A Malden man who police say is a member of a Hell’s Angels-affiliated motorcycle club called the Ground Pounder’s was released on bail and ordered to surrender his weapons five days after he allegedly “flashed” a pistol at a Haverhill woman in a “road rage” incident last weekend.
Forty-six-year-old Albert Menkello was fitted for a GPS monitor during a Thursday afternoon court appearance where First Justice Stephen Abany listened in as Assistant District Attorney Stephen LaMonica and Menkello’s Attorney Courtney Joy came to an agreement on the conditions of his release.
As his case continues in Haverhill District Court, Mankello must surrender all firearms and his firearms license to the Burlington Police Department, where he is registered, and stay away from the 23-year-old victim in the case. As WHAV previously reported, the woman was driving on River Street near Westgate Center June 1 when, as she told police, four bikers including Menkello drove up behind her and allegedly cut her off.
When she beeped her horn, the motorcyclists slowed down and two drove to the left side of her car and two to the right. One rider tried to speak with her through her open passenger side window. Minutes later, she observed Menkello, on her left, reach into a saddlebag, pull out a pistol and place it on his lap. The bikers then pulled into a parking area at 1405 River St., near the Methuen line. One of the motorcyclists later admitted to police they slowed down to “further upset” the woman.
In addition to remaining away from the victim, Menkello must steer clear of Haverhill. He must remain on full house arrest other than to work, adhering to a curfew of 7:30 p.m.-6 a.m. As his family looked on from the gallery Thursday, Menkello told Abany he understood the “very strict” conditions of his release.
At the time of his arrest, Menkello was found with a 357 magnum Ruger, bullets, brass knuckles, two shanks, several needles, a Xanax pill and five vials of anabolic steroids, police said, all of which were confiscated.
Three other men—one each from Methuen and Salem and Hudson, N.H.—were involved in the incident and may also face future charges.