[MA] Town official Murray's wife feared imminent harm

"...by his words and his action at the residence, he placed the victim in imminent fear of harm"... The woman was given an emergency restraining order Sunday that was extended yesterday in court...

Town official charged with domestic assault
Worcester Telegram, MA
By Craig S. Semon TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
January 8, 2008
AUBURN- A town official was arrested yesterday and charged with domestic assault of his estranged wife. Jeffrey P. Murray, 43, of 45 Prospect Road was arraigned yesterday in Central District Court in Worcester. Mr. Murray is the Personnel Board chairman, a Charter Review Committee member and a former selectman. He is the son-in-law of Selectman Carl E. Westerman. Sgt. Kenneth A. Charlton said Auburn police were sent at 1:30 p.m. Sunday to the home of Mr. Murray's estranged wife because of a report of a domestic assault. Based on their initial investigation, police found that the woman was in fear of imminent harm and that there was probable cause for an arrest, Sgt. Charlton said. "An assault takes place two different ways," Sgt. Charlton explained. "It's attempted battery, like you try to hit somebody and you miss them. That's an assault. But the assault in this case took place the other way an assault occurs, and that's placing another one in fear of an imminent battery. So by his words and his action at the residence, he placed the victim in imminent fear of harm." Mr. Murray was not at his wife's home, which is not his Prospect Road home, when police were called, Sgt. Charlton said. He was arrested at 6:25 a.m. yesterday on Route 20 on the charge of domestic assault, Sgt. Charlton said. Mr. Murray was arraigned yesterday and released, Sgt. Charlton said. Officers Paul P. Lombardi and George Vranos had gone to Mr. Murray's estranged wife's home on Sunday, and Officer Michael R. Healy made the arrest yesterday. The woman was given an emergency restraining order Sunday that was extended yesterday in court, Sgt. Charlton said.