Massachusetts man stabs 5 cops after leading them on chase, crashing into home
A Massachusetts madman stabbed five police officers — including a chief — after he fled a traffic stop, led cops on a chase and crashed into a home.
The violent scene unfolded around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday night as Taunton Police officers tried to apprehend Douglas Hagerty, 35, after he fled into the residence he had just smashed into.
“A lot of the officers were shaken up by this, especially based on the injuries they saw to their co-workers,” Police Chief Edward Walsh, who suffered a puncture wound to his torso, told reporters three hours after the incident.
“We’re dealing with it right now, we’re trying to deal with it right now with their mental health as well.”
One of the officers suffered serious injuries to his face, neck and back, WCVB reported. He was airlifted to a hospital in Boston, about 30 miles north of Taunton.
Walsh said his injuries were not life-threatening.
Four others were injured and treated at local hospitals, including Walsh, who had responded to the scene from his home nearby.
Police were performing an unrelated traffic stop on County Street when Hagerty pulled up to the officers in a silver Honda Accord, yelled at them and sped away, cops said.
Police told him to leave, which he did, and they did not pursue the vehicle.
A short time later, another officer on patrol spotted Hagerty driving the same car erratically. Police stopped Hagerty, but he nearly hit an officer as he drove off.
They chased Hagerty until he crashed into the entrance of a multifamily home on West Britannia Street, where he lives, police said.
He fled inside with officers in tow and grabbed a knife, which he used to injure the officers. Hagerty was taken into custody in just 15 minutes and taken to a local hospital for injuries to his hand.
He was arraigned Wednesday in Taunton District Court and is being held without bail. A dangerousness hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 17.
Hagerty faces multiple charges, including assault and battery with intent to murder and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. His family told NBC Boston he suffers from mental health issues.
“When our police officers are injured and hurt, that affects the whole entire department,” Taunton Mayor Shauna O’Connell said. “It affects this whole, entire community, and we stand by our law enforcement officers. They did an excellent job tonight, we are grateful for their service to this community.”
With Post wires
