Late-Night Disturbance Outside Village Inn in Four Arrests-August 22, 1977

The chaos prompted a heavy law enforcement response, deploying eight police officers—including the entire midnight shift and two officers from the 4:00 p.m. to midnight shift—who spent 70 minutes at the scene working to quell brawls and ultimately disperse the unruly crowd.

According to police reports, the confrontation began when an officer working a detail instructed the establishment’s owner to close the bar and lounge and halt further admissions. Patrolman Richard Joseph estimated that between 250 and 300 patrons remained inside at the time, all of whom were ordered to leave. Outside the restaurant, tensions boiled over as beer bottles were smashed “all over the place,” and physical fights broke out among the lingering crowd.

Four individuals were taken into custody and charged with being disorderly persons and refusing to move upon police orders: William J. O’Connell, 21, of 75 Prospect St.; Richard J. McGowan Jr., 22, of 13 Chapel St.; Patrick A. Laverty, 19, of 92 Nichols St.; and David J. Buccilli, 19, of Norton. In addition to the disorderly conduct charges, O’Connell faced two separate counts of assault and battery on a police officer. All four suspects were scheduled for arraignment earlier today in Dedham District Court.

In related regional police blotter news from surrounding communities, Westwood police arrested 18-year-old Joseph C. Martinsen of 20 Hickory Road, Norwood, on a charge of receiving stolen property, with his arraignment also slated in Dedham District Court. Separately, in Weymouth, a 19-year-old Hyannis man operating a motorcycle suffered injuries early in the morning when his vehicle was struck by a hit-and-run motorist.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger