NEWTON, Mass. — The man accused of violently assaulting two Newton police officers, knocking one of them unconscious over the weekend, was ordered held without bail Monday.
Juan Gonzalez, who is known to police and has a history of assault and battery on officers and domestic partners, was arraigned in Newton District Court on charges including two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, two counts of attempt to disarm a police officer, and assault and battery on a domestic partner in connection with a violent attack in which he allegedly injured a pair of officers and tried to take their service weapons.
Officers responding to an apartment on Watertown Street around 10 p.m. on Saturday for call from a woman who reported her boyfriend had punched her in the face encountered Gonzalez, who was said to be outside and acting “assaultive and out of control,” prosecutors said during the court hearing.
When the officers tried to arrest him, Newton Police Chief John Carmichael Jr. said Gonzalez forcefully grabbed for the officers’ guns, tried to unholster them, and punched both officers in the back of the head. One officer was temporarily knocked unconscious, but other officers on scene were able to subdue Gonzalez and arrest him.
Middlesex ADA Pavan Nagavelli described what the officers said happened before and after Gonzalez was handcuffed. “The defendant kept swinging his fist at officers, striking them multiple occasions,” said Nagavelli. “Observed the defendant with his hand on his firearm and that defendant yelled quote I’m taking this gun.”
Gonzalez’s roommate and lifelong friend, Davio Pena, videotaped some of the arrest encounter. “From my point of view he just looked like someone who was being punched and being held and only trying to defend himself,” said Pena. “I didn’t hear any officer say he is going for my gun, he’s grabbing my gun, there was no mention of that.”
Both police officers were taken to the hospital and are at home recovering, but Chief Carmichael says domestic violence calls can be some of the most dangerous calls for officers to respond to.
“This is just a situation that, you know, our officers face every day,” Carmichael said. “They go to these types of calls and they’re very unpredictable and very dynamic and I appreciate the work that they do every day when they respond to these calls to keep victims safe and to keep our community safe.”
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller also spoke about the dangers officers face every day no matter the type of call.
“They arrested this alleged perpetrator in a safe way,” Fuller said. “They took the brunt of the violence. I am thinking of the two of them and their families and hoping for a speedy recovery. I couldn’t be more proud of our police department and our officers.”
Officers were not wearing body cameras because the department hasn’t implemented them yet, although they are planning to do a pilot program this summer.
Prosecutors say Gonzalez has a 12-page criminal record with cases most recently as 2016 and 2017 involving domestic assaults, and threatening to murder. Because Gonzalez has a prior domestic assault and battery, prosecutors say this case will be bumped up to a felony.
Gonzalez’s sister, Annais Espinal, says her brother has not had any recent problems. “Juan has been really working to become a better version of himself,” said Espinal. “Having a job, just staying in line. Not getting in trouble. Working on his character and all that stuff and he has been doing very well.”
Gonzalez will be called back to court for a dangerousness hearing on March 14.
An investigation remains ongoing.
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