Marlborough cops: Man whiffs on attempt to swipe autographed Ted Williams ball

MARLBOROUGH – A Methuen man was held without bail Monday after police said he whiffed on his plan to walk away with a valuable piece of Red Sox memorabilia over the weekend.

Michael J. Glidden, 45, of 102 Greendale St., was arrested outside the Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center at 10:57 a.m. Saturday after police said he stole an autographed Ted Williams baseball during a sports memorabilia trade show.

A vendor said that a customer told him that a man, later identified as Glidden, picked up the autographed baseball from his table and walked away with it, according to a police report filed in Marlborough District Court.

The vendor went outside the show and found Glidden, who agreed to come back inside with him. When police arrived, Glidden admitted that he had walked away with the ball, which was valued at $600, but said he took it by accident, according to the police report.

"The subject pleaded with me to just let him pay for it," Officer Robert Bonina wrote in the police report.

When they returned to the station, officers found that Glidden had an outstanding warrant out of New Hampshire. He was charged with larceny over $250 and being a fugitive from justice on a court warrant.

Glidden experienced a medical emergency while awaiting his arraignment and was arraigned at Marlborough Hospital Monday. Marlborough District Court Judge David Cunis ordered him held without bail. Glidden waived his right to extradition to New Hampshire, according to court records.

Kendall Hatch can be reached at 508-490-7453 or khatch@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kendall_HatchMW.