WESTFIELD – A city man is facing new charges after a police officer he assaulted in May has experienced medical complications from that assault.
Victor J. Guzman, 26, was arrested on May 17 shortly before 3 a.m. by Westfield Police Officers Megan Bartlett and William Cavanaugh who stopped Guzman because he had allegedly been involved in a hit and run accident in West Springfield, according to court records.
Initially, Guzman failed to stop for officers and then pulled into the apartment complex located at 134 Union Street, but refused to identify himself, according to Cavanaugh’s statement of facts.
“The defendant was extremely agitated and was yelling and screaming creating a disturbance,” which roused residents from their homes, he wrote.
He was handcuffed, and as police were attempting to place Guzman into the police cruiser, he kicked Cavanaugh in the stomach, Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said.
Bartlett then stepped in to restrain him and Guzman kicked her in the hand and head with a “shod foot,” according to McCabe and court records.
Guzman was released on $100 bail after being arraigned in May on charges of two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (his foot), disorderly conduct and failing to stop.
As a result of the assault, Bartlett sustained bruising around her right eye and her cornea was torn from that eye, according to court records.
Initially, Bartlett was out of work due to a dislocated finger, but soon her vision became blurry and she started experiencing severe headaches, McCabe said.
As doctors were trying to figure out what was going on, she was diagnosed with traumatic head injury, according to court documents.
While undergoing treatment for the head injury, Bartlett suffered classic signs of a stroke which resulted in paralysis causing impaired speech and motor skills, said McCabe.
Court records state: “she suffered a stroke like event that resulted in her losing her speech and not being able (to) walk.” Bartlett received treatment at Mercy Medical Center and Weldon Rehabilitation.
Because of the extent of Bartlett’s injuries, McCabe in consultation with the detective bureau, added the new charge of assault and battery with serious bodily injury via criminal complaint on September 29.
Guzman, who was born in Puerto Rico, appeared in court on September 29 as scheduled for a hearing on the original charges for which he received one year probation after the charges were continued without finding.
Additionally, on September 29, Guzman, represented by Attorney Richard Facchini, was arraigned and released with pretrial conditions on the new charge of assault and battery with bodily injury.
Guzman’s file contains a note stating that he declined to consider a plea because the Commonwealth needs more time to consider the new information regarding the medical condition of Bartlett.
Guzman is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on December 11.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
