A 35-year-old man accused of attacking several police officers, including one who was stabbed in the face and back of the head, was ordered held without bail after appearing in court Wednesday, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said.
Douglas Hagerty appeared in Taunton District Court on Wednesday, Sept. 27, on multiple charges, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon and armed assault with intent to murder. He was hospitalized the night before after an incident that occurred in Taunton Tuesday evening.
The incident started when an officer pulled a vehicle over for a moving violation near 716 County St. around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, Taunton police said in a statement.
During the traffic stop, another driver in a 2010 gray Honda Accord, later identified as Hagerty, pulled up and started shouting at police, according to the police. Hagerty, who was not affiliated with the stopped driver, sped away, police said. Police, who said Hagerty was known to officials, did not pursue him.
Shortly after, however, another officer saw the Honda driving recklessly, according to a police report. When the officer pulled the car over, Hagerty fled from police and almost hit an officer who was walking toward the vehicle, the report said.
This time, police did chase after Hagerty, police said. His car crashed into the front of a multi-family home on West Britannia Street, which was also Hagerty’s home, according to police.
As officers chased him inside the house, Hagerty pulled out a knife and started waving it at police. Chief Edward James Walsh, who lives nearby, responded and was slashed in the chest, police said. He was later treated and released from Morton Hospital.
Another officer was seriously cut, including injuries to his face and back of his head. He was flown to a Boston hospital for treatment, police said.
Another officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment for knife wounds. Two more officers were treated Tuesday evening at Morton Hospital for injuries, according to police.
Police used a Taser device on Hagerty and he was taken into custody at about 7 p.m., according to police.
Hagerty was charged with the following:
- Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (3 counts)
- Assault with a dangerous weapon (2 counts)
- Malicious damage to a motor vehicle (2 counts)
- Assault and Battery with a dangerous weapon-causing serious bodily injury
- Armed Aassault with intent to murder
- Resisting arrest
- Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
- Failure to stop for police
Hagerty is due back in court for a dangerousness hearing on Oct. 17, the district attorney’s office said.
