TEWKSBURY, MA — Chief Ryan Columbus reports that the Tewksbury Police Department responded to an incident at Tewksbury State Hospital.
On Friday, April 17, 2026, at approximately 9:49 a.m., Tewksbury Police were radioed to Tewksbury State Hospital by campus police for assistance after it was reported that a staff member had been assaulted by a patient.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male patient.
The patient appeared to be secured to a chair and administered medication prior to the officers’ arrival.
A preliminary investigation determined that the patient went up to the nurses’ station and was acting erratically.
When one of the mental health workers approached him, the patient stood in a fighting position and struck the employee in the face twice.
A subsequent investigation determined that the patient has an extensive violent criminal history.
The patient is being charged with Assault and Battery on a Health Care Worker.
