TEWKSBURY — Chief Ryan Columbus reports that the Tewksbury Police Department charged a man on assault and battery charges following an altercation at Tewksbury State Hospital.

On Tuesday, April 7, at approximately 7:58 a.m., police responded to Tewksbury State Hospital for reports of an aggressive patient.

Upon arrival, officers observed a 59-year-old man that had been secured in a chair by hospital staff.

A preliminary investigation determined that the patient was acting erratically, and had stood in a fighting stance when staff approached. The patient then struck a staff member in the face. It took multiple staff members to restrain the patient and staff  administered medicine prior to officers arrival.

The patient, is known to police. Tewksbury Police had previously responded to the hospital for a different incident involving the 59-year-old man, where he reportedly threatened staff.

The patient will be issued a summons to appear in Lowell District Court on a charge of Assault and Battery on a Public Employee.

The incident, which remains under investigation by Tewksbury Police, comes on the heels of a controversial decision by the state that removes less than lethal tools from public safety officers at the State Hospital facility.

The move has drawn fire from the public, as well as Chief Columbus, who issued a statement on the matter just yesterday.