Crime

Rhode Island man charged with disorderly conduct, allegedly intimidated voters

Witnesses told police that Timothy Masse, 33, yelled expletives about Democrats at people as they walked into a polling place on Tuesday morning.

November 6, 2024

1 minute to read

A man in Coventry, Rhode Island, is charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly yelled at voters heading to the polls on Tuesday.

Police responded to the polling location at the Maple Root Baptist Church around 10:15 on Tuesday morning after reports that a man was intimidating voters, Coventry police said in a statement.

In bodycam footage obtained by The Boston Globe, Timothy Masse is seen wearing a shirt that says “Kamala Sucks.” While talking with police, Masse claims he was not yelling at voters and was simply standing near the polling place.

However, witnesses saied Masse was hurling expletives at voters, with one witness claiming in the bodycam footage that he called her a “F*****g Democrat.”

“I don’t know how he knows how I’m voting, but that is an intimidating thing when you’re approaching a voting booth,” the witness said in the video. “That should not be happening.”

Other witnesses showed police videos allegedly capturing Masse yelling at voters. One witness said Masse yelled at “everyone” who walked by, bodycam footage showed.

The release said Masse continued the alleged behavior, even after law enforcement arrived. Officers soon arrested Masse, the release said.

According to court documents, Masse is due back in court on Nov. 13 for his arraignment. Representation for Masse could not be reached for comment.