South Deerfield welder allegedly head-butts elderly woman, strips, runs from police

MONTAGUE — A New Hampshire man who is accused of seriously injuring a 77-year-old woman during a drunken spree on Saturday was held without the right to bail Monday.

In addition to the injuries to the woman, two police officers are now off duty as a result of injuries from the arrest.

Jacob B. Fuller, 24, of Winchester, N.H., is charged with assault and battery on a person 60 or older, disorderly conduct as a subsequent offense, resisting arrest and trespassing.

According to police, Saturday evening around 8:20, the elderly woman, of Holden, was walking along Prospect Street, when Fuller lowered his head and charged at her full speed, screaming at the top of his lungs.

“He slammed into her, head-butted her and knocked her to the ground,” the detective said. Police say that the woman suffered a broken elbow and required nine stitches to close a wound in her head.

“I understand that she was going to see the fireworks at the Franklin County Boat Show,” said Montague police detective Brian Dobosz. Police say that, after running over the woman, Fuller stripped off most of his clothing and ran off down the street screaming, with patrol officers giving chase.

Fuller pleaded innocent to the charges in Greenfield District Court and was held without bail, as it was revoked on a case from last year.

In addition to the revocation of his bail on the 2009 charges, an additional $100 cash bail was imposed on the new charges, by Judge William Mazanec.

Amy Swisher, a spokeswoman for Baystate Franklin Medical Center, said that the woman was treated and released Saturday night.

In the midst of the pursuit, Dobosz said, patrolman James Deery suffered a shoulder separation while trying to capture the running man.

Montague police Sgt. Christopher Williams hurt his knee, Dobosz said, while wrestling with Fuller and trying to bring him down.

During the arraignment on Monday, prosecutors argued that Fuller should be held because, at the time of the most recent incident, he was already on pretrial release on charges from July of 2009 for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol as a second offense.

According to prosecutors, Fuller has five convictions on his record for motor vehicle violations, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Fuller’s attorney, Jon Heyman, told the court Monday that his client should not be held on bail because he is not a flight risk.

According to Heyman, Fuller lives with his mother in New Hampshire, but works as a welder in South Deerfield.

The defense attorney said that his client is a hard worker who does have some problems with alcohol.

Fuller is due in court again on Aug. 31 for a pretrial hearing and a violation of probation hearing.

Comments

Guess this ain't Texas

The elderly women who was randomly attacked suffered broken bones and a serious wound to her head. And this guy isn't charged with attemped murder? Unbelievable.

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