a dream can come true in sports. I hope this man and others like him gets the punishment he deserves. Too many "NUT CASES" out in the world today!

you'd have to be pretty sick/stupid to threaten to kill all the men of a family over a statement in an article saying their town sucks....more likely over the fact that his older brother was arrested for inappropriate actions with a minor......doesn't make the threat any better, but you can understand a lot better...especially if the guy is a family member of the victim or something.....

The problem with many print interviews (magazine, newspaper, etc) is that the entire quotes sometimes are not printed. Often the question(s) asked that lead to the quote(s) is/are omitted. So the whole "dustup" could be another example of things taken out of context. No matter what, it is not a reason to threaten anyone's life. My hometown sucks too. I'd never move back there. Want to kill me about it? Hopefully not because SANE people do not think that way.

Yeah thats waaaaaay outa line

How much lower will the moral and ethical compass of this nation have to fall before the rational majority of its' citizens demand that these types of crackpots are brought to a swift and harsh conclusion.

Killings in schools, child abductions, terrorists both in this and other countries, pirates in Somalia, anti-abortion and abortion groups and now ballplayers.

We are becoming nothing more than another third world nation in our attempts to integrate each and every nationality into our society. It isn't going to function.

We were, at one time, a nation of law. We have now become a nation dominated by the lawless who our court system insists on protecting more than the victims.

It has become a disgusting mess and I have had the misfortune of observing this decline reach greater acceleration each and every year in my now nearly 80 years.

Allow this perpetrator 4 options: 1. Hanging 2. Gas chamber 3. Lethal injection 4. Firing squad.

Perhaps the next person who wishes to commit such an injustice to another will think twice.

Jimmy J

He "seems" cocky? Unless you know Dustin personally, you should STFU.

So, Jimmy, are you saying that because he "seems" cocky than having death threats made against his family and himself are justified? Sounds like that's what you were hinting at. If not, next time be a little clearer. If it is what you meant, then you are sick.

Yeah, but just because someone says something you don't like doesn't give you the right to threaten to kill them. Dustin's a sweetie! I didn't read the Boston Magazine article since its hard to find that publication outside of MAss, so I don't know what he said about his hometown, but I'm sure it goes deeper than that. Then again, if this dude is typical of Woodland Citizens....maybe that's why Pedey diss'ed 'em.

#1 is probably right. Below is from the article.

Woodland is a bedroom community of more than 50,000 people that lies 20 miles northwest of Sacramento. It is often described as being something out of Our Town, which is an odd point of comparison for a place once known by its early settlers as "By Hell." "It's a dump," says Pedroia, whose parents run a tire store on Main Street and whose family seems to occupy a position in Woodland roughly equivalent to that enjoyed by the Grimaldis in Monaco. "You can quote me on that. I don't give a sh*t." He shakes his head.

Pedroia acknowledges he's angry with the town for something he won't specify, though it's safe to assume it involves his older brother Brett's arrest, in January, on child-molestation charges. (Brett has pleaded not guilty.) "Everyone wants to get out of there," he goes on. "You don't want to stay in Woodland. What do you want to stay in Woodland for? The place sucks. The newspaper there, I don't really get along with. I come from your town. You should embrace me. I play for the Boston Red Sox. You haven't had a lot of major-leaguers come out of your city."

Excuse me Jimmy - I've had the good fortune to meet the Pedroia's several times in their Boston neighborhood and found them to be nothing but genuinely nice people. He may be deservedly cocky on the playing field - let's face it he'e earned that right - but as a guy on the street he's pretty unassuming and gracious.

Nothing is an hour outside of Woodland. Woodland is an hour outside of Oakland, not the other way around.

Yeah , good comment Jimmy.....some lunatic threatens to shoot his family and you say "he seems like a cocky punk".

Retard.

So Oakland is an hour out of Woodland, is it?

Harrybosch, Pedroia didn't threaten to kill anyone in his hometown.....

So, Jimmy J, let me get this straight: Because you think he is 'a cocky punk' , this justifies someone to kill the men of his family? You comment is pretty out of line. Where is your humanity ?

