Mass. State Trooper Indicted in NH on Assault Charges

NASHUA, NH — A Massachusetts State Trooper has been indicted in a New Hampshire superior court on two assault charges after allegedly beating a fleeing suspect in Nashua in early May, according to court documents. Joseph Flynn, 32, of North Tewksbury, MA, was indicted in Hillsborough County Superior Court-South on Sept. 22, 2016, on two counts of simple assault (by an on-duty law enforcement officer).

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Hillsborough County Superior Court-South. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

According to the indictment, which was released to news organizations on Sept. 27, Flynn allegedly struck the victim – Richard Simone, 50, of Worcester – in the body above the waist and on the back.

On May 11, Simone, who had numerous active warrants, reportedly failed to stop for officers in Holden, MA, according to officials. Troopers in the Bay State pursued Simone north and into New Hampshire where local police and New Hampshire State Police troopers joined in the pursuit.

During the chase, Simone struck a utility pole but continued driving. He was eventually stopped in Nashua where he exited his pickup truck and dropped to the ground to surrender. That's when state troopers allegedly began assaulting him, a beating that was caught on camera by a WHDH 7-News helicopter at the scene.

The assault of the suspect was condemned by many, including NH Gov. Maggie Hassan and Col. Robert Quinn, the director of the New Hampshire Department of Public Safety. Flynn was suspended and the New Hampshire State Trooper involved in the beating incident – Andrew Monaco – was fired.

After investigating an excessive force investigation by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, both Flynn and Monaco were arrested and charged. Monaco later pled guilty to the charges.

Credit: Joseph Flynn, left, and a screenshot from the WHDH-TV news helicopter of the alleged beating of Richard Simone in Nashua in May 2016.