Update: Boston police patrolman Michael Doherty pleaded not guilty in South Boston District Court Monday to charges he assaulted and violated the civil rights of an Uber driver. He appeared in court with his left arm in a sling and a black left eye, as reported by The Boston Globe.
Here’s what we know: Michael C. Doherty, a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, was arrested and charged for the alleged assault and battery of an Uber driver Sunday. Doherty was off-duty at the time of the alleged incident – which was reported to Boston police at 2:45 a.m. Sunday morning, Jan. 4. The BPD issued a statement, saying Doherty has been placed on leave, pending the outcome of an investigation by the police anti-corruption unit. A story published by DigBoston – before the BPD posted its statement online – quotes the official police report of the incident, which states the suspect used racial slurs towards the Uber driver and an unknown African American man who came to the victim’s aid.
Doherty, according to city records, lives in an apartment E 2nd Street, in South Boston. The police report obtained by Dig states that the Uber driver had pulled up to the corner of E 2nd and M Streets; when the car was stopped, the “suspect then stated ‘[You] think I’m stupid you fucking spic’ and told the victim to continue driving.” Doherty allegedly began hitting the driver, who, in an attempt to escape, got out of the car. Doherty got out too, the report states – and he chased the driver in circles around the car. That was until an unidentified black man came to the Uber driver’s side, prompting the suspect to flee the scene, using the Uber car as transportation.
The victim reportedly jumped in his rescuer’s car and, together, they proceeded to follow Doherty around a few blocks of Southie – to E 1st Street at Farragut Road, where the victim had pulled over the stolen Uber. All three exited the vehicles; Doherty allegedly spewed another racial slur-laced comment, directed at the unknown black man; the police report states punches were thrown, during a subsequent struggle.
At which time, according to the BPD report, MassPort police rolled up to the scene, blue lights on. Doherty, apparently realizing the situation, stopped fighting and walked away; the victim pointed Doherty out to the responding MassPort officers, but it was too late: Doherty had reportedly fled up P Street.
MassPort officers searched the area, failing to track down the suspect. The victim denied medical treatment. And Doherty was arrested by Boston police, charged and put on leave at some point later in the day.
Bizarre, to say the least.
Bizarre because of two things.
- The discrepancies between DigBoston’s initial report and the later BPD statement – which omitted specific details.
- The geography of the situation.
Doherty allegedly wasn’t alone when he got in the Uber Sunday morning, either. He was accompanied by an unidentified white man, the police report notes. They were picked up at 200 Hanover Street, in the North End; the driver’s first destination was Charlestown, where he dropped off the unknown passenger; from there, the driver was told to double-back towards E 2nd St., in Southie. The map of all this – the entire Uber ride, alleged assault, purported carjacking, ensuing struggle and the suspect’s flee from cops – on foot (perhaps to his E 2nd St. apartment) – looks like this:
Specifically, after allegedly stealing the Uber driver’s car, Doherty drove a half mile around the street, from E 2nd on M to E 1st on Farragut, before stopping.
Only to flee from police up nearby P St., which, if he was, in fact, trying to get back to his home, on E Street in South Boston, was doable on foot in about 15 minutes or less – with a shortcut through the park.
Doherty’s alleged travels through Southie Sunday morning – purportedly prompted when, as he allegedly claimed, the Uber driver dropped him off in the wrong spot – was nonsensical. It was (possibly) a 1.3-mile circumvention, by foot and stolen car, of a few Southie blocks.
Again, bizarre.
Doherty’s arraignment in South Boston district court is scheduled for Monday morning. The BPD chose not comment further on the alleged incident, when BostInno reached out Monday afternoon. We’ve also reached out to Doherty’s police union; this piece will be updated if we hear back.
All screengrabs via Google Maps.
