Barnstable County Report

Commish candidate arrested for assault

Barnstable Town Council member was arrested over a decade ago
The charge against Milne was domestic assault and battery

For years the rumor has swirled around Hyannis that J. Gregory Milne, member of the Barnstable Town Council from Precinct 13, newly minted member of the town's charter commission and a candidate for Barnstable County Commissioner had been arrested more than ten years ago for domestic assault. To wit, Milne was believed to have assaulted his mother. Apparently three Barnstable police officers also believed that Milne assaulted his mother, because they arrested him.

At Tuesday night's debate Milne said he was "inspired to run by his mother."

According to the booking report of which BCR has a copy (see below), booking report #B9501889, Milne was arrested at 10:42 PM at 49 Harbor Road in Hyannis. He was taken to the Barnstable Police headquarters, booked and "jailed." The charge against him was domestic assault and battery. A description of Milne's offense on the report, perhaps we should say 'alleged' offense, says " ...assault - strongarm."

Open mouth, insert foot

All five candidates running in next Tuesday's Democrat primary election for seats on the Barnstable County board of commissioners appeared at last night's debate at the Yarmouth senior Center in South Yarmouth. Each was given two minutes to make an opening statement. J. Greg Milne's first words were that he was inspired to see office and serve the public by his mother. He continued to tell the assembled citizens that his mother had experienced severe repression under the government of her native East Germany.

In the spirit of researching this repression one might ask Greg's mother if she ever had to call the cops in East Germany.

BCR will attempt to gather more information about this case, including the text of the asrresting officer's report and the contents of any surviving file from the Barnstable District Court, where in the past, Milne has attempted to learn if any inquiries have been made about this case. No attempt has been made to contact Milne as his usual response to simple questions is interminable babble.

In another interesting situation, Milne appears not to recognize the usual boundaries of political discretion. Or manners. He has attended and participated in two meetings held recently to organize and manage the recall effort being waged against his fellow town council member, and council president, Janet Joaquim. Milne's incumbency on the town council alone makes this activity interesting but his simultaneous membership on the town's charter commission makes it even more so.

Milne apparently believes he has the authority to follow or reject what rules he chooses.

He is a serving member of a body whose existence the charter commission may recommend be ended or changed and he is at the same time actively working in an effeort to recall that body's presiding officer. It is clear that J. Gregory Milne apparently believes he has the authority to follow or reject what rules he chooses.

In an interview conducted by the Barnstable Patriot and published on September 5 Milne was quoted as saying, "I am different."  On that everyone should be able to agree.

Also, read about a recent incident involving Milne at the town's transfer station here.