For Immediate Release: 11/20/2024 2:10 pm
I would like to clarify some details surrounding an incident that occurred at the start of the City Council meeting last evening. On Tuesday, Nov. 19 at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers were called to City Hall for a reported fight. Upon arrival, officers made contact with a resident who appeared to have a streak of dark paint on his face. The resident stated that he was spray painted in the face on the third floor of City Hall in the hallway of the Council Chambers (Esther Howland). Though the suspect fled the scene, they were positively identified by witnesses and through video footage from City Hall cameras. A warrant has been issued for the suspect's arrest. The victim was transported to UMass and released with no major injuries.
I want to clarify that it is not a practice of the municipality to have detail officers on duty at City Hall for the duration of City Council meetings unless there is a specific request, however, route officers do check in to City Hall and to the meeting during their regular shift. Yesterday, route officers were responding to a disorderly call on the Worcester Common and had a presence both at the front and the rear of City Hall around 5:25 p.m. They left to make a report and were headed back to City Hall when the call came in for the fight around 6:30 p.m. They were on scene approximately four minutes after the actual incident occurred.
The safety, security, and well-being of all persons present inside City Hall, during City Council meetings, other public meetings, and regular business hours is not only a priority for my administration but a responsibility of the municipality. We have been working closely with Emergency Management, the Worcester Police Department, and the Department of Public Facilities to create and implement stronger security measures around City Hall and other municipal buildings. No individual should feel threatened or intimidated by another member of the public or by a public employee while conducting business in municipal settings. Violence and aggressive behavior of any kind toward any person inside City Hall and other public facilities is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I am confident that the Worcester Police Department will be able to bring about justice.
