A lakeside argument at Sandy Beach on Lake Maspenock ended with a 70-year-old Hopkinton man in handcuffs Wednesday evening, after police say he forced a 21-year-old into the water and held him under during a fight. Authorities identified the suspect as Steven Dana; the younger man, who uses crutches after a recent crash, was pulled from the water by bystanders and later declined medical treatment.
Police Describe the Incident
Hopkinton police say the confrontation unfolded just before 7 p.m. and started as a dispute over how the lake was being used before it turned physical. Investigators who reviewed surveillance video say it appears to show Dana slapping the 21-year-old, then wrestling him into the water and holding him under until other people rushed in to break it up. Deputy Police Chief Scott van Raalten called the episode “senseless violence” that could have had tragic results, according to NBC Boston.
Dispute Centered on Resident-Only Boat Ramp
According to police, the argument appeared to revolve around use of the lake’s only boat ramp on Lakeshore Drive. The town’s Parks & Recreation department notes that Sandy Beach and the ramp are restricted to Hopkinton residents from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and vehicles parked there during that stretch must display a pass. Those seasonal rules can become flashpoints on busy summer evenings when non-residents try to launch on the lake, town documents show.
Arrest and Charges
Police arrested Dana at his home and held him without bail pending arraignment Thursday in Framingham District Court, officials told NBC Boston. He faces charges that include attempt to murder, two counts of strangulation/suffocation, and assault and battery on a disabled person.
Local Context
Lake Maspenock straddles Hopkinton and Milford and has been the subject of enforcement and management debates in recent years. Local reporting shows the town has resumed boat patrols and wrestled with questions over lake access and weed control, a backdrop that underscores why officials urge residents to call police rather than try to enforce rules on their own. Hopkinton Independent recently covered those patrol and access issues.
