Dog beaten in hotel room
Braintree, MA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Apr 11, 2010
County: Worcester
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: John K. Boampong, Jr.
Three people were arrested on the evening of April 11 after police investigated a complaint at the Motel 6 on Union Street that a guest was beating a pit bull.
Officers approached the second floor room where the guest was staying and encountered John K. Boampong, Jr., 27, of Dorchester out on the balcony.
According to Deputy Police Chief Russell Jenkins, Boampong, who admitted to being the owner of the pit bull and disciplining the dog, became "highly agitated" over the officers' questions and intrusion into what he believed was his personal business.
"Officers, who could see inside the room, observed a pit bull cowering in the corner with an open lesion on its forehead," Jenkins said.
Boampong and a female companion, Jan J. Ellis, 22, of Dorchester, claimed that the injury came from the dog's muzzle.
"When told that the officers wanted the animal control officer to check out the dog, Boampong became enraged and attempted to close the door to the room, but the officers prevented him from doing so," Jenkins said. "Boampong rushed out of the room with his head down and struck one officer in the stomach, driving him backward against the balcony railing and knocking him to the ground."
A second officer attempted to keep Ellis and a second man, Reyes R. Familia, Jr., 18, of Dorchester, from assisting Boampong in his assault on his partner.
"After knocking the officer down, Boampong held him on the floor of the balcony for several seconds before getting up and pacing back and forth," Jenkins said. "As the officers attempted to place Boampong under arrest, he and Familia appeared as if they were going to attack the officers again. One officer sprayed a burst of pepper spray at Boampong and Familia, which enraged Boampong, who again attacked the officer and knocked him to the ground a second time. Boampong continued to resist and fight with the officers and additional officers who arrived to assist."
Boampong was eventually taken into custody along with Ellis and Familia. All three were charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Boampong was also charged with two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and cruelty to an animal.
Familia had an outstanding arrest warrant for motor vehicle violations.
"The original callers came to the police station after the arrests and told officers that they felt compelled to call on behalf of the pit bull, due to the viciousness of the beating," Jenkins said.
The officer who was knocked to the ground suffered several bruises, abrasions, and other minor injuries, but did not require medical treatment.
An infant child being held by Ellis was taken to South Shore Hospital after suffering from secondary exposure to the pepper spray and later placed into the custody of the Department of Children and Families.
The animal control officer took custody of the pit bull, Jenkins said. References |
