Hull Police arrested a 21-year-old man last week for failing to register as a sex offender and attempting to mislead investigators about his identity.

On July 8, Nicholas Ryan Smith, who lives in Charlotte, N.C. but who has been living in Hull for at least three weeks, was arrested at the A Street Pier. Officers stopped him at around 7:55 p.m. after taking note of his name during two previous encounters at the pier, on June 16 and June 27.

“A Hull Police officer informed Smith that Hull Police learned about his status as a sex offender who failed to register his residence in Hull, in violation of Massachusetts registration laws,” according to a statement from the local department. “Leading up to his arrest, Smith made no attempt to register a Nantasket Avenue address, where he has been staying for at least three weeks, with the state’s Sex Offender Registry Board.”

Smith initially denied being a registered sex offender in Tennessee, telling officers that the person listed was his twin brother and that his own name was Nicholas Dale Smith. Officers found no information about anyone with that name in available databases. Hull Police then matched his Social Security number and booking fingerprints with the listing on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, as well as a mole on his neck and a scar on his finger that further confirmed his identity.

Hull Police charged Smith with failing to register as a sex offender and disguise to obstruct justice.

“My officers did an excellent job investigating this case, as the subject was attempting to elude arrest by stating that he has an identical twin,” Dunn said. “I would also like to thank the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in identifying this subject.”

On Thursday, July 10, a Hingham District Court judge ordered Smith held on $5,000 bail, less than the prosecutors’ request of $25,000 cash bail. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for August 1.

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