Braintree Man Who Was Shot By Police Indicted On Assault Charges

BRAINTREE, MA – The 59-year-old Braintree man who was shot by police after he pointed a pellet gun at officers during a standoff in May has been indicted by a Norfolk County grand jury on assault charges, according to a published report.

Stephen Rizzo has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon as well as three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct, the Patriot Ledger reported on Monday. No arraignment date for Norfolk County Superior Court has been set, the paper reported.

Rizzo was hospitalized after being shot by police on May 2 after he pointed a weapon at officers that they believed to be real. Rizzo, who was hospitalized for a week after the incident was later ordered to be held in jail for 120 days after he was deemed dangerous.

The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office announced in May that the three Braintree police officers involved in the incident would not be charged in the incident, which drew 30 officers after police were called to Rizzo's apartment complex where Rizzo was said to be waving a weapon about.

An email sent to the Braintree Police Department seeking comment about the status of the officers was not immediately returned. However, Braintree Deputy Chief Timothy Cohoon told the Patriot Ledger in an email that all three of the officers have either returned to work or will in coming days.

“The internal review is still ongoing, however, at this stage we feel that all officers not only acted appropriately, but diligently in a rapidly-unfolding, dangerous, and tense incident,” Cohoon told the newspaper Monday. “This is yet another example of the incredibly difficult instances where police officers are frequently forced to respond to protect the lives and safety of the public.”