Plymouth County

Hanover’s town manager on paid leave following arrest at his home

HANOVER, Mass. — Hanover’s town manager has been placed on paid administrative leave after police arrested him at his home last month.

Joseph Colangelo is charged with one count of assault and battery on a household or family member.

According to a police report obtained by Boston 25 News, Hanover Police were called to Colangelo’s home for a domestic disturbance around 11:30 p.m. on August 28.

An adult female victim told police “she was in fear for her life,” according to the report.

The report states Colangelo injured the victim “while slamming his body” into a door she was trying to close to separate herself from him. Police noted the victim had abrasions and scratches on her arm. She also complained of back pain from the door repeatedly hitting her.

Police said they found Colangelo lying in a bed with the lights off.

“Joseph denied that any of this occurred and explained he had no idea how [the victim] could have sustained any injuries,” the report states.

Colangelo also told police he had a video recording of what transpired, but he didn’t want to show them.

Due to the nature of the alleged crime, police were required to keep Colangelo in jail for a minimum of six hours.

The report states when a police sergeant attempted to serve Colangelo a restraining order while he was in a jail cell, he told them he “wasn’t doing well.” An ambulance transported Colangelo to South Shore Hospital. He returned to the police station a few hours later.

Colangelo was arraigned in Hingham District Court on August 31. The judge released him with an order to stay away and have no contact with the victim or their home & place of employment, according to Beth Stone, the spokeswoman for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office.

“[Mr. Colangelo] remains innocent and strongly denies the version of events thus far generated by [the victim],” Timothy Shyne, Colangelo’s attorney, told Boston 25 News in a statement. “When [the victim] was questioned about her own actions on the night of August 28th during a hearing at the Hingham District Court, she invoked her 5th Amendment privilege and refused to answer.”

Colangelo is due back in court on October 16.

“Joe looks forward to moving this case through the court system with a just result,” Shyne added.

The Hanover Board of Selectmen released the following statement, “Mr. Colangelo contacted each member of the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of informing the Board that he was involved in an incident at his home. It is our understanding that Mr. Colangelo fully cooperated with the Hanover Police Department and since the incident Mr. Colangelo has fully cooperated with the Board. At present Mr. Colangelo is on administrative leave with pay. While we will be closely monitoring this situation we will have no further comment at this time.”

Boston 25 News has confirmed the select board met in executive session on September 10 to discuss Colangelo’s arrest. The agenda states they met “to discuss a personnel issue/complaint concerning an employee.”

Colangelo started as Hanover’s town manager on May 1, 2018. According to his most recent employment agreement with the Town of Hanover, his base annual salary is $158,200.