By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Police Department has filed criminal applications for Selectboard chairperson Daniel Freitas, 51, and his 18-year-old daughter, to appear in court after they were allegedly involved in an altercation in a parking lot on Wednesday, 7/1/20.
A press release by the Fairhaven PD did not name Mr. Freitas or his daughter but the Neighb News and at least two other news outlets have confirmed that Mr. Freitas is the 51-year-old Fairhaven man in the press release.
The criminal complaint seeks to charge Mr. Freitas with two counts of Assault and Battery. The charge against his daughter is one count of Malicious Destruction of Property.
At approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 7/1, Fairhaven Police responded to the parking lot between McDonald’s and Sullivan’s Tire for a report of an altercation.
According to the press release, officers spoke to Mr. Freitas and his daughter, who were still at the scene.
“Through the subsequent investigation, it was determined that the Fairhaven woman and another woman and her boyfriend got into a verbal argument in the parking lot a short time earlier,” reads the press release. “There is a history of animosity between the two women.”
According to the press release, the 18-year-old left the scene, but then returned with her father, “and confronted the other woman and her boyfriend who had not left the parking lot.”
A physical fight between Mr. Freitas and the boyfriend allegedly ensued.
“The girlfriend tried to break up the fight and the Fairhaven man pushed the woman out of the way,” reads the press release.
During the altercation, Mr. Freitas’s daughter allegedly kicked the victim’s vehicle, causing minor damage.
Both men sustained minor injuries and no one was hospitalized.
Fairhaven Police continued to investigate the incident over the next week, including conducting multiple interviews and reviewing video surveillance footage. Following the closure of their investigation, the criminal applications were filed with the court on Tuesday 7/7.
According to the press release, the department will not release the names of suspects until the criminal applications have been formally filed by the New Bedford District Court Criminal Clerk’s Office. The clerk’s office will not release the records until an arraignment date has been set. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the court building being closed for weeks, the court is backlogged on scheduling arraignments.
An employee in the clerk’s office said that the building opened this week and the court is currently working through the backlog.
When contacted by phone and email for comment for this story, Mr. Freitas responded by email, “No comment.”
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