|
On January 16, 2006, five teens were arrested after they assaulted staff and took over an office at Wayside's Harbinger House. According to the full article (excerpted below), this was the 35th time in one year that Framingham police officers had responded to this one address, and Wayside president Eric Masi stated that because the operation has cut down on physical restraint by 75%, they will now "be calling the police more often." (At taxpayer expense, of course!) We hope there will be fewer incidents when Wayside opens its massive 72 bed "facility" on Lockland Ave.
By Norman Miller
The Metrowest Daily News
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=119470
FRAMINGHAM -- Five teens who are residents of the Harbinger House threatened staff members Sunday, barricaded themselves in an office and trashed the room, authorities said.
The five girls, two 14-year-olds, a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old and 18-year-old Rita Jirichian, were all arrested at 1:05 a.m. after fighting with police officers at the Wayside Youth and Family facility, Chief Steven Carl said.
At first, staff members were concerned the five girls would burn confidential documents stored in the room, Carl said. The girls had a lighter.
"They didn’t set fire to anything," said Carl. "They just destroyed the office."
The girls at first threatened several staff members with scissors, and then locked themselves in the office. After failed attempts to get them out, the staff called police, Carl said.
"They couldn’t control them," said Carl. "They fought with the officers."
The Harbinger house is located on Edgell Road. According to the facility’s Web site, the Harbinger House is a short-term care program for adolescents who require an intensive diagnostic evaluation or might need psychiatric hospitalization and are at risk of homelessness.
All five of the girls were charged with resisting arrest, assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property causing more than $250 worth of damage.
Have a comment, correction, or suggestion? Write to the webmaster!
