State Police Sergeant arrested, charged with domestic assault - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Massachusetts State Police are investigating one of their own after Plymouth Police arrested Sergeant William Nasuti last month, charging him with domestic assault and battery as well as intimidating a witness.

According to the report from Plymouth Police, Nasuti's wife told responding officers "...she became aware recently that his four year affair with another woman had produced a child..." and "...had decided to divorce Mr. Nasuti, but was afraid of him."

Nasuti's wife told police she visited a divorce attorney on the day of the incident and then withdrew $4,000 from their joint checking account, money the attorney required as a deposit.

According to the police report, Sergeant Nasuti "...stormed into the house in full uniform, still wearing his gun belt... yelling at her about the money she withdrew."

The wife told police she was afraid and grabbed her purse and car keys to flee the home."

Nasuti's wife told police her husband then "...shoved her into the living room and went upstairs."

That's when she called 911.

Nasuti's wife declined to take out a restraining order against her husband, stating several times "...she was concerned about her husband's career, but had enough of the abuse and ‘other women’."

Plymouth Police later interviewed Sergeant Nasuti who stated the $4,000 was "...money from his tax return and that he had written checks on it already."

He admitted he "...confronted her about the money..." and that both "...he and his wife reached for her purse at the same time and a 'tug of war' ensued."

Sergeant Nasuti admitted taking his wife's belongings, saying "...he was going to 'hold it hostage' until she returned his money."

He denied pushing or shoving his wife.

Police also charged Nasuti with intimidating a witness because he took his wife's cell phones from her.

After his arrest, State Police placed Nasuti on restricted duty, taking away his gun and refusing to let him have any contact with the public.

But last week, Sergeant Nasuti's wife declined to testify against her husband and the judge dismissed the charges.

State Police have returned Sergeant Nasuti to full duty, but an internal investigation is continuing.

This isn't the first time Nasuti is the subject of an internal investigation.

Last summer another one started after a viewer sent Fox Undercover photos of Nasuti posing with women who are not 21 during a traffic stop.

Two of the pictures show a large bottle of alcohol on the cruiser's trunk.

State Police disciplined Sergeant Nasuti in February for the incident for violating rules and regulations, although State Police won't say how he was disciplined.

Presumably it was a slap on the wrist since he was on full duty two weeks later when the incident with his wife unfolded.

Mary Lauby is executive director of Jane Doe, Inc, The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

She says a 2004 US Supreme Court decision gave people charged with domestic violence the right to confront their accusers in court.

“No testimony from the victim and the case can't go forward?” asked investigative reporter Mike Beaudet.

Lauby responded, “That's right. That is by and large true.”

Lauby says it's always harder to successfully prosecute charges against police officers, in part because a conviction often means the end of their law enforcement career.

“Do you think this trooper should be back to full duty?” asked Beaudet.

“Well do I think so? No,” replied Lauby. “I do know though that in similar cases in other jurisdictions, the power of the union has protected such officers.”

The State Police union is also involved in this case.

The day after the charges against Nasuti were dropped, a public relations firm hired by the union released a statement from the trooper's wife, which says, “The charges that were filed against my husband were the result of a misunderstanding with the local police department. At no point did my husband ever physically harm me or threaten me. The charges were baseless, and were justifiably dropped."

The firm also sent over a statement from Sergeant Nasuti which says the results of the court hearing where the charges were dropped speak for themselves.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, click here for information about where to turn for help:

http://www.janedoe.org/safety.htm