First off: Pedroia has had to put up with garbage about not being big enough at every step of the way. He could have believed the naysayers like many people do when faced with that crap, but instead he developed a bravado and self-confidence that he has used to help overcome obstacles and prove himself. Do Red Sox players need a detailed guide to tell them in writing exactly how to act? Isn't winning the MVP enough? Should Dustin act more laid-back? (no, then he'd be called "soft" or "unmotivated" like people say about Drew). Should he not speak his mind to the press? (no, then he'd be whined about as unwilling to share insight with us fans). Pedroia is a great player and seems like a decent guy (at least as much as that is my business). I don't care if Dustin called his whole town out in Boston Magazine. Even "Captain Caveman" Carl Everett did not deserve to have his family threatened. P.S. I don't care for the comments that a few of you made about Pedroia... does that mean I would be justified in threatening your families?

TO JIMMY J

WHEN YOU CAN PLAY BALL LIKE DUSTIN PEDROIA AND HAVE ALL HIS AWARDS, YOU CAN BE COCKY TOO!!!!!! GO SOX!

What could be so bad to threaten someone and their family? What is wrong with people? Just crazy! just out of control!

"I love Pedroia, but he seems like a cocky punk. "

Lemme guess, you're over 40 years old

Its easy, when Congress votes in favor of eliminating fire arms and anything that could be lethal to human race, we will most probably live happly with ourselves..
People sometimes get carry away when justice isnīt firm enough especially in USA territory, this person should be thrown in Jail for atleast 20 years case proven guilty..

Wait just a second, JimmyJ. Are you saying that because someone seems like a cocky punk that their family is allowed to receive death threats? Whether he's a cocky punk or not this is so the wrong place to voice your opinion on something like this.

"The reason why Samuels allegedly threatened the Pedroias was not stated by the Woodland Police."

Globe writers, and writers in general, would be well-served to stop using the phrase "the reason why". It is not proper grammar, and its regular use in newspapers nation-wide perpetuates the breakdown of the English language.

This situation is an either/or: Either use "the reason was not stated..." or "why Samuels threatened the family was not stated...".

I don't want to come off as superior, or worse, a stuck-up New York Times reader, but this issue has been bothering me for a while and I thought I would comment in hopes of bringing it to your attention, as the error is no doubt unintentional and a result of the conversational nature of this blog.

I very much enjoy the Globe Sports and this blog, but grammar considerations should not be brushed aside in the name of expedient posting. The blog still bears the imprimatur of a well-established and respected publication, and should conform with news-writing standards.

Would Drew please get a hit with men on for once?!? Solo shots are great, but 2-run singles are much better.

This seems the more logical reason:

Brett Pedroia, the older brother of Red Sox [team stats] second baseman and 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia [stats], has been accused of child molestation.

Lt. Charles Wilts, spokesman for the Woodland (Calif.) Police Department, said Brett Philip Pedroia was arrested Jan. 9 for sex crimes involving a then 8-year-old boy in 2004.

Brian from malden

The author of the story in the Boston Magazine: Tommy Craggs is the one who should be having all of this trouble unwanted attention. He took Pedroia's ribbing about his hometown as something seriuos that Dustin meant. He did not know that Dustin good enough to know that the MVP second baseman is somewhat of a jokester..

I think if you are famous and someone writes an article about you for a mag or a newspaper. You should have the right to look at the story first before it is submitted by the author to his or her employer.

That just my take. I could be wrong, but I bet Dustin wishes he could have seen that story first and sqwash it before all of the unwanted BS happened!

Typical Angels fans.

I wonder if this has to do with Pedroia's brother being accused of having sex with a minor? I saw that story about a month or two ago and haven't heard anything since but would make sense if they are related.

Going forward, Pedroia should think before he speaks.

HarryBosch hit the nail right on the head. He totally slammed his hometown and his brother was arrested on four counts of Child Molestation in the town. While I am not condoning the actions of the guy doing the harassing, this story fails to mention all things involved. "Kenneth Samuels allegedly made multiple phone calls to the Pedroia family business and threatened to shoot and kill the men of the Pedroia family"...maybe some relation to the alleged abused? Funnyt...no one heard of any of this here in Boston.

From last January 24:
"WOODLAND, Calif. -- Major League Baseball MVP Dustin Pedroia's brother faces accusations of child molestation in Yolo County.
According to the Woodland Police Department, Brett Pedroia was taken into custody Jan. 9 on a probable cause warrant for two counts of oral copulation and lewd acts with a child under the age of 14, all felonies.
The alleged victim recently told his parent about the incidents from four years ago, a statement from Woodland police said."

