SCOTT G. RICHARDS
WESTFIELD – A city man who allegedly stabbed his girlfriend in her head, was released upon payment of $2,500 cash bail after he was arraigned on assault charges.
Southwick Police Officer Ernest Malone reports in a court document that he immediately observed “what appeared to be a large amount of fresh blood droplets all over the floor” when he looked into the residence after he and Officer Michael Bridges arrived at an Island Pond Way address on April 6 in response to a report of a disturbance involving a knife.
Malone reports that he found that a resident who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol was alone in the house. The man told Malone that he and a friend who had been staying with him had been drinking with the other man’s girlfriend before he had passed out in another room.
He said he was roused when his friend (later identified as Scott G. Richards, 34, of 185 Sackett Road, Westfield) yelled to him to call 911. The resident told Malone that Richards said “Oh my god! I stabbed her!” before he ran to the phone and called 911 himself.
He said that he overheard Richards tell the 911 operator that he had stabbed his girlfriend.
The resident described Richards’ vehicle but said that he did not know where Richards and his girlfriend went. Malone asked his dispatcher to alert police in nearby communities and soon learned that Agawam police had stopped Richards for a motor vehicle violation. Malone went to the scene where the victim was already in an ambulance.
She told Malone that she and Richards had been arguing “when Richards walked over to her and hit her on top of her head. (The victim) stated that at first she thought that it was just his hand that he struck her with, however quickly felt blood running down her face.” She said she thought Richards had stabbed her with a knife but Malone reports no knife was found when he searched the house before he left to go to Agawam.
The victim told Malone that Richards had not been taking her to a hospital and said she did not know where he was taking her.
The victim was transported to Baystate Noble Hospital. Richards was taken into custody and transported to the Southwick Police Department for booking.
There, Richards claimed Fifth Amendment protection and declined to speak with police but, Malone reports, he “made several spontaneous utterances” and he reports that Richards said “I’m in a dream state. I can’t believe I did this. I’m not a murderer. I’ve been smoking (obscene gerund deleted) crack for three weeks straight.” Malone also reported that Richards “claimed to have spent $200.00 a night on crack for the last week.”
Malone wrote that he attempted to complete the booking process but when Richards appeared to pass out EMTs were summoned and recommended that he be taken to hospital.
Malone reports that, when Richards was asked at Baystate Medical Center why he was in the hospital, he angrily stated “Because I stabbed my girlfriend in the (obscene gerund deleted) head!”
After treatment at the hospital, Richards was returned to the Southwick police station were he was told that bail had been set at $2,500 and he called a relative who posted the bail.
Richards appeared in Westfield District Court on Monday before Judge William O’Grady and was arraigned on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault on a family or household member. O’Grady set bail $2,500 and Richards was released pending a May 31 hearing.
