Fall River Police officer accused of excessive force assaults pleads not guilty
By News Staff
Email: news@abc6.com
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FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) – A Fall River Police officer accused of abusing his authority as an officer of the law has been indicted on 15 separate charges.
Michael Pessoa, 40, of Fall River, was indicted Thursday after a joint investigation between Fall River Police and the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.
Pessoa, a 17-year veteran of the department, is accused of using excessive and unnecessary force in four separate incidents between 2014 and 2019.
He faces the following charges:
- One count of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon
- One count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon
- Two counts of assault and battery
- Four counts of civil rights violation with bodily injury
- Three counts of intimidation of a witness (misleading)
- Three counts of filing a false report by a public officer
- One count of malicious destruction of property.
The victims in at least three of the four cases were injured to the point of hospitalization.
Fall River Police said Pessoa was placed on paid administrative leave in April, and remained on leave throughout the criminal investigation.
They say Pessoa has now been suspended without pay pending the litigation.
These are fabricated charges that we will see it to its end”, said defense attorney Frank Camera. “We intend to fight it every step of the way.”
Pessoa pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon in Fall River Superior Court.
Bail was set at $5,000.
He is due back in court in August.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019