My first guess would point to these charges, but who knows.

Cocky punk? He seems like one of the most fun-loving, down to earth professional athletes out there. What guy are YOU watching?

Wasn't there also a legal thing with one of Pedroia's brothers or relative? He got arrested for something? I think?

Dustin is one player kids can still look up to... let's hope the wackos stay away.

Pedroia is not a punk and even if he were as is suggested by Jimmy J, there is no excuse to threaten members of his family.

The threats must have been on DP's mind while playing.

What comments are you referring to Harry? There really is nothing that I can think of that would justify making threats to shoot a member of Pedroia's family.

Or... it could have something to do with Pedroia's brother Brett being accused of sexual assault on a child under 14?

My friend works for a company that advertises for the Sox. He spends a lot of time with a lot of the Sox players. The ONE person he says is not a cocky punk is Pedroia. Far from it.

"Might have been helpful for you to have mentioned the recent dustup between Pedroia and his hometown, stemming from comments he made in a recent Boston Magazine article. The two events are almost certainly related."

Might be equally as helpful to mention that Pedroia's brother is an accused child molester. The 3 events are almost certianly related.

The guy ought to get a life. Maybe he ought to purge himself of his venom by posting on the Globe site?

I am a family member of Dustin's and I do not know him well at all, but he need's to not for get where he came from and how he got where he is today. That is from his family and people that worked with him in ball along with his talent. I just think it is sad he would say this about his home town when his mother, father and sibblings are still there. There maybe a day where he eats his words. His family and town supported him and it would be nice to feel that he appriciated the faith they had in him to do well.

Harrybosch: Are you insinuating that there's justification for threatening the man's family members? That'd be a harsh response to a guy's statement that everyone wants to move out of Woodland because it's a dump.

it could very well have to do with Dustin's brother, Brent, who was arrested in January on pedophilia charges

"Might have been helpful for you to have mentioned the recent dustup between Pedroia and his hometown, stemming from comments he made in a recent Boston Magazine article. The two events are almost certainly related."

That coupled with the recent arrest of his brother on child molestation charges...

Pedroia's probably aren't too popular these days in Woodland.

What's up with Woodland, CA freaking out about Pedroia's comments. I've never seen so many people have such pride for an ugly, suburban town outside an even uglier suburban city like Sacramento.
The place is a "dump" get over it.

He has every right to say what he wants about where he grew up.
Hey, I was born and raised in East Boston, and I can say I'm happy I
no longer live there.
And to call him cocky? Would you rather he act like Paplebon, or even worse Joba, Sheffield, A-Rod?? Those guys act like morons on the field while this kid just plays with intensity. Not pumping his fist like Pap and Joba, not calling every single problem he ever had in his life a product of racism, and CERTAINLY not cheating.
Manny, like Sheffield tanking plays or not playing at all??
If this kid has a chip on his shoulder, it's all put into his play, not into a demonstration of how to act like an idiot at the ballpark.

This guy should get a pardon... Hero, if you ask me.

OH MY MY MY. The midget's family has been thretnenend?? omg whas huz this worldz come toos? OBAMA DECEPTION! lets go red sox , yankees suck!

Harrybosch: Care to share with the class..?

Harrybosch is right. I saw this post BEFORE I learned of the Boston mag piece. Once I did, I was dismayed thi post did not provide me with that fact earlier. A little shoddy journalistically not to mention the Boston Mag piece. As Harry wrote, they're almost certainly related. Even if not, the coincidence is too strong to completely ignore.

I was at two games last year in Oakland when the Sox played there and there was a guy about this idiot's age that let into Pedroia with some of the most vile stuff you'd ever want to hear at both games. The 2nd night the the cops made it over to the guy in about Dustin's 2nd or 3rd AB. While the cops were there, Pedroia hit a HR and even the A's fans around this guy were cheering.

Here's the quote from Boston Magazine about Woodland:

"Woodland is a bedroom community of more than 50,000 people that lies 20 miles northwest of Sacramento. It is often described as being something out of Our Town, which is an odd point of comparison for a place once known by its early settlers as "By Hell." "It's a dump," says Pedroia, whose parents run a tire store on Main Street and whose family seems to occupy a position in Woodland roughly equivalent to that enjoyed by the Grimaldis in Monaco. "You can quote me on that. I don't give a shit." He shakes his head.

