Farrell Held in Jail Despite Plea To Go With Family

For the remainder of the weekend or until a treatment facility for Kevin Farrell becomes available, the  Chief will be staying at Middleton Jail. 

Farrell, 48, was  following a  in Groveland. 

At today's dangerousness hearing at Haverhill District Court, Farrell's attorney Ben Richard asked Judge Stephen Abany to allow Farrell to stay with his sister in Danvers over the weekend, on condition that he would stay away from his ex-wife and his Groveland apartment, as well as wear a GPS ankle bracelet. 

"I don't think Middleton is doing anything good for him," Richard said. 

Richard said at this time the primary interest of Farrell's family, who were in attendance at the hearing, is to have him be placed in a treatment facility for his alleged emotional problems. 

After the weekend, Richard said they are hoping a space will become available for Farrell to attend the Brattleboro Retreat in Vermont, a program that assists first responders with PTSD and other stress/emotional problems. 

Judge Abany asked Richard about a similar facility in Westminster, The Center on Windy Hill. Richard said for reasons that could not be disclosed to him due to privacy issues, because of an unspecified conflict, Farrell would not be able to attend that facility at this time. 

"He's a 48-year-old gentleman with no criminal record," Richard said when asking Abany to allow Farrell to stay with his sister. Richard said the , "not to minimize the situation," are "not the most dangerous case we will see in court today."

Farrell's family, including his wife and daughter, were present at the hearing. 

Despite Richard's plea, Judge Abany ruled that Farrell will continue to stay at Middleton Jail, and the hearing will continue on Monday morning.