Man charged with assault on officer

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November 2, 2012

Man charged with assault on officer

BY JULIE MANGANIS STAFF WRITER The Salem News The Salem News Fri Nov 02, 2012, 04:30 AM EDT

SALEM — A Hudson, N.H., man who was in Salem for the Halloween festivities Wednesday night is being held on charges that he kicked and bit a Salem police detective who was attempting to put him into protective custody.

Instead of heading home after sobering up at the police station, Christopher Mitchell, 34, was in court yesterday to face charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the shod foot he used to kick the officer) and assault and battery on a police officer.

Police received reports from bystanders about a man loudly berating a woman in the crowd on Derby Street. They then saw Mitchell screaming in the face of a woman he was with.

When police asked if they needed assistance, the pair walked away. But officers then saw Mitchell yelling at the woman again, so they approached.

As they attempted to put him into handcuffs to take him to the station, Mitchell put up a struggle. At one point, police say he kicked Detective Brian St. Pierre in the leg and then managed to bite St. Pierre’s finger. He did not break the skin on the officer’s finger, police noted.

Following his arraignment in Salem District Court, Judge Michael Brooks ordered Mitchell held on $1,000 cash bail, noting his out-of-state residence and a history of defaulting on court appearances.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Courts reporter Julie Manganis can be reached at 978-338-2521, via email at jmanganis@salemnews.com or on Twitter @SNJulieManganis.