Wednesday Court Date For Alleged Verizon Tech Kidnapper

The Westborough man who allegedly locked a Verizon technician in an underground vault earlier this month heads to court Wednesday.

Howard W. Cook faces arraignment in Westborough District Court at 9 a.m., Police Chief Alan Gordon said Tuesday.

Cook, 71, of 12 Chestnut St., will be charged with kidnapping, breaking and entering into a motor vehicle during the daytime, receiving stolen property, and larceny under $250.

Cook allegedly locked a Verizon technician in an underground vault on Aug. 5 "because he was upset that the technician had parked on his grass," Gordon has said.

The Verizon technician called police around 3:27 p.m. that day to report he was locked in the vault, in the grass at Research Drive at Connector Road, next to Westboro Self Storage, Gordon said.