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MILLBURY, Mass. — A Millbury man who allegedly beat and attempted to strangle his girlfriend was arrested last week by two Millbury officers, according to a police report.
James Dunston of 15 Elm Court faces charges of attempted murder by strangulation, violation of a protection order and assault and battery, according to the police report.
He was taken into custody Thursday just hours before his apartment was due to be raided by federal Drug Enforcement Agency and State Police officers as part of Operation Devil's Handshake, police said.
Police Chief Mark Moore said that the town was aware of the impending raid "but had the duty to react immediately" because of the seriousness of the allegations against Dunston. "There is no way we could legally or ethically put off arresting a person subject to a planned raid later," he said.
Officers Andrea Warpula and Christopher Poselli arrested Dunston without incident at the home he shared with his girlfriend. Warpula said Dunston's girlfriend came to the police station to press charges at the urging of friends.
The alleged assault had occurred some nine days earlier, Warpula said. She said the girlfriend was petrified of Dunston but nevertheless finally decided to come forward. Police said she allegedly had two black eyes as well as having been choked by Dunston.
In other police news, Millbury officers charged a man with breaking and entering (a felony), driving while suspended and shoplifting. See the attached police log.
Attached: (policelog_-_millbury.pdf)
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