Cop choked by cord, hit in face with bottle, knocked down, punched, and kicked...
and only one person came to his aid.
Quote:
Gifford was on a paid detail at the Portuguese Social Club on School Street when he was attacked by five men, police allege. He was choked by the microphone cord on his police radio, hit in the face with a beer bottle, knocked down, and punched and kicked.
During that time, only one person came to Gifford?s aid, police allege. A 63-year-old man dove into the fight when he saw Gifford being picked up and thrown to the floor, police say.
That moment of help was enough to allow Gifford to hit the panic button on his radio, drawing in every officer in the city.
"Sometime shortly after midnight, Lt. Gifford was working a detail when five individuals showed up at the Portuguese Social Club," Detective Major John Whiting said.
The men were told that the party was shutting down in 20 minutes, so it was not worth the $10 cover charge to go in, Whiting said.
"They were denied entrance," Whiting said. "They appeared to be intoxicated. They were loud and belligerent. They went outside and returned. They insisted on coming in and refused to pay the cover charge."
Gifford got involved, then, telling the men they had to leave, police say.
"At that point, Justelino Barros turned quickly and punched Lt. Gifford, hitting him hard enough to knock him back," Whiting alleged. "A second man jumped in, and the three of them went over a table to the floor.
"Lt. Gifford attempted to call for assistance. At that point, Justelino Barros wrapped the cord around his neck and choked him, almost to the point of unconsciousness. He was also hit with a beer bottle by Junior Pires."
The three other men with Barros and Pires also punched or kicked Gifford in the moments that followed, police allege.
Then Gifford managed to call for help.
Sgt. Michael Cute arrived to find Gifford on his feet, bleeding from his face, his shirt torn to shreds. He began pointing out the men he wanted arrested.
"When the officers arrived, an unidentified female told an officer that one of the people involved was hiding in the ladies room," Whiting said. "They checked. They found Junior Pires in there, holding onto the toilet bowl. When they tried to get him out, he resisted.
"All five individuals were identified, apprehended and charged."
Barros, 27, of Cross Street, Central Falls, was charged with attempted murder, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He was ordered held at the ACI pending a hearing to determine if he should be released while awaiting trial.
Pires, 28, of Cross Street, Central Falls, was charged with felony assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Before he can be released, he must post bail on state charges and on a detainer posted by federal immigration officers.
Three others were charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer. They were held overnight in jail and released Sunday with a summons to answer the charge in District Court. They are: Jose Dias, 25, of Beecher Street; Joao Dalomba, 24, of Earle Street, Central Falls; and Henry Gomes Taveres, 27, of Lyon Street.
The Portuguese Social Club will also answer charges, Whiting said.
"We are still interviewing the club manager and employees, and we are looking into the person who rented the hall," Whiting said.
"When our investigation is complete, we will turn everything over to Major Stephen Ormerod. There will be a report to the City Council."
Gifford spent most of Easter morning in Memorial Hospital. He is expected to be out of work for at least a week, Whiting said.
"This was a vicious and unprovoked attack on a uniformed police officer," Whiting stated. "It will not be tolerated.
"We?ll look to do whatever we have to do to prevent this from happening again."
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