Courts Say Tewksbury Detectives Justified in Use of Deadly Force On Medford Man

By LIZ TAURASI (Patch Staff)

Two Tewksbury detectives were justified in the use of deadly force in the shooting of Douglas Sparks back in February, District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Friday.

The announcement follows an investigation by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and State Police into the circumstances of the shooting of stabbing suspect Sparks, 30, of Medford on Feb. 17.

No criminal charges will be filed.

The focus of this investigation was to determine whether the actions of either Tewksbury police detective in the shooting of Douglas Sparks were criminal or whether, in the totality of the circumstances, the officers were justified in the use of deadly force, according to Martin.

“This investigation concludes that, in the totality of the circumstances, the two detectives were justified in the use of deadly force and that there was no criminal conduct involved in the shooting of Douglas Sparks,” Martin said in a statement.

At approximately 9 a.m. on Feb. 17, Tewksbury Police Department received 911 calls about the stabbing of two individuals at the Salter School located at 515 Woburn St. Responding officers saw the stabbing suspect in the area of 55 Forest Ave. When officers approached the suspect, they saw the suspect holding a gun. The suspect refused to comply with the officers’ orders to drop the gun and subsequently shots were fired by the officers striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to Saints Memorial Hospital in Lowell where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect’s gun was later determined to be a .177/4.5 mm caliber Colt model Defender by UMAREX BB gun, with a CO2 cartridge, with 12.177 copper colored BBs. This BB gun had no orange tip. The BB gun was charged and was loaded with 12 BB pellets when recovered.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting included interviews of all the responding police officers and civilian witnesses; ballistics examination; examination of evidence found at the scene; review of radio transmissions, police reports and review of the medical examiner’s findings.