[MA] Officer Sideris wants out of the psych facility

A Peabody cop awaiting trial on charges that he beat his mother into a coma more than three years ago wants out of a state psychiatric facility... Sideris has been suspended without pay...

From the previous entry:
[MA] Officer Sideris who beat his mother wants to clear his name -. ..When Sideris called 911 he told the dispatcher his mom was too weak to talk, that he gave her a banana for potassium because she didn't look like she felt well, and now he thinks maybe she choked on it and has an airway obstruction. But police and paramedics found his mother "bruised and battered." Suspended Peabody police officer George Sideris blamed job stress for a series of assaults on his elderly mother Melpomeni Sideris, the last of which, on Thanksgiving 2004, left her in a coma for several weeks... "They took my name, they took my freedom, they took my mother, they've taken everything from me"...

Cop charged with beating mom wants out of psych ward
The Salem News, MA
By Julie Manganis
June 18, 2008
A Peabody cop awaiting trial on charges that he beat his mother into a coma more than three years ago wants out of a state psychiatric facility. A Salem Superior Court judge earlier this month sent George Sideris, 37, back to Bridgewater State Hospital to undergo further evaluation and treatment for six months, following an apparent suicide attempt in April. Sideris has been in custody since the incident in his apartment. Sideris, who disputes a judge's ruling last year that he is not competent to stand trial, filed a formal petition in Salem Superior Court asking for his immediate release from the prison hospital. No hearing has been scheduled on the request. Sideris was charged after the Thanksgiving Day 2004 beating of his mother, Melpomeni Sideris, who is now 77. Sideris originally confessed to his priest and then to Peabody police, but has since tried to recant that confession, claiming at various times that he was tricked or that the officer who took the statement is lying... Sideris has been suspended without pay from the Police Department. [Full article here]

EARLIER THIS MONTH:

Sideris sent back to hospital
The Daily Item of Lynn, MA
Karen A. Kapsourakis
Jun 13, 2008
[Excerpts] George A. Sideris, the 36-year-old suspended Peabody police officer who allegedly beat his elderly mother in 2004, was sent back to Bridgewater State Hospital pending a competency hearing scheduled in August. In the meantime, Salem Superior Court Judge David A. Lowy stated Thursday morning that he will appoint a "guardian at litem" to advise Sideris on his case. Sideris, however, whispered "I won't talk to any guardian." Sideris has refused to have any discussion with his present attorney Steven J. Rappaport... Sideris insists he is competent and wants his trial to "get his life back," but last year Bridgewater State hospital psychologist, Dr. Katherine Herzog reported that Sideris is not competent, but does not need to be confined and he is not a danger to himself or anyone else. But when Sideris failed to appear for a court hearing in April, police found him in his apartment at 59 Walnut St., Peabody holding two large knives, bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. Police spent about 20 minutes trying to persuade Sideris, who was standing in the shower, to drop the knives. Eventually police used a Taser on Sideris to subdue him... [Full article here]