A Massachusetts State Police trooper already suspended without pay is back in handcuffs. Prosecutors say Trooper Michael Gagnon was arrested again on Saturday in connection with a separate incident that allegedly occurred on March 10. The new counts include an unlawful wiretap charge and an alleged violation of an abuse‑prevention order, and Gagnon is scheduled to be arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Monday, April 13. He had previously been arrested in November on child‑assault charges and was suspended without pay by both state police and the state’s officer‑certification commission.
What prosecutors say
According to Boston 25 News, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said Gagnon’s latest arrest stems from an incident on March 10. The outlet reports that he has been charged with unlawful wiretap and violation of an abuse‑prevention order.
Boston 25 News also notes that the Massachusetts State Police said they “stand firmly against all forms of domestic violence” and that Gagnon was relieved of duty and suspended in December 2025, following his earlier arrest. The latest case adds to the legal stack already facing the suspended trooper.
Previous child‑abuse allegation
Gagnon’s first high‑profile arrest came in late November 2025, when he was taken into custody and arraigned on charges that he struck a juvenile in the face, according to reporting by WCVB. Court records and notes from a Department of Children and Families caseworker reviewed by the station indicate the child told investigators he was punched and was allegedly instructed to blame a whiffle ball bat instead.
WCVB reports that Gagnon pleaded not guilty in that case and was released on $1,000 bail. Those child‑assault allegations were already serious on their own; the new set of charges now puts him under even closer scrutiny.
POST suspension and decertification
In early December, the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission suspended Gagnon’s certification and issued a public suspension order tied to the November case. The commission’s public page lists a December 2 suspension order in Gagnon’s name and requires him to surrender agency credentials and equipment. The order is posted on the POST Commission website.
Legal implications
Under Massachusetts law, secret recordings of oral or wire communications are generally prohibited by G.L. c. 272, § 99, which provides the statutory basis for unlawful‑wiretap charges. The full text of that statute is available from the Massachusetts Legislature.
Violations of an abuse‑prevention order, often referred to as a 209A restraining order, are separate criminal offenses under state law and can lead to arrest and additional penalties. That framework is outlined in statutory guidance and explained in detail by WomensLaw.org.
Gagnon’s latest arraignment is set for Monday, April 13, according to Boston 25 News. The Plymouth District Court, which serves Plympton and nearby towns, is listed at 52 Obery St. in Plymouth on the court’s public site (Plymouth District Court). Prosecutors’ filings following the hearing are expected to lay out the formal charging documents in greater detail.
