Two Newton police officers sustained head injuries responding to a domestic violence call Saturday night March 4, with one officer suffering a concussion, having briefly lost consciousness.
Police officers followed a suspect after he ran into an apartment on Watertown Street. As they began to place him under arrest, he assaulted two officers, punching them in the head, according to Police Chief John Carmichael. After being handcuffed, the suspect grabbed one of the officers’ guns but did not gain control of the weapon.
Both officers were treated and released from Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Chief Carmichael and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller spoke at a press conference late Sunday. Chief Carmichael said that the suspect has a history of assault on police officers and that domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous cases for Newton police officers. Mayor Fuller said, “I’m so proud that we have line patrol officers, when a domestic violence 911 call comes in, they respond. They made sure the victim was OK. They arrested this alleged perpetrator in a safe way. They took the brunt of the violence. I could not be more proud of our police officers.”
The name and address of the suspect were not released due to state confidentiality law related to domestic violence cases.
The suspect was charged with two counts of assault and resisting arrest, and two counts of attempting to disarm a police officer. The suspect was released on $5,000 bail and was to be arraigned in Newton District Court on Monday. Chief Carmichael said the suspect was not injured.
The officers were not wearing body cameras. Chief Carmichael said that department is planning to deploy body cameras, but had not completed the implementation process.
