Fontaine, formerly of Palmer, is currently hospitalized at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where he is recovering from gunshot wounds to his abdomen and ankle.
Robert P. FrydrykPALMER - The 17 year old man shot by a Palmer Police officer during a domestic disturbance on July 4 is scheduled to be arraigned from his hospital bed Wednesday afternoon, Palmer police announced.
Shawn R. Fontaine, formerly of Palmer, is currently hospitalized at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where he is recovering from gunshot wounds to his abdomen and ankle.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on seven criminal charges, Police Chief Robert Frydryk said. Charges include six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and a single count of carrying a dangerous weapon while committing a breach of the peace.
The incident began around 11 p.m. Monday when a female resident of 22 Pinney St., called police and said she feared for her safety, and that of her family, because a male, known to her, was banging on her door and demanding entry, police said.
The female told police that the suspect had recently threatened her, that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and was armed with a handgun.
When police arrived at the home two minutes after the female’s initial call, the suspect pointed a handgun at them. The officers took cover and the stand-off ensued. The gun was later determined to be a carbon dioxide powered pellet gun.
District Court officials and an assistant Hampden district attorney are scheduled to be will be present at the arraignment, Frydryk said. A bar advocate from the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services has been assigned to represent Fontaine.
If bail is set, Fontaine will be transferred to the custody of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department until his next court appearance, which will likely take place after his recovery, Frydryk said.
While Frydryk declined to release the name of the officer involved in the shooting, he said he is an eight year veteran of the department. He remains on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation.
“This is not a punitive action, but is standard police procedure in an incident of this type,” Frydryk said. “I am confident that, once it is complete, the district attorney’s investigation will establish what we firmly believe - that the officer acted appropriately and the use of force was justified given the circumstances.”
More details coming on MassLive and in The Republican.