For Immediate Release

Monday, Dec. 11, 2017

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Groveland Woman Summonsed on Multiple Charges After Allegedly Assaulting Woman, Dog

GROVELAND — Chief Jeffrey Gillen reports that the Groveland Police Department is charging a woman after she allegedly assaulted a resident and pepper sprayed her dog while they were out walking.

A 46-YEAR-OLD GROVELAND WOMAN will be summonsed and charged with:

• • Larceny from a Person
  • Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon – Shod Foot
  • Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon – Pepper Spray
  • Cruelty to Animals

The suspect’s name cannot be released at this time.

On Friday, Dec. 8 at approximately 8 a.m., two officers were dispatched to Salem Street on a report of a physical altercation between two individuals.

Upon arrival, officers located the two parties, both women. The victim, a 49-year-old Haverhill woman, had an injury to her leg. She told the responding officers that while she was walking her dogs on Salem Street, another dog, which she identified as a pit bull, got loose from a residence and aggressively ran toward her and her dogs, barking loudly.

The Haverhill woman told police that she felt her life and her dogs’ lives were in danger, so she took out pepper spray and sprayed it in the area of the pit bull. This did not slow its progress. The pit bull’s owner, the 46-year-old Groveland woman, emerged from her house, grabbed the dog and put it in her car.

When the Haverhill woman attempted to walk away from the confrontation, the Groveland woman got into her car, where she also had her 11-year-old son, shouting at the Haverhill woman, and drove into the driveway of a nearby residence to block her path.

The Haverhill woman then called 911, at which point the Groveland woman exited her car, grabbed the Haverhill woman and began going through her jacket until she located the pepper spray.

The Groveland woman then allegedly stole the Haverhill woman’s pepper spray and sprayed it in the air and at the victim’s dog. When the Haverhill woman attempted to get away, the Groveland woman allegedly kicked her in the leg.

After an investigation by Groveland Police, it was decided that the Groveland woman would be charged. She will be summonsed to Haverhill District Court at a later date. The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

###