Attorney requests police recordings in officer assault case
A Marion woman charged with assaulting several police officers was given at a continuance criminal hearing on Tuesday after her attorney requested more police records from the night of the disturbance.
On Oct. 31, police responded to a noise complaint at the 18 South St. home of Meredith and Christopher Shachoy. According to police records, the Shachoys were having a birthday party for Christopher Shachoy.
On their arrival, police asked Christopher Shachoy to reduce the volume of the music, which he did.
However, Meredith Shachoy, 46, became verbally abusive, say police, “pointing her finger and saying, ‘I pay taxes, I pay your salary, get off my property.’”
Police called for backup and attempted to calm her down. When the situation continued to escalate, Shachoy was notified that she would be put under arrest, according to records.
Officer Karen Ballinger said that Shachoy attempted to re-enter her home and was told to stop, at which point Shachoy punched Ballinger, knocking her to the ground.
The police records say, “she then kicked this officer with a shod foot (black boots) directly in the mouth.”
Before the ordeal was over, police say Shachoy kicked two officers in the head and struck another. Police say they had to stun her with a Taser twice before they could handcuff her.
Shachoy has since been brought up on eight charges: four for assault and battery of a police officer, two assault and battery with a dangerous weapon as well as disorderly conduct, disturbing the police and resisting arrest.
At Tuesday’s pre-trial hearing, held at the Wareham District Court, Shachoy’s attorney, Gregory Aceto, requested Officer Ballinger’s medical records from Tobey Hospital as well as her work record saying he had discussions with people that “suggest that she acted irrationally and out of control.”
Aceto also requested police communications, including calls to dispatch, from the night of the incident. According to the attorney, he already requested a copy of the 911 recording, but the CD was blank. The district attorney said he gave Aceto another copy on Tuesday morning.
Judge Therese Wright granted a continuance to the hearing until April 28.
Following the hearing, the Shachoys declined to comment.
“We’ll let the legal process run its course,” said Christopher Shachoy.