The suspect was ordered held without right to bail pending a dangerousness hearing.
03.09.11 | Photo by Julian Feller-Cohen â A South Hadley Police Department cruiser.SOUTH HADLEY - A 32-year-old West Springfield man, who jumped into the Connecticut River Tuesday night in an attempt to elude police following two reported domestic assaults, was ordered held without right to bail Wednesday pending a dangerousness hearing.
Police Lt. William Sowa said the incident began about 7 p.m. when police received a 911 call regarding a male physically assaulting a female in the parking lot of the Village Commons.
When police arrived at the scene, however, the male and female were gone, Sowa said. A short time later, police received another call of a male assaulting a female, this time on Titans Pier Road, he said.
When police arrived, the suspect fled on a motorcycle, heading north on Route 47. The suspect, Shaun Dearing, 32, of 1145 Elm St., West Springfield, refused to stop and eventually pulled into Mitch’s Marina on Route 47 in Hadley, Sowa said.
Dearing jumped into the river and police, aided by a bystander with a boat, went out onto the river and hauled him into custody.
Dearing was charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery, operating under the influence (second offense), failure to stop for police and negligent of a motor vehicle.
Sowa said “various objects” were allegedly used during Dearing’s assault on the female. Sowa declined to identify, however, what they were.
Dearing denied the charges Wednesday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown. The dangerousness hearing has been set for July 25.