Amherst police officer injured during weekend incident at bar
AMHERST — An Amherst police officer suffered an injury to his jaw after a bar patron punched him in the face early Saturday morning, police said.
Detective David Foster said police were called to the Amherst Brewing Co., 10 University Drive, for an intoxicated man fighting with an employee.
Police arrived to place Richard A. Cummings III, 30, of Chicopee, into protective custody, but when officers tried to put him in handcuffs, he resisted, kneeing an employee in the groin and punching the officer in the face. Officers used pepper spray to subdue Cummings.
Cummings was arrested on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Foster said. The employee was not hurt and told police he won’t press charges.
The officer went to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton to be treated, Foster said, while Cummings was also taken to the hospital for lacerations he suffered to his face and head after he remained combative with officers at the police station.
— SCOTT MERZBACH
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