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Police officer attacked, strangled during detainee’s escape attempt – Metro US

Police officer attacked, strangled during detainee’s escape attempt

Police officer attacked, strangled during detainee’s escape attempt
File

A Townsend police officer is recovering from serious injuries after he was attacked by a Tisbury man trying to escape from one of the department’s holding cells.

Officer George Reidy, a 16-year veteran of the department, was attacked and choked Monday by 21-year-old Ian Bardwell, authorities said. He was hospitalized for treatment of his injuries.

Bardwell also allegedly grabbed Reidy’s stun gun but was unable to operate it. He was eventually restrained by other officers and taken back to his cell, police said.

Bardwell was being held on multiple arrest warrants, after the department received a call to be on the lookout for a man who left a drug treatment center in another community and may have been a danger to himself, police said.

After finding him, officers discovered that he had three outstanding arrest warrants: an OUI with serious bodily injury and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a protective order violation and an assault and battery charge.

He was being held without bail at the Townsend Police Department.

He’s been charged with escape from a municipal lockup, attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery (strangulation).

Chief Robert M. Eaton Jr., said in a statement that the incident underscores the need for a countywide pre-arraignment lockup facility in Middlesex County.

Such a proposal was filed by State Sen. Ken Donnelly, and is pending in the legislature.