California man charged with assaulting Lyft driver

BOSTON, July 17, 2024 - A California man was arraigned in Roxbury BMC Monday after he exited his vehicle to assault a Lyft driver over the weekend in Boston, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.   

PAUL SHERRY, 30, of Oxnard is charged with assault and battery and unarmed robbery. Judge Steven Kim ordered Sherry to be evaluated for competency before a pre-trial hearing on Friday, July 19.

At about 2:19 p.m. on July 13, Boston Police responded to a radio call for a fight in progress on Gainsborough Street. Officers spoke with the victim, who was bleeding heavily from his nose and forehead. The victim told police he was a Lyft driver and had stopped to drop a passenger off.

The victim, 46, told officers that a man, later identified as Sherry, was in a vehicle behind him and had become upset that the victim’s vehicle was obstructing traffic. Sherry then exited his vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla, approached the victim and punched him in the face.

While walking back to his vehicle after the altercation, Sherry noticed that the victim had taken out his phone to photograph Sherry’s license plate. Sherry reapproached the victim, punched him repeatedly and forcibly took his phone. Sherry then went back into his vehicle and left the area. The victim was transported by Boston EMS to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Officers spoke with two witnesses on the scene who corroborated the victim’s account.

Officers soon spotted Sperry’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, who identified herself as Sherry’s ex-girlfriend, told officers she was in the car when Sherry and the victim were fighting. She said Sherry had exited her car on Gainsborough Street and did not know his current location.  

Officers then received notice from dispatch that a male matching Sherry’s description was seen entering a residence on Hemenway Street. When officers arrived, Sherry exited the building and identified himself. Sherry admitted that he had been involved in an altercation with the victim. Sherry said he exited the vehicle to inquire why the victim stopped his vehicle. Sherry said they got into an argument and after the victim grabbed his shirt, he punched the victim. He denied taking the victim’s cellphone.

“The quick, unwise decision made here led to one person getting injured and another person being charged with some serious crimes.  There are always alternatives beyond approaching situations like this with violence.  The first alternative is often simple roadway patience,” 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 Communcations