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Posted by: DANIPD

Published: 01/26/2008
Cop hurt after scuffle at Salem shelter
By Julie Manganis
Staff writer




SALEM - A Salem patrolman could be out of work for two months because of a shoulder injury he suffered while trying to arrest a man who was allegedly high on crack cocaine at the Salem Mission shelter Thursday morning, a prosecutor said.
Paul Caisse, 44, pleaded not guilty to assault and battery, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and other charges at his arraignment yesterday morning in Salem District Court, where Judge Dunbar Livingston ordered him held on $2,000 cash bail.
Patrolman Thomas Cunningham was the first to arrive at the Margin Street homeless shelter shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday, in response to a call about an unwanted person there.
Shelter staff had asked Caisse to leave because they believed he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a violation of the rules of the shelter.
Caisse refused to go. And when police arrived, he still refused, prosecutor Lisa Core told the judge. An "extremely combative" Caisse scuffled with Cunningham, who suffered a separated shoulder. Core said the officer is expected to be out for two months.
Salem police said that when the shelter director asked Caisse to leave, Caisse punched him in the face, starting the fighting. Cunningham said that when he arrived, Caisse was wrestling with staff members when he "lunged at (Cunningham), wrapped his arms around both of his legs, knocking him to the ground."
A half-dozen officers were sent to the scene, and Caisse put up a fight with all of them, shoving them and grunting, his eyes filled with rage, according to the police report. Police eventually subdued him by using a one-second blast of pepper spray and put him in custody, according to reports.
A caseworker told police Caisse had been using crack cocaine. Core said Caisse has a criminal record that dates back to 1980 and includes several convictions for assault and battery on a police officer.
Caisse's lawyer, Sean Wynne, said his client was a divorced father of four who had not only suffered from drug addiction but anxiety and depression.
If Caisse makes bail, he is barred from going near the shelter, the judge ordered. He's due back in court Feb. 26.

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Posted by: xxafspxx

Well you would think that the judge would put him away for awhile for the numerous times he's done this!

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Posted by: JoninNH

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxafspxx Well you would think that the judge would put him away for awhile for the numerous times he's done this!

You're kidding right? This is Massachusetts... not Nebraska. The judges here know that these poor misguided individuals need just one more chance...

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Posted by: Hb13

Yeah he will get out of this one just fine and move to another state (or not) and proceed to seriously hurt (hopefully not kill) another officer.
way to go judge douchebag supreme

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Posted by: rg1283

Nah the criminal that did this to the police officer will just end up at the local Dual Diagnosis psych unit, then will fight with the staff. As our non existant hospital lock and key security force which only comes in from 3-11 to lock up the place responds and a bunch of 50 something y/o nurses who can't even draw up the Thorazine right. So then there is option B call the Police, their awesome, however, like the mass court system, I think they have to disarm. Bah

Simple solution get grants to give every officer a taser.

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