Pepper Spray Stops a Dangerous Suspect

A 27 year old man forced his way into his former girlfriend’s apartment in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on Tuesday. He assaulted the woman causing her to flee with her young child to a nearby car. It is unknown whether she was able to leave the scene.

The man apparently thought that his ex-girlfriend, with whom he had had a 5 month relationship that ended approximately 2 weeks ago, was with another man in her apartment.

Police officers arrived at the woman’s apartment on Lincoln Street at approximately 1 am and found the suspect on the porch. He failed to comply with police instructions to drop to his knees. Instead he shouted “Go ahead and shoot me” prior to being sprayed with pepper spray.

While he was stunned momentarily, he was still able to flee to a nearby street on foot (Wellington Avenue). Within a few moments he had surrendered to a local officer.

The suspect has a record of convictions and was arraigned on Wednesday in Central Berkshire District Court. He was held at the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction with bail set at $1000 cash or $10,000 bond.

He was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and single counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of an electric stun gun, and breaking and entering during the nighttime to commit a felony as well as other charges.

The suspect was highly agitated and confrontational. The use of pepper spray helped subdue a dangerous and violent man with minimal force and lessened police exposure to the dangers of traditional weaponry.