Andover fire lieutenant being investigated after accusing teen of stealing mail from her home

ANDOVER, Mass. — A 19-year-old teenager from Andover says she was followed by a man who accused her of stealing mail from her home.

And that man -- who was an off-duty Andover Fire lieutenant --has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation, the town manager said.

Gabby Batista, who lives with her parents in Andover, said she was getting mail from outside their home Wednesday afternoon when she was followed by man in a black SUV.

“I said ‘Sir, can I help you?’ He said, ‘You just stole mail from that house.’ I was like, ‘No sir, I live there,’" said Batista.

The teen posted the video on Twitter. You can hear the lieutenant say, “Making sure you weren’t stealing anything."

“He was like, ‘I never seen you. You are probably taking mail from that house,’” said Batista.

Keyla Arreaga is Batista’s friend, and she alarmed her about being followed.

“It’s really traumatizing. When I saw that, his weird movements, my heart dropped,” said Arreaga.

Batista said she had no idea it was an off-duty Andover Fire lieutenant.

“I got a call from his son that I went to school with, and that put the pieces together. He was like that was my dad,” said Batista.

Batista, who is of Dominican descent, said this shook her feelings.

“It hurts me that people have to go through that, especially with everything going on right now,” said Batista.

“I’m sorry, if it was a regular white girl in Andover getting her mail, he would’ve drove by and continued to mind his business,” said Arreaga.

While Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan called the situation “concerning.”

“This is an extremely concerning situation, one that demands a full accounting of the facts,” Flanagan said.

“I’m hurt, but at the same time I’m not surprised,” said Batista.

The fire lieutenant was not identified.

Batista says she didn’t want it to go this far, she just wants to spread awareness, and be mindful of other nationalities.

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