Waltham Police Chief Held on Assault Charges; In Hospital [UPDATED]

UPDATED, 2:37 p.m. with information from arraignment hearing: Waltham Police Thomas LaCroix was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on charges that he allegedly struck his wife, according to a pool reporter.

LaCroix was arraigned at his hospital bed in the intensive care unit at Emerson Hospital at around 1 p.m.

LaCroix is scheduled for a 2 p.m. dangerousness hearing on Tuesday, June 19, according to Boston Herald reporter Matt Stout, the only reporter allowed in the room during the hearing. Stout then shared the information with other media outlets. 

The arrest stems from two seperare incidents that occured on Tuesday, June 12, according to Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Kontz, the prosecutor in the case who briefed the media after the hearing. The first incident began when LaCroix allegedly got into a dispute with his wife during which she suffered injuries, according to Kontz. The wife then went to a friends house and the pair later returned to LaCroix's home where another dispute erupted, according to Kontz. The incident was alter reported to police and LaCroix was later arrested. 

According to the Boston Herald, LaCroix used a bike rack and countertop as dangerous weapons. 

Reporters were originally told that a television camera would be allowed into the hearing, but were later told that the judge deferred to the hospital on whether the camera would be allowed. The hospital decided to bar the camera.

UPDATED, 11:30 a.m.: Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix remains at Emerson Hospital in Concord where he is being evaluated, according to his attorney, Peter Bella.

LaCroix is scheduled to be arraigned in his hospital room later today, according to the judge. 

Bella spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at Concord District Court this morning. 

"He is doing well right now," Bella said, adding LaCroix is undergoing stress tests after experiencing chest and stomach issues. "He was under some stress. He is doing fine now." 

Bella said the chief is not suicidal, but has been told LaCroix did previously express suicidal thoughts.

Officially, the LaCroix faces two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault and battery, one count of assault and one count of threatening a witness, according to DA spokeswoman Stephanie Guyotte. 

LaCroix has been placed on leave with pay, according to Mayor Jeanette McCarthy. His police gear and department-issued firearm have been taken from him, she said. 

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Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix was arrested at his Maynard home Thursday night on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to the Boston Herald.

LaCroix is scheduled to be arraigned in Concord District Court Friday morning. He is also facing charges of assault and battery and witness intimidation.

Waltham Mayor Jeanette McCarthy said in an email to Waltham Patch that she has appointed Deputy Chief Keith MacPherson as the Acting Chief. Mayor McCarthy referred all inquiries on the matter to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. The office could not immediately be reached for comment.