Boston Man Eduardo Cruceta Charged With Assault and Battery
- Eduardo Cruceta, 27, of Boston, faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a public employee following an incident at Tewksbury...
- Tewksbury police were dispatched to the state-run facility shortly after 10 a.m.
- According to Police Chief Ryan Columbus, a preliminary investigation revealed that Cruceta was visiting a family member who was a patient at the hospital.
Eduardo Cruceta, 27, of Boston, faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a public employee following an incident at Tewksbury State Hospital on April 13, 2026.
Tewksbury police were dispatched to the state-run facility shortly after 10 a.m. On April 13, 2026, after receiving reports of an unwanted man on the property. Upon arrival, officers located Cruceta with campus security.
According to Police Chief Ryan Columbus, a preliminary investigation revealed that Cruceta was visiting a family member who was a patient at the hospital. During the visit, the patient appeared to suffer a medical episode. Prosecutors stated that the patient’s brother, Cruceta, began acting erratically and threatened to kill hospital employees.
Court documents and reports indicate that nurses and staff repeatedly instructed Cruceta to move away from his brother so that medical personnel could provide assistance. Prosecutors allege that Cruceta entered a nurse’s face, punched a window multiple times and screamed, Don’t get in my face. Don’t touch me. That’s my brother. I’ll kill you.
Following several unsuccessful attempts by staff to get Cruceta to leave the room, he allegedly pushed a large chair into a pregnant hospital employee. Police arrested Cruceta without further incident.
Court Proceedings and Defense
Cruceta was arraigned in Lowell District Court on April 14, 2026. The judge ordered his release on personal recognizance under specific conditions, which include remaining away from the victim and staying away from Tewksbury State Hospital.
A defense attorney for Cruceta stated that the defendant has no prior criminal record. The attorney characterized the incident as an accident, asserting that Cruceta panicked while his brother was having a seizure and was attempting to move chairs out of the way to assist. The attorney described the contact with the pregnant staff member as accidental, incidental contact
and stated that Cruceta is incredibly remorseful.
Cruceta is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on May 20, 2026.
Hospital Security Controversy
The assault occurred shortly after the state implemented changes to security protocols at Tewksbury State Hospital. These new regulations ban security guards from utilizing handcuffs, batons, and pepper spray. The state has stated that these tools conflict with the facility’s therapeutic mission of care.
These policy changes have met with opposition from community leaders. Critics argue that the removal of these tools has already led to multiple incidents since the policy went into effect ten days prior to the current case. Community members have expressed frustration with the state’s decision to take a wait-and-see approach rather than reversing the protocol changes.
Tewksbury State Hospital serves a large population of mental health patients. The facility has a history of high police activity; a 2023 WBZ-TV I-Team investigation found that the Tewksbury Police Department responded to approximately 1,000 calls per year at the hospital.
Following that 2023 report, the hospital had implemented major security improvements, including training public safety officers in the use of pepper spray and non-lethal restraints, before the recent state-mandated restrictions were introduced.