Latest news with #NicholasAkerberg
NBC News
16-04-2025
- NBC News
Video shows man in gas mask and tactical gear pepper-spray officers at Boston area courthouse
A man wearing a gas mask and tactical gear forced his way into a Boston-area courthouse on Monday and allegedly pepper-sprayed and physically assaulted several people before he was arrested. Security video shows a female court officer trying to stop the man from entering the Woburn District Court. The man, identified by the district attorney's office as Nicholas Akerberg, is seen storming inside and appearing to pepper-spray the officer. He then runs into the lobby where several officers subdue him, the video shows. Bystanders are seen in the video moving out of the way as the officers struggle to restrain Akerberg. The officers had to deploy a Taser before he was arrested, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. Akerberg, 28, of Yarmouth Port, was dressed in a helmet, gas mask, tactical boots and sunglasses, the district attorney's office said. He had eight canisters of pepper spray and two smoke canisters in his possession, the release states. Akerberg allegedly "deployed pepper spray directed at multiple court officers, a Stoneham police officer and an assistant district attorney," according to the release. He is also accused of punching and shoving multiple people. "I want to condemn today's attack on the Court, the Court staff and the Justice system in the strongest possible terms. Courts are sacred, hallowed places," District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement. Akerberg was charged with six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as charges of assault and battery on a public employee, assault and battery on a police officer, disrupting a court proceeding, disorderly conduct, bomb threat, and intimidation. Akerberg, a police officer and two court officers were taken to the hospital but were all released, the district attorney's office said. Akerberg was arraigned on Monday and was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing. The judge also revoked his bail and ordered him to undergo a competency evaluation. It's not clear if he has obtained an attorney. The district attorney said Monday's assault is the third serious incident at a courthouse since March 10.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man wearing gas mask in pepper spray attack at Mass. courthouse held without bail
A man accused of attacking several people with his fists and pepper spray at a courthouse in Woburn on Monday morning was charged and ordered held in law enforcement custody. Nicholas Akerberg, 28, of Yarmouth Port, faces nearly 20 criminal charges in connection with the reported incident at Woburn District Court, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office announced. Akerberg had shown up at the courthouse around 10:30 a.m. on Monday wearing a gas mask, helmet, tactical boots and sunglasses, the office said. The court officer and other people were unable to stop him from getting into the lobby. Once inside, Akerberg sprayed pepper spray at multiple court officers, a Stoneham police officer and an assistant district attorney, the office said. He punched and shoved several people, the office said, and fought against at least three officers before they were able to stop him with a Taser. Four people, including two court officers, the police officer and Akerberg, were brought to the hospital and released Monday afternoon. Eight canisters of pepper spray and two smoke cans were also later found in Akerberg's possession, the office said. 'I want to condemn today's attack on the Court, the Court staff and the Justice system in the strongest possible terms. Courts are sacred, hallowed places,' a statement from District Attorney Marian Ryan on the incident read. 'Today's assault was the third serious incident at a courthouse since March 10, 2025. These are not just acts of violence, they are challenges to the rule of law and to peaceful, orderly dispute resolution,' the statement read. 'The rule of law is not a fancy academic concept, it is the foundation of our democracy. Anyone who desecrates these sacred places will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Today is a critical reminder of the need to foster respect for our courts and our dedicated court staffs.' Akerberg was charged with six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, five counts of assault and battery on a public employee, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, assault, disrupting a court proceeding, disorderly conduct, bomb threat and intimidation. He was arraigned on Monday and ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing, and his bail was also revoked on open cases before Woburn District Court. Akerberg was also ordered to undergo a competency evaluation. Akerberg's next scheduled court date is May 2. Quincy man guilty of 1st degree murder, killing Dorchester man in 2019 shooting Weymouth man suspected of 'peeping Tom' incident outside apartment complex Charges dropped against men accused of fatal fight at Patriots game Mass. felon sentenced for causing explosion at home, owning over 30 firearms Bullet found in Haverhill High School bathroom, prompting stay-in-place order
CBS News
14-04-2025
- CBS News
Man accused of attacking officers with pepper spray in Massachusetts court
A 28-year-old man from Yarmouth Port is undergoing a mental health evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital after police say he walked into Woburn District Court wearing a gas mask and sprayed pepper spray. Police say Nicholas Akerberg had a previously scheduled hearing at court for a charge out of Stoneham on Monday. He allegedly deployed pepper spray directed at multiple court officers, a Stoneham police officer and an assistant district attorney. He also allegedly punched, shoved and assaulted multiple people. Investigators said Akerberg had eight cannisters of pepper spray and two smoke cannisters in his possession. The Middlesex District Attorney said Akerberg was subdued after an officer deployed a Taser. Akerberg, the police officer and two court officers were taken to an area hospital and have been released. Akerberg has several previous charges against him stemming from when he lived in Stoneham. According to court documents, he was arrested for punching a 67-year-old neighbor in 2023. Stoneham police reports say Akerberg was well known by them for mental health issues and he was committed five times according to court records. Akerberg was also arrested in 2024 for allegedly pepper spraying police while they tried to arrest him on a warrant for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and violation of a prevention order. Akerberg was ordered held without bail on new assault and battery charges on Monday. He will stay in custody until May 2 when he will have a dangerousness hearing. In a statement, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms." "The rule of law is not a fancy academic concept, it is the foundation of our democracy," Ryan said. "Anyone who desecrates these sacred places will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police officer hospitalized after being hit by pepper spray in Woburn courthouse, suspect arrested
Woburn District Court was evacuated on Monday morning after a man walked in and sprayed pepper spray inside. According to Woburn Police, a male suspect walked into the courthouse for a Stoneham case that originated approximately a year ago, with a gasmask and Capstun aerosol. The man, identified as Nicholas Akerberg then began spraying indoors of the courthouse, officials said. Akerberg was arrested and transported to a hospital and charges are currently being determined. One Stoneham officer was transported to the hospital after being sprayed with Capstun. Akerberg will be arraigned via Zoom on Monday afternoon. Woburn Court will reopen at 2 p.m. and the incident is under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
