Sutton police chief says "nothing mysterious" about fall from broken ladder

SUTTON, Mass. — Questions surround the chain of events that followed Sutton Police Chief Dennis Towle falling from a ladder and breaking several bones, but Towle told Boston 25 News there’s “nothing mysterious” about what happened.

Towle broke his shoulder, humerus and a couple of ribs on August 4 when the ladder he was standing on broke, causing him to fall about 20 feet. At the time, he was working on his investment home at 222 Whitins Road with a friend. According to the Worcester Registry of Deeds, Towle and his wife, Stacey, bought the property last month.

Towle said he was on the ladder and his friend was standing on a plank when the ladder snapped in half, tossing them both to the ground.

Towle left the scene before first responders arrived, returning to his home on Stone School Road about five miles away.

According to the dispatch log obtained by Boston 25 News, a person by the name of Rolland Barrows called 911. Barrows told the dispatcher Briand Jacques, 48, of Sutton, fell off a roof while helping a friend with work. Barrow said Jacques had a lot of pain in his arm and was transported to a local hospital.

Boston 25 News attempted to call the phone number Barrows provided to dispatchers several times on Friday, but no one answered.

Towle said Jacques dislocated his elbow, but doctors popped it back in place and he was back to work the next day.

A handful of residents have reached out to Boston 25 News in the past week, curious why Towle left his friend at the scene and rushed home.

When Boston 25 News presented that question to Towle on Friday, he responded he didn’t think his arm was “hurt that bad.” He stated he did nothing wrong.

Towle said when he got home, his wife called his parents. His mom, who is a nurse, insisted he go to the hospital.

“The only thing I can tell you with a 100-percent certainty is that Chief Towle was not transported to the hospital by ambulance,” Sutton Fire Chief Matthew Belsito told Boston 25 News.

Towle said he had a successful surgery on August 9.  According to Towle, doctors told him he was lucky to survive, saying people who fall 20 or more feet often die from their injuries or become permanently paralyzed. His recovery could take weeks, if not months. He said he’s eager to get back to work, but his surgeon is being a “stickler” about letting him return.

Cox Media Group