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| Bridgewater State inmate takes four hostage |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 09/10/2004 |
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Four mental health workers held hostage at Bridgewater State Hospital in Mass. by an inmate angry that he was being moved escaped injury after a hospital staffer talked him into releasing one of the hostages, and the other three followed minutes later, officials said. Commissioner Kathleen M. Dennehy said the inmate, Emanuel Newell, had a putty knife and a pen on him when he took control of the two men and two men who met with him about 10:30 Thursday to tell him about the move. He was being transferred to a higher-security section of the hospital after officers had found some type of rope in his room Wednesday night. "He was being moved from one unit to another, and as I understand, he took exception to it," Dennehy said. The incident lasted bout 35 minutes. Dennehy said the freed hostages were checked by medical personnel, but were not injured. During the standoff, Newell, 43, alternated stabbing himself with the pen and putty knife in the stomach, but the wounds were superficial, Dennehy said. Committed in November 2001, Newell is serving a 24 1/2-to-65-year sentence for manslaughter, assault with intent to commit a felony, carrying a dangerous weapon and receiving stolen property. He is from Ohio, but is serving his sentence in Massachusetts for his own protection, Dennehy said. The office of Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz was investigating the incident. On Aug. 28, Bradley D. Burns, 29, a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia, was charged with murder after allegedly strangling William B. Mosher Jr., 32, in his cell. Also, an officer was slashed with a razor in August. Steve Kenneway, president of the 4,000-member officers union, said Dennehy had ignored requests for more staffing, and that her management has compromised safety at the hospital. Dennehy said staffing was not an issue in the hostage incident. The Bridgewater facility houses about 340 inmates who, with the exception of low-level regular convicts on cooking and cleaning assignments, are under some type of psychiatric care. |
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