Man accused of slashing Taunton officers with knife held without bail
TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — A man accused of attacking Taunton police officers with a knife after leading them on a chase was held without bail at his arraignment Wednesday.
Douglas Hagerty, 35, pleaded not guilty in Taunton District Court.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Hagerty was turned over to the police department after he was released from the hospital.
Police pulled a vehicle over around 6:45 p.m. for a moving violation on County Street. Officers said the driver was uncooperative.
Douglas Hagerty, accused of attacking police officers with a knife, is arraigned in Taunton District Court, Sept. 27, 2023. (WLNE)
While they were speaking to the driver, a second person drove up in a 2010 gray Honda Accord and started to yell at the officers. Police said there was no relation to the two drivers.
Police said the second driver, Hagerty, took off shortly after.
A little while later, a different officer noticed the Honda driving recklessly. When the officer tried to pull Hagerty over, he allegedly sped away.
The officer followed and watched the Hagerty crash into a home on West Britannia Street.
Police said officers followed him inside the house. Hagerty then allegedly swung a knife at multiple officers, slashing one officer in the face and the back of his head.
Douglas Hagerty, 35, of Taunton. (Taunton police)
Chief Ed Walsh, who lives nearby, came to the scene from his home. Hagerty is further accused of slashing the chief in the chest.
After the incident, the officer with multiple serious slash wounds was flown to a Boston hospital. Walsh said that the officer underwent surgery and is now doing well. A second officer was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Walsh was treated at Morton Hospital and was later released.
Hagerty, who is known to police, is set to face a number of felony charges.
Residents in the area of West Britannia Street can expect an uptick in police presence, but there is no danger to the community.
