In a troubling breach of conduct, a member of the Fall River Police Department was taken into custody after allegedly drunkenly forcing his way into a home, looking for a woman who was not resident there. The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning when the disturbed homeowner contacted authorities about a man persistently knocking on their door and calling out for a female by name, as reported by Boston 25 News.
Officers were promptly sent to the scene, whereas the frightened caller, waiting for the police, ended the call to warn the intruder of their imminent arrival, however, the man, seemingly intoxicated, forced entry into the residence before leaving upon realizing his error, this sequence of events was detailed by MassLive. Responding officers were given a description of the suspect, which subsequently led to the apprehension of the man, not far from the crime scene, who was revealed to be an off-duty police officer.
The errant officer was described as heavily under the influence and confused about his whereabouts. A standard response in such situations often includes finding medical treatment for inebriated individuals who have trespassed, but due to the nature of the officer's employment, the department stated that discretion was not applied. "It is common practice for law enforcement, when encountering individuals under the influence who have unknowingly trespassed onto private property, to use discretion and arrange for medical treatment if needed," a spokesperson for the Fall River Police Department said, "However, in this case, given the subject's status as a police officer and the higher standard to which officers are held, no discretion was exercised," as reported by Boston 25 News.
As the investigation progresses, the officer's identity remains withheld pending arraignment, although it has been confirmed that a criminal complaint has been filed against him. The nature of the charges he might face is not clarified at this moment, the Fall River Police Department has assured that the officer's name "will be released upon arraignment," as stated by MassLive. This story is unfolding and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
