A police officer is recovering from gunshot wounds after he was shot while attempting to execute a search warrant in New Bedford, about 45 minutes outside Attleboro. The narcotics detective was trying to knock down the door of an apartment when he was shot by a man inside. The man and an accomplice now face weapons crimes and other charges.
The incident occurred on the evening of Jan. 24 on the second floor of an apartment complex. The detective was the apartment to search it for possible drugs. Officers attempted to breach the door, but it had a security bar on it. That's when the 20-year-old suspect started shooting. The detective was hit, and officers called for backup.
Others inside the apartment removed the bar and let police in. The suspect faces armed assault charges as well as attempted murder. Another man, a 34-year-old, faces firearm and conspiracy charges. Three others, ranging from 24 to 40 years old, were inside the apartment at the time. They were served with grand jury subpoenas.
The injured police officer was transported to St. Luke's Hospital. He was then transferred to another hospital. He has already been released and is expected to make a full recovery.
The men will need to develop with a strong criminal defense. Perhaps the men were simply trying to defend themselves. If the police did not identify themselves properly, the men may have thought that someone else was trying to break into the apartment.
During the criminal court process, a defendant's rights must be protected, and an experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to do just that while building a strong defense against the charges.
Source: Boston.com, "Police officer shot in New Bedford drug bust Friday night" Wesley Lowery and Gal Tziperman Lotan, Jan. 25, 2014