Woonsocket High Coach Arrested: Allegedly Gave Student Bloody Nose

WOONSOCKET, RI—A student claimed Patrick Cahill, a suspended Woonsocket police officer, punched him in the face at school after an argument in the weight room at Woonsocket High. The School Resource Officer investigated. Cahill, 28, of Woonsocket, was charged March 27 with simple assault and battery and with disorderly conduct.

According to the arrest report, the school resource officer heard a commotion in a rear hallway near the school cafeteria around 2:45 p.m. Shortly after, a student came up to him. The student was crying and had a bloody nose. Cahill, who has been helping the football coaches with weight training, was walking behind. The student said Cahill was the one who hit him.

The resource officer contacted school officials to help the injured student. Meanwhile, Cahill told the resource officer that the student was not on the team and was causing a distraction. He asked the youngster to leave.

The youngster shot back that he wasn't causing a distraction. Cahill said the student was being argumentative and "got in" his face, so he "guided" the youngster toward the exit where the situation escalated. Ultimately, Cahill took the youngster to the ground and held him in a headlock. But then he released him because other students were in the area.

The student went to Landmark Hospital to be treated. He claimed Cahill punched him.