In a harrowing incident on Friday afternoon, a Chelsea police officer sustained serious injuries when a portion of their ear was bitten off. The attack occurred while the officer was responding to a reported domestic incident at the Chelsea Commons apartment complex on Shurtleff Street. According to Boston 25 News, the assailant, Carlos Daniel Sanadbria, 27, aggressively confronted the officers and during the ensuing struggle, bit off part of an officer's ear.
The situation escalated rapidly, leading law enforcement to quickly deploy a stun gun to subdue Sanadbria. Shortly after the incident, officers took Sanadbria into custody and then transported him to a nearby hospital for evaluation. He is expected to face criminal charges for his actions. Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton underscored the reality of danger officers face regularly, expressing gratitude that the injuries sustained were not life-threatening and offering thoughts to the wounded officer and their family. "This is a stark reminder of the dangers our officers face every day," Houghton said in a statement obtained by NBC10 Boston.
The distress began inside Chelsea Commons, which provides housing to individuals with substance abuse issues. An altercation between Sanadbria, his wife, and stepdaughter prompted intervention by a staff member, leading to the police being called. A resident of the complex, who chose to remain anonymous, detailed the initial argument and subsequent events, telling WCVB, "He was there with his wife and girl," the resident said. "The director of the Y asked him to leave. He said (expletive) you, I’m not leaving."
The injured officer was quickly treated at the scene before being rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital for further care. They remain in a stable condition as they recover. Eyewitness accounts further revealed that the suspect, Sanadbria, continued to act combatively post-attack, reportedly telling officers, "That's what you get for trying to fight me," a neighbor recalled in a statement to NBC10 Boston. No further details have been released about the specific charges Sanadbria will face or the police officer's medical prognosis at this time.
