Crime
The injured officer suffered severe bruising and burst blood vessels to both eyes.
A Boston man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he attacked an MBTA police officer and gouged his eyes during a violent struggle at transit police headquarters last week.
Fritznel Jean, 28, pleaded not guilty in Roxbury Municipal Court to charges of assault and battery on a police officer causing serious bodily injury, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, and mayhem, court records show.
Jean was initially held on $100 bail, but a judge revoked his bail for 60 days on a pending Quincy District Court case, where he faces charges of shoplifting by concealing merchandise, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, according to court documents.
Jean is expected to appear in court May 12 for a probable cause hearing.
The incident occurred around 8:20 a.m. on April 10 in the booking area of transit police headquarters, according to a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Jean had been arrested the night before on an outstanding warrant related to the Quincy case, prosecutors said.
According to authorities, an officer opened a holding cell to escort Jean to be fingerprinted when Jean became agitated, shouting that he wanted to be released. The officer told him he would be booked and transported to court.
When the officer attempted to return Jean to the cell due to his “uncooperative” behavior, Jean allegedly lunged at him from behind, jumped onto his back, and bit him on the head, according to the district attorney’s office.
Other officers rushed in to assist, and a struggle ensued as they attempted to restrain him.
“During the struggle, Jean began to scratch and gouge the first officer’s eyes, causing significant facial injuries,” prosecutors said. “Another officer witnessed Jean grabbing the first officer’s face while driving his thumbs forcefully into the officer’s eye sockets. Jean attempted to bite another officer’s hand before he was restrained.”
The injured officer suffered severe bruising, burst blood vessels to both eyes, and a cut on his left bottom eye that required two stitches, the district attorney’s office said.
“This was an extraordinary burst of violence that hurt one officer and endangered all the others involved,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the statement. “I thank the officers for restraining this defendant before he could inflict more injuries, and I wish the wounded officer a full and fast recovery.”
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