Beverly Man Accused Of Naked Attack Had Manic Episode: Lawyer

BEVERLY, MA — A lawyer for a Beverly man said his client was showing signs of stress related to the coronavirus pandemic before he jumped on the hood of a woman's car while naked then assaulted her last week.

Gregory Lyons, 32, of Beverly, was ordered held without bail, but a judge said she would consider releasing him if his attorney, Peter Lloyd, can get him admitted into a secure mental health facility. Lyons was charged with unarmed robbery, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, assault and battery, witness intimidation, indecent exposure, disturbing the peace, and three counts of wanton destruction of property under $1,200.

During a dangerousness hearing Friday, Lloyd said Lyons had shown signs of stress at his job with Siemens in the days leading up to the attack. According to the Salem News, which first reported this story, he had been drinking heavily to try to fall asleep at night and told one co-worker "This is the end of the world, and I'm going to ride the big turbine."

Police say Lyons jumped on the hood of a woman's car then assaulted her. A bystander drew a gun on him in an attempt to stop the attack, police said. Lyons fled on foot before throwing himself into the windshield of one of the responding police cruisers, police said. Officers used a stun gun to arrest him.