Man Involved In Central Mass Standoff Pleads Not Guilty, Held Without Bail

A man who held Worcester police at bay during a two-hour standoff last week pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday, July 17, authorities said. A judge ordered held without bail, authorities said.

Worcester police were able to talk Jonathan Lugo into surrendering without violence after a two-hour standoff on Friday, July 14, authorities said. He now faces nearly a dozen charges from the incident.
Photo Credit: *Facebook/Worcester Police Department*

Josh Lanier

07/17/2023 4:59 p.m.

Jonathan Lugo, 27, of Worcester, was accused of threatening people with a gun on Culver Street Friday afternoon, but when police arrived he refused to drop the weapon, Worcester police said. He instead fled along Dorchester Street and ran inside an apartment on Cutler Street and would not come out

Police called in a mental health expert and a SWAT team to prepare for any outcome. Officers also blocked several roads around the Union Hill neighborhood.

Worcester police were able to talk Lugo into surrendering without violence after a two-hour standoff around 2:30 p.m. authorities said. It was the second stand-off in as many weeks in Worcester.

Lugo is charged with:

Three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon
One count each of: witness intimidation
Kidnapping
Carrying a loaded firearm without a license
Carrying a firearm without a license
Firearm violation with three prior violent/drug crimes
Ammunition possession without an FID card

A Worcester County judge ordered Lugo held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing, which is set fo Friday, the prosecutor's office said.

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