WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester man tried to grab a police officer’s gun from his duty belt during a “chaotic fight” in front of the Compass Tavern on Harding St. early Monday morning, officials say.
According to a statement by the Worcester police, an officer was patrolling the area around the Compass Tavern when a brawl between at least 20 people broke out.
Most of the crowd dispersed when the officer ordered the crowd to stop fighting, but police say 21-year-odl Gabriel Padin continued to provoke others.
When police asked Padin’s friends to get him into a car and out of crowd, Padin pulled away and continued to scream and attempted to fight the crowd, the statement said.
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An officer allegedly saw Padin try and punch another male in the group. The officer then grabbed Padin and demanded him to stop. But Padin elbowed the officer multiple times in the chest and chin, according to a police statement.
A Compass Tavern security guard tried to help the officer, but was also punched several times by Padin, police say.
The officer took Padin to the ground and the officer said he “felt his duty belt being pulled back and forth.” A bystander then shouted to the officer that Padin was trying to grab the officer's gun.
The officer said saw Padin’s right hand around the handle of his firearm and proceeded to twist his hip and punch Padin in the abdomen twice in order to release Padin’s hand from the gun.
Padin is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in Worcester District Court on charges of attempting to disarm a police officer, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace.
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