NORWOOD – A physical altercation at a local assisted living facility earlier this month resulted in a police response. The dispute between an employee and a contractor allegedly escalated into a brief fight, according to a report from the Norwood Police Department.
Officers were dispatched around noon on Tuesday, March 10, to Sunrise Senior Living on Saunders Road after receiving a call about a confrontation between a staff member and a contractor. Upon arrival, officers found the two individuals were already separated.
According to police, the incident occurred while the contractor was delivering and setting up a hospice bed for a resident. A maintenance worker employed by the facility had been assisting with the setup when a disagreement arose, reportedly over concerns about damaging a wall during the installation.
Accounts of the altercation differed between the two men.
The employee told police that after asking the contractor to avoid scraping the wall, the contractor became confrontational, moving within inches of his face. The employee said he pushed the contractor away to create space, at which point the contractor allegedly struck him once in the face, causing him to fall.
The contractor, however, told a different story. He said the employee appeared frustrated after being called away from a lunch break and approached him aggressively, grabbing him by the neck. The contractor stated he then punched the employee once in self-defense, also causing him to fall and ending the confrontation.
Norwood Fire Department personnel responded to evaluate the employee, who sustained minor facial injuries, including a small scratch near his nose and eye. He declined medical transport. Police noted no visible injuries on the contractor.
Three additional employees were in the vicinity at the time but told officers they did not witness the incident directly, only hearing the confrontation. As a result, investigators said they were unable to determine a primary aggressor.
With conflicting accounts, no independent witnesses, and neither party interested in pursuing charges, Norwood Police concluded the incident appeared to be a mutual altercation. No criminal charges have been filed at this time.
Both individuals were advised they could seek charges independently through Dedham District Court should they choose to do so in the future.-RD
