WESTFIELD – A city man was arrested in Springfield a day after allegedly assaulting two residents and their dog with a hammer.
Adrian B. Hinds, 25, of 342 Southwick Road, so brutally assaulted the victims that witnesses could hear the victims screaming and hear the hammer striking the victims’ heads.
Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said the victims suffered severe lacerations to their skulls.
The assault occurred just past 10 a.m. Wednesday morning at Southwood Acres, located at 342 Southwick Road.
McCabe said during the unprovoked attack, Hinds first attacked his neighbor, a female in her 20s, by striking her head with the hammer.
The victim’s roommate, a male in his 20s, heard her screams and ran out with their dog to help.
Hinds then attacked the male victim, striking him on the head with the hammer, and hitting the dog with the hammer as well.
Before police arrived on scene, Hinds had allegedly left in a vehicle that had four flat tires.
The victims were transported to Baystate Noble Hospital in stable condition and are expected to recover.
Hinds’ vehicle was found abandoned in the Savers parking lot on Memorial Avenue in West Springfield shortly past 1:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, according to police logs.
Throughout the afternoon, police were continually contacting Verizon and Sprint to “ping” cell phones believed to be in Hinds’ possession in an effort to locate the suspect.
Springfield police caught up with Hinds at 2:50 p.m. Thursday afternoon in an apartment at 23 Edgewood St.
McCabe said Hinds is charged with two counts of assault & battery with a dangerous weapon (a hammer) with serious bodily injury, two counts of assault with intent to murder and a cruelty to animal charge.
McCabe didn’t release whether Hinds has a record of previous charges. The Westfield News couldn’t find any arrest record for Hinds in an online search.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
