'Prank' could lead to serious charges against 2 Boylston town employees

BOYLSTON, Mass. — Two top highway department officials could be facing charges for what they say was a prank.

Highway Department employee Jeff Cathline reported to police what happened in the bathroom, saying he was afraid of losing his job so he kept quiet.

Cathline said he was in a bathroom stall when "a large fireball came under the door" and "the flames came within two feet." He was not hurt but said the fumes irritated his asthma.

According to the police report , Boylston's Highway Superintendent Steve Mero, Cathline’s boss, admitted to police he poured ether, a flammable carburetor cleaner, under the bathroom door and ignited it, saying, "it was all done in fun, nothing was meant by it, it was always meant as a joke."

The report also indicates Stuart Barber, the one who handed Mero the ether, told police, "...it was just a prank and they did not mean anything by it."

Police consulted with the district attorney and they are pursuing an assault with a deadly weapon charge against Mero and Barber.

In a follow up police report, Cathline told police he didn't think the town was taking the incident seriously because neither Mero or Barber were put on leave during the investigation.  The town administrator said over email he can't comment on personnel matters.

FOX25 tried to reach out to Mero and Barber, but have not heard back.  A woman at Cathline’s address said, "no comment".

Mero and Barber are scheduled to be in court next week for a hearing on whether they will face the assault charge.

Cox Media Group