Man Tells Police He Hit Wife To Prevent Her Drug Abuse

On April 10, Middletown Police officers went to Glendale Avenue for a domestic between husband and wife. The wife met officers at Westfield Fire Department on East Street with fresh scratches and bruises on her face.

Brian Flaherty, 51, was at the residence with scratches on his face, saying his wife assaulted him, the police report says. She called family members earlier who allegedly witnessed Flaherty punch her father in the face and the father punch him in the face. Flaherty then grabbed a baseball bat but the family was able to restrain him, according to police.

He allegedly admitted to police he hit his wife but only to prevent her from buying drugs. While being processed, he pulled away from the officer and balled his fists in a fighting stance. When put in a cell, police said he climbed on a sink and hit the camera casing until it broke. After being put in a padded cell, he used the zipper of his pants to cut gouges of padding from the door.

Flaherty then allegedly told police he was having a heart attack and was brought to Middlesex Hospital for evaluation. At he hospital, he spit in the officer’s face. Because hospital personnel said he did not have a heart attack, he was brought back to a holding cell, the report details.

Police say the victim stated the accused threatening to kill her more than once during the incident, which a witness confirmed.

Flaherty was charged with disorderly conduct, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, first-degree criminal mischie, assault of a police officer and interfering with an officer. He was given an April 11 court date.

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