Ayer man accused in racist confrontation hit with new charges tied to boat vandalism

A 67-year-old Ayer man accused of throwing rocks and yelling a racist slur at a Black father and daughter during a Memorial Day weekend fishing trip is now facing new charges for allegedly ordering an employee to vandalize the victim’s boat, and has been ordered held without bail.

David McPartlan pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault to intimidate in Fitchburg District Court on Jun. 16, according to court documents.

A judge released McPartlan on personal recognizance with orders to stay away from the victim and make no contact with them. 

However, according to a statement of facts filed with the court, on Sept. 26, an Ayer police officer spoke with a former employee of McPartlan. The two worked together at Eckel Industries, where McPartlan was the man’s supervisor. 

The employee told the police that McPartlan ordered him to vandalize the victim, Sheron Brown’s, boat, in retaliation for the ongoing criminal case.

McPartlan gave him the address of where to find it. He even gave him specific instructions to “use a sledgehammer and smash the engine on the back of Brown’s boat,” the report said. 

Upon completion, the employee said McPartlan would give him $500 and threatened to fire him if he did not go through with the act. 

The employee told police that he refused. As a result, McPartlan fired him on Sept. 23. 

Following the report, police summoned McPartlan to court again on Oct. 30, where he pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of intimidating a witness. 

According to court documents, a judge revoked his bail for violating his no-contact order. In late January, the judge ordered him committed without bail to the Worcester County House of Correction. 

McPartlan is returning to court on Friday for an administrative review session on both cases. 

Memorial Day Weekend incident: 

A video posted to Facebook shows a shirtless man on shore saying, “Oh yeah, I’m throwing rocks at you (n-word).” 

The man who filmed the clip, Sheron Brown, later told police he was fishing on Lake Shirley with his 10-year-old daughter when the man — later identified as McPartlan — approached, shouted the slur, and threw rocks that hit Brown’s boat. 

The rocks didn’t injure Brown or damage the boat.

When officers later questioned McPartlan at his home, he said he thought Brown was fishing too close to his dock and admitted he “slipped a word out” and threw rocks around the boat because he was angry.

McPartlan’s lawyer did not return a request for comment Friday. 

Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.