Man Charged With Assault and Battery on a Police Officer on Lansdowne Street

The following information was supplied by the Boston Police Department. Any charges mentioned do not indicate a conviction.

Boston Police officers were conducting a paid detail at the House of Blues doing crowd control and street security when a man who had been ejected from the club drew attention to himself. The male appeared to be highly intoxicated and aggressive towards the House of Blues staff.

At one point, the suspect got back in the line to get into the club. A staff member who was working parking detail asked him to move so that cars could enter the near by parking garage. The suspect reportedly shouted some obscenities to the staff member and the police officer headed that way.

The officer advised the suspect to take off, but the suspect continued to be disruptive and attempted to get back in line to get back into the club. The officer escorted the suspect out of line and advised him to leave again. At this point, the suspect turned up Lansdowne Street and headed for the front entrance of the club. The suspect then ducked under the roped off portion of the entrance.

At this point, two officers told the suspect to leave. The suspect then reportedly flipped the officers the middle finger and started yelling obscenities. The suspect turned to walk away, but then charged the officers. As the officers moved the suspect across the street, he reportedly threatened to fight them.

Officers placed the man in handcuffs for protective reasons, but were able to calm him down. The officers told the suspect that if he could leave the premises, he would not be arrested. The suspect agreed and the officers removed the handcuffs.

It appeared that this matter was settled as the suspect started to walk away down Lansdowne Street.

But moments later, the officers observed the suspect in front of the House of Blues ticket window, shouting obscenities at the worker. The officers made one final attempt to be rid of the suspect by hailing a cab for him to leave in. The suspect entered the cab, but exited the vehicle before it turned off of Lansdowne Street. The suspect returned to the ticket window. Officers arrested John Higgins of 44 Thomas Park, South Boston and charged him with assault and battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct.