Fall River police officer found guilty of assaulting person in custody

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — The United States Attorney’s Office said that a Fall River police officer accused of assaulting a man in custody and failing to report it was found guilty.

37-year-old Nicholas Hoar was convicted of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of false reports.

The office said that on Dec. 21, 2020, Hoar struck a man who was in custody in the head with a baton.

On the following days, he issued reports of the arrest which did not mention the assault.

The Fall River Police Department said that Hoar has been on unpaid administrative leave since his arrest on Nov. 30, 2022.

“The conclusion of this case will allow the Fall River Police Department to move further in the disciplinary process and determine the suitability of his employment,” Sgt. Moses Pereira said.

Hoar faces up to up to 10 years in prison for the deprivation of rights charge, as well as up to 20 years in prison for the false reports charge.

“What Fall River Police Officer Nicholas Hoar did – in using his position of authority to assault a man in his custody and then try to cover it up by filing false reports– is utterly contemptible,” Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division Jodi Cohen said.