A Massachusetts State Police sergeant has been relieved of duty after he was arrested for assaulting an off-duty police officer at a CVS while trying to buy Valentine's Day gifts.
State police would confirm only that Sgt. Brian Duffy works out of Troop F at Logan Airport and was relieved of duty following his arrest. They said a duty status hearing will be held in the near future to address his status going forward.
"This is an unfortunate incident. Mainly a mistake. And unfortunately, not unfortunately, but the officer has to be held accountable and we need to focus on the fact that not just Plymouth but police departments will do the right thing when they have to," said Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri.
According to court documents, Duffy is charged with assault and battery of a person over 60 years of age or disabled and disturbing the peace. The assault allegedly happened at a CVS pharmacy in Plymouth on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim, a police officer in neighboring Carver, said Duffy attempted to cut him in line and they then became involved in a verbal dispute that turned physical when Duffy shoved him and knocked him over. The victim told a responding officer that he got back up after being knocked over and tried to grab Duffy to prevent him from leaving while also yelling to a CVS employee that he was a cop and to call police.
When asked by responding police about the incident, Duffy said he was trying to buy his wife some Valentine's Day gifts when the victim started to yell at him that he had cut the line.
The police report states that "some words and profanities" were exchanged between Duffy and the victim, and that Duffy claimed he was trying to get to the back of the line when the 64-year-old victim stepped in front of him on purpose to block him, which is when he said he shoved the man.
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Duffy told a responding officer that the victim then "got up and came after him" as he tried to leave the CVS.
