A Bridgewater man has been held on $25,000 bail following a violent incident at Boston City Hall that left four officers injured, according to District Attorney Kevin Hayden's announcement cited by Suffolkdistrictattorney.com. Michael Williams, 51, faced charges including assault and battery on a police officer and trespassing. The altercation occurred this morning as officers attempted to remove Williams from the premises.
Officers were met with resistance from Williams who, after initially complying with demands to leave, became combative and chose arrest over compliance, as he indicated, "Yes, I would rather be arrested." In the attempt to handcuff Williams, he reportedly bit an officer's hand, causing severe injury and leading to the hospitalization of the injured officers at Mass General Hospital. Seemingly involved in the kerfuffle, Mayor Michelle Wu was seen checking on the officers, as NBC Boston reported.
Williams is slated to return to court on April 24 for a pre-trial hearing, after a mental health evaluation was ordered by Judge Paul Treseler. The suspect was also ordered to stay out of Boston and to be outfitted with a GPS tracking device if he posts bail. Details from Hoodline included confirmation from Boston Police Sgt. Det. John Boyle regarding the non-life-threatening status of the injuries, although specific circumstances surrounding the arrest and injuries remained cloudy.
In a separate incident during the booking process at the Government Center police station, a third officer was injured by Williams, raising the tally of the hurt to four officers, despite earlier reports suggesting only three. The increased injury count highlights the risks that police officers encounter, even in settings deemed secure like government buildings. According to Suffolkdistrictattorney.com, all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt as the investigation continues.
