A city police officer is being criminally charged with assault and battery after allegations he choked a woman and shoved another officer outside a downtown nightclub in March...Previous post:
[MA] STILL ON THE JOB - Officer Santos, who CHOKED girlfriend! - Four months after internal investigations began into allegations that he choked a woman outside a downtown nightclub, Police Officer Edson Santos is wearing a uniform and responding to calls... witnesses, including at least two police officers, reported they saw him choking his girlfriend...
New Bedford police officer charged with assault
South Coast Today, Standard-Times
By Brian Fraga bfraga@s-t.com
September 27, 2008
A city police officer is being criminally charged with assault and battery after allegations he choked a woman and shoved another officer outside a downtown nightclub in March. Following a closed-door court hearing Friday, a clerk magistrate decided there was probable cause to charge Officer Edson Santos, 25, with domestic assault and battery and assault and battery on a police officer. Officer Santos, who has been on paid administrative leave since last month, will be arraigned on those charges, according to his defense lawyer. An arraignment date has not been set. Officer Santos, a police officer since December 2005, has been under scrutiny since witnesses, including at least two police officers, reported they saw him choking his girlfriend outside Bar 908 during the early-morning hours of March 23. A crowd reportedly witnessed the incident as a security guard and police officers tried to break up the altercation. Officer Santos allegedly pushed another officer during the incident and fled the scene... Following Friday's court hearing, Officer Santos' lawyer, Robert Galibois, said his client was innocent... Meanwhile, questions remain as to what Officer Santos' status will be now that he is criminally charged. It has been expected that he would be suspended without pay, if not fired, pending criminal charges... [Full article here]
New Bedford police officer arraigned on assault charges
ReplyDeleteSouth Coast Today
By Curt Brown
Standard-Times staff writer
November 07, 2008 6:00 AM
TAUNTON — A New Bedford police officer was arraigned Thursday on assault charges, after his case was transferred from New Bedford's district court to Taunton's.
Edson Santos, 25, of New Bedford pleaded not guilty to charges of domestic assault and battery and assault and battery on a police officer, which are both misdemeanors.
Judge Francis Marini released the police force veteran of nearly three years on personal recognizance and continued the case until Dec. 22 for a pretrial hearing.
The charges stem from an incident outside Bar 908 during the early morning hours of March 23.
Officer Santos allegedly choked his girlfriend and then pushed a New Bedford police officer before fleeing the scene.
Lt. Jeffrey Silva, public information officer for the Police Department, said Officer Santos is on paid administrative leave.
Judge Marini granted prosecutors' request that Officer Santos risks being held without bail for up to 60 days if he is re-arrested while the case is pending, according to Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the District Attorney's Office.
The judge also issued a stay-away order, instructing him not to have any contact with the woman in the case, Mr. Miliote said.
Officer Santos' attorney Robert Galibois was not available Thursday for comment.
Judge Rosemary B. Minehan, the regional district court administrator and the presiding justice for Wareham District Court, transferred the case to Taunton District Court. Ellen Shapiro, deputy general counsel for the Administrative Office of District Court, said Thursday the case was transferred pursuant to a district court policy regarding a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Contact Curt Brown
at cbrown@s-t.com
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081107/NEWS/811070361/-1/NEWS05