Police: Armed man dressed as UPS driver breaks into home, tries to strangle person

CHELMSFORD, Mass. — A Dorchester man is locked up after police say he forced his way into an apartment at gunpoint and tried to strangle the person inside.

The incident happened around 10:45 a.m. Thursday at a home on Tyngsboro Road. As police were responding to the report of people screaming, they learned a male suspect - possibly armed - was fleeing toward Tyngsborough.

Dispatcher: 911, this is recorded. What's your emergency?
Caller: Oh my God. Tyngsboro Road. Hurry up, please. Someone is screaming. 
Dispatcher: And what's going on? 
Caller: Somebody is screaming "Help me."
Dispatcher: Do you know where it's from?
Caller: Outside my house.
Dispatcher: Is the yelling still going on in the hallway?
Caller: No, he was screaming, screaming, "Please." He's screaming, "Help me, help me. Call the police."

Police caught up with the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Cedric Edwards, who was unarmed and dressed as a delivery man when he was taken into custody. K-9 officers searched the area and found a loaded handgun that had been thrown into nearby bushes. Police also found clothing and a box that contained zip-tie handcuffs.

Police say Edwards allegedly forced his way into the victim's apartment at gunpoint before assaulting him. The victim sustained injuries, but they were not believed to be serious.

Edwards and the victim do not know each other, police say. Investigators have not said what may have brought Edwards from Dorchester to the Chelmsford neighborhood. Edwards was transported to the hospital for complaints of rapid heart rate following his arrest.

Edwards is charged with armed home invasion, armed assault on a dwelling, assault and battery, strangulation, commission of a felony while armed, possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of a large capacity feeding device, and possession of ammunition.

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