Crime & Safety

Melrose Officer Climbs In Window To Avoid Being Dragged By Car

Melrose Police arrested the driver of the car on 16 charges, including assault to murder, assault and battery on a police officer and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

A officer climbed through the window of a moving car to avoid being dragged by the vehicle, according to police, after pulling that car over in the early morning hours last Friday.

The driver of the car, 20-year-old Rayshawn Davis of 62 Dix St. in Boston, was arrested on charges of assault to murder; two counts of assault and battery on a police officer; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and 12 other charges, mainly motor vehicle infractions.

Melrose Police first responded to at approximately 1:15 in the morning on Friday, July 15, for a complaint about a disruptive person in the emergency room.

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Melrose Police Lt. Mark DeCroteau said that at the hospital, officers encountered Davis, who had been treated earlier in the evening at the hospital and was at that point arguing with a female companion in the ER. DeCroteau declined to state what Davis had been treated for at the hospital, citing medical privacy laws.

Davis had been asked to leave the hospital several times by hospital staff and security, DeCroteau said, and eventually left. The officer who responded to the initial complaint spotted Davis a short time later driving on Main Street with his headlights out.

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After pulling the car over, DeCroteau said Davis became "argumentative and combative" and that during the interview, police allege that he put the car—a manual transmission—into gear. The officer was standing beside the car, which had the door open.

"The officer who was in the doorway was then caught in the doorway with the suspect," DeCroteau said. "The officer was able to climb into the vehicle to avoid being dragged by the vehicle. The vehicle then collided with a police cruiser that had responded to assist."

Melrose Police officers then attempted to place Davis under arrest, and DeCroteau said he "became physically combative and resisted."

The officers subdued him using pepper spray and their batons, DeCroteau said, "because the suspect was extremely combative and argumentative, and even combative after he was handcuffed and offered medical assistance. He refused it and became more combative with police officers and EMTs on scene."

Davis was taken back to the hospital due to the crash involving the cruiser and "became more combative in the hospital," DeCroteau said. He was eventually taken to the police station "several hours later" for booking and then to Malden District Court.

DeCroteau said one of the arresting officers was also treated at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital and released.

In addition to the previously listed charges, Davis is charged with assault; carrying a dangerous weapon; attempt to commit a crime; resisting arrest; disorderly conduct; malicious damage to a motor vehicle; and six motor vehicle infractions.


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