Man Charged With Attacking Boston Police Officer Held On Bail
BOSTON (CBS) -- A man charged with attacking a Boston Police officer on New Year's Day was held on bail following his arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on Monday.
Andrew Bowman, 23, of Everett, allegedly punched the police officer, who was in a marked cruiser monitoring a crowd near a parking garage at One City Hall, around 2 a.m. on Friday.
Video was taken by a witness and posted by police to YouTube, and it appears to show Bowman approaching the police cruiser and punching the officer multiple times moments later.
The officer, who was taken to the hospital and later released after suffering non-life-threatening injuries, was praised by Boston Police Commissioner William Evans for showing "incredible restraint" while defending himself.
Bowman has been charged with assault and battery on a police officer causing injury, disorderly person, trespassing and resisting arrest.
On Monday morning, prosecutors asked a judge for $1,000 cash bail.
Bowman's attorney, Daniel Occena, sought bail Bowman could afford. The judge ordered Bowman held on $2,000 cash bail.
Occena says Bowman had no recollection of what happened.
"It's a bit bizarre in (and) of itself," Occena said. "You have to let the facts play (themselves) out."
The defense attorney declined to comment on whether or not the University of New Haven student has mental health issues, and if alcohol or drugs may have been a factor.
"He's a good kid," Occena says. "His father is here, his family is here in strong support...(and he) doesn't have an adult criminal history."
He will be back in court for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 4.
WBZ-TV's Chantee Lans contributed to this report.