Pedroia acknowledges he's angry with the town for something he won't specify, though it's safe to assume it involves his older brother Brett's arrest, in January, on child-molestation charges. (Brett has pleaded not guilty.) "Everyone wants to get out of there," he goes on. "You don't want to stay in Woodland. What do you want to stay in Woodland for? The place sucks. The newspaper there, I don't really get along with. I come from your town. You should embrace me. I play for the Boston Red Sox. You haven't had a lot of major-leaguers come out of your city."

Pedroia is a punk and deserves a punch in the mouth. I mean only a fraud would talk bad about where he is from.

Hey You Sunk-- Tito went to UofA, not ASU. Rivals. Get your facts right.

I was born and raised in Woodland, Ca and moved away from there almost 9 years ago. I don't miss it and would never move back. Regadless of what is going on with "Family" there, its the town that really brings you down. There really is no hope there and people are stuck there if they don't move on and out of the city. It has a stronghold on alot of families still. We have "friends and associates" that currently live there, and are still living in the same situations year after year. Pedroia's wording was wrong.. but he is right.

I was born and raised in Woodland, Ca and I still live there. This town just like any town has its good points and its faults. Woodland is a rural farm town that is known for its heritage and has some of the most beautiful homes and people come here to do "the stroll through heritage". It is also centrally located that makes it close to Sac. an hour from Tahoe and 2 hours from San Fran. Anyone that thinks Woodland is a dump does not have a clue. Look at the towns around like Knights Landing, Yuba City. Madison and I can go on and on. As for the post before it is not the Bermuda Triangle and people that are stuck there is because they want to be there or to stupid to move. Now for more common sense if someone made death threats would it be to a child molester or to a ungrateful home town hero. The connection should be pretty clear because I dont know what I would do if my sisters kids where molested.

This is what Dustin Pedroia did wrong he knocked a town that supported him and and the children worshiped him because he was their hero. People have pride in who they are, where they came from and I'm sure that when he was a kid he had it. If he was mad because of his brothers name being associated with his does not have a reflection on him. What was the newspaper supposed to do not report it.
Then for him to say that he was joking and that he sticks up for this town to his team mates is not even believable. How many hispanics from mexico do you ever hear of knocking their home. I am sure they had alot less going on in thier home town. He comes from a family that owns their own business and if they wanted to could leave anytime
My feelings are this he made himself look bad by dumping on the people that supported him namely his parents and their business, the children that admired him. they are proud of the home town hero when he said he had none .

We all make mistakes but what makes the differance is the people that are honest about it and then it can be put behind them

Wish you the best D.P.

I was born and raised in Woodland, Ca and I still live there. This town just like any town has its good points and its faults. Woodland is a rural farm town that is known for its heritage and has some of the most beautiful homes and people come here to do "the stroll through heritage". It is also centrally located that makes it close to Sac. an hour from Tahoe and 2 hours from San Fran. Anyone that thinks Woodland is a dump does not have a clue. Look at the towns around like Knights Landing, Yuba City. Madison and I can go on and on. As for the post before it is not the Bermuda Triangle and people that are stuck there is because they want to be there or to stupid to move. Now for more common sense if someone made death threats would it be to a child molester or to a ungrateful home town hero. The connection should be pretty clear because I dont know what I would do if my sisters kids where molested.

This is what Dustin Pedroia did wrong he knocked a town that supported him and and the children worshiped him because he was their hero. People have pride in who they are, where they came from and I'm sure that when he was a kid he had it. If he was mad because of his brothers name being associated with his does not have a reflection on him. What was the newspaper supposed to do not report it.
Then for him to say that he was joking and that he sticks up for this town to his team mates is not even believable. How many hispanics from mexico do you ever hear of knocking their home. I am sure they had alot less going on in thier home town. He comes from a family that owns their own business and if they wanted to could leave anytime
My feelings are this he made himself look bad by dumping on the people that supported him namely his parents and their business, the children that admired him. they are proud of the home town hero when he said he had none .

We all make mistakes but what makes the differance is the people that are honest about it and then it can be put behind them

Wish you the best D.P.

lame writting, I should have reviewed it

my father is innocent. kenneth samuels did not make any threatning calls. everyones got it twisted

Pedroia's family should sue the guy for all he's got.