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Former Pepperell Police Officer Arraigned On Strangulation Charge

Posted on: November 5, 2015 - 12:19pm

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced that Armando Herrera, 53, of Pepperell, formerly a Sergeant with the Pepperell Police Department, was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court today on charges of strangulation, willfully misleading the police in a criminal investigation, and filing a false written report by a public officer or employee.

Clerk Magistrate Michael Day released the defendant on his own recognizance and ordered him to stay away from, and have no contact with, the victim.  The next scheduled hearing in this case is Wednesday, December 2.

“The victim in this matter was brought to the police station to keep her safe,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. “Instead, it was the defendant's alleged conduct in the station, a violation of his duty to protect the public, which resulted in her being assaulted.”

On Monday, September 7, at approximately 9:20 p.m., a woman was placed into protective custody by Pepperell police officers due to her alleged intoxication and was brought to the Pepperell Police Station for well-being. Once at the station, Sergeant Herrera became involved in the booking of the woman.  Due to the woman’s condition, she was moved to a nearby locked cell by Sergeant Herrera and other officers.  After being placed in the cell, the woman began shouting.  The defendant then allegedly used a key to unlock the cell, entered the cell, and began to strangle the female until a fellow officer intervened, restraining the defendant and preventing him from engaging in this conduct. The defendant then allegedly filed a police report containing a materially different version of the incident.  The Pepperell Police Department conducted an internal investigation and referred the matter to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.  In early October, the defendant submitted his resignation to the Pepperell Police Department.

This incident is being investigated by the Pepperell Police Department and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutors assigned to this case are Assistant District Attorney Nate Burris and Assistant District Attorney Chris Tarrant. The Victim Witness Advocate is Anne Foley.