Oil Can Boyd turns himself in

JACKSON, Miss. – Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd surrendered Monday to federal agents in Tupelo to face charges he threatened a former girlfriend.

John G. Raucci, special agent in charge of the FBI in Mississippi, and U.S. Attorney Jim M. Greenlee said in a statement that Boyd allegedly made five telephone calls in which he threatened to harm the ex-girlfriend, who also was his business associate, and possibly her son.

Authorities would not say why no firm accusation was made concerning the woman’s son and did not reveal their names.

Boyd was indicted by a federal grand jury in Mississippi earlier this month. The 45-year-old Meridian native, now lives in East Providence, R.I., and plays baseball for the Brockton Rox, an independent minor league team in the Canadian-American League.

Boyd, who used to pitch for the Bangor Blue Ox in the Northeast League, was being taken to Oxford to await an initial appearance before a federal magistrate.

If convicted, Boyd could receive up to 25 years in prison, three years’ supervised release and up to $250,100 in fines.

Boyd was 78-77 in his major league career. He was with Boston from 1982-89, then finished up with Montreal and Texas.