Troopers: Man Charged with Sexual Assault on the Esplanade

Massachusetts State Police were patrolling the Esplanade early Sunday morning and  interrupted an apparent sexual assault.

Officers observed this incident by the Longfellow Bridge at about 1 a.m.. Two troopers arrested Joseph Barthel, 49, and charged him with indecent assault and battery. Barthel will be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court tomorrow.

In a press release form the District Attorney’s office, this incident does not appear to be linked to the well-publicized series of unsolved sexual assaults on the Esplanade, which involve a suspect who does not match this defendant's description. Nonetheless, investigators will compare the facts and circumstances to unsolved attacks to determine if there are any links.