Disturbing video shows cop pummeling his neighbor, 72, over paddleboard incident
Distressing video captured the moment an off-duty Massachusetts police sergeant pummeled his 72-year-old neighbor – after an incident involving the cop’s paddleboard.
Hull police Sgt. Scott Saunders is seen pinning Harry Horsley, his neighbor of 36 years, to the ground and delivering punishing blows on July 24, video posted by Boston 25 News shows.
Horsley told police told police he was driving on the narrow Furnace Colony Drive in Pembroke when Saunders struck his car with a paddleboard, so he pulled over and got out of the vehicle, WCVB reported.
“Why did you hit my car? That’s all I said,” Horsley told Boston 25. “He bull-rushed me down to the ground, landed on top of me, I’m on my back. He pounded away. I’m like this trying to protect myself from getting hit worse.”
He told investigators that Saunders eventually got off him and walked away – leaving him blooded and bruised from the beatdown, part of which was recorded by the witness.
The 18-year police veteran told investigators that Horsley did not leave him enough room for him as he drove by. He said he pushed Horsley to the ground after the neighbor punched him once in the face, WCVB reported.
The responding officers, who watched home security video provided by the sergeant, noted in their report that Horsley’s hands did not appear to be raised before Saunders pushed him to the ground and punched him.
The victim suffered several injuries, including cuts and swelling to the face, police said.
Saunders was placed on paid administrative leave after being charged with assault and battery on a person over 60.
His badge and service weapon were seized and his license to carry has been suspended, Hull Police Chief John Dunn told WCVB, adding that an internal affairs probe is underway.
“Here I am, 72 years old, I shouldn’t be taking a punch from anybody, let alone a police sergeant,” Horsley told Boston 25 News. “He should have known that everything he has done was wrong. You don’t assault somebody that’s a senior. You just don’t do it – it’s unheard of.”
Saunders is due back in court in September.
