$25,000 bail for Bridgewater man involved in violent City Hall incident

BOSTON, April 5, 2024 – A Bridgewater man was ordered held on $25,000 bail today after being charged with initiating a violent confrontation with Boston police officers attempting to remove him from Boston City Hall this morning, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

MICHAEL WILLIAMS, 51, was charged in Central BMC with two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, trespassing, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault to maim.  Judge Paul Treseler set bail at $25,000 and ordered Williams to stay out of Boston and wear a GPS tracking device if released on bail.  Treseler also ordered Williams committed to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Four Boston police officers were injured in the incident. Williams will return to court April 24 for a pre-trial hearing.

At about 9:43 a.m. this morning Boston police responded to City Hall for an officer in trouble with a combative subject. Upon arrival, officers asked the man, later identified as Williams, to leave the building. A witness accused Williams of shouting racial slurs at a group of people visiting the building.

Williams initially complied but soon began arguing with officers. Officers informed Williams if he did not leave he would be arrested. An officer asked Williams, “Are you choosing to be arrested?” and Williams stated, “Yes, I would rather be arrested.”

While trying to arrest Williams, an officer placed his right arm on his shoulder to place him in handcuffs. Williams bit the officer’s hand, causing severe damage, including heavy bleeding and parts of the skin and tissue to hang off the hand. Williams then freed his arms and grabbed and punched two officers with a closed fist, then briefly fled. Officers grabbed Williams and brought him to the ground. He continued to resist arrest until other officers arrived. Williams continued to resist officers during the booking process at Area A-1 station.

Four officers were transported by Boston EMS to Mass General Hospital to be treated for their injuries.

“This incident could have been avoided if the defendant had followed officers’ instructions and left the building.  Instead, he escalated it into an extremely violent encounter in which he inflicted a serious injury before he could be subdued.  This shows once again that a police officer’s day can change dramatically in an instant,” Hayden said.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

 James Borghesani, Chief of Communications