WESTFIELD – A city youth was arraigned on felony assault charges Wednesday after he allegedly pistol whipped a contemporary causing significant injury.
The 17-year-old victim came to the police station on Saturday to report he had been assaulted by an acquaintance with whom he has ongoing issues and two unidentified accomplices.
The youth said that on Friday evening about 9:45 he had been on his way to Gravity, an unofficial gathering place for young people in a wooded area bordered by the Westfield River and a corn field near Miller Street, when he was accosted by the three boys on the dike about 50 yards east of the intersection of Miller and St. Paul streets.
The victim told police that Colin Hannifan, 18, of 28 Hancock St., was in possession of a BB pistol which he used to strike his mouth, dislodging three teeth.
In a document filed in Westfield District Court in support of a criminal complaint, Det. Todd Edwards states that the victim was struck with the pistol “with enough force to loose (sic) and avulse (sic) 3 teeth from his upper left jaw area.”
The boy said that he was knocked to the ground where Hannifan and his two companions continued to beat and kick him.
He said that his three assailants rifled his pockets and stole his cell phone, apparently to prevent him from calling police.
Westfield police Capt. Michael McCabe said that the attack did not end until an uninvolved passerby saw the altercation and came to the aid of the victim, pulling Hannifan off him.
McCabe said that the Good Samaritan “picked up the victim and walked him to safety.”
The victim was then able to call a family member who came and took him to Noble Hospital for treatment of his injuries which, in addition to the evulsion of three teeth, included a possibly broken nose, as well as numerous minor injuries.
The emergency department doctor, McCabe said, prescribed bed rest and told the victim to go straight home so the incident was not reported until the next day.
Hannifan was arrested Wednesday morning and arraigned in Westfield District Court later in the day on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a BB gun), armed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot).
He was released on his personal recognizance pending a July 12 hearing.
McCabe reports that the investigation of the incident is ongoing as the two youths who allegedly assisted Hannifan in the assault have not yet been positively identified.
