Lakeville man arrested, accused of stabbing 5 Taunton police officers after chase

Five police officers were reportedly stabbed by a man who fled a traffic stop, eventually crashing into a house and confronting the officers before he was arrested, authorities said.

Taunton police said the officers, including the town's police chief, were injured trying to take Douglas Hagerty, 35, of Lakeville, into custody Tuesday night. One officer suffered slash wounds to the face, neck and back and was taken to a hospital in Boston.

The other four, including an officer who was stabbed in the arm, were treated at a local hospital. Among them was Police Chief Edward Walsh, who responded to the scene because he lived nearby. He was stabbed in the stomach and was treated and released.

Police did not immediately provide an update on the condition of the officer sent to a Boston hospital.

According to police, Taunton officers tried to pull over Hagerty, whom they accused of driving erratically. Hagerty initially stopped before speeding off and nearly striking an officer. During the chase, they said, Hagerty drove directly at a cruiser, hit another before he crashed into the home of a relative. Police pursued Hagerty into the house, where he pulled out a knife and allegedly stabbed the officers.

Hagerty was arrested and taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries to his hand. He was arraigned Wednesday in Taunton District Court and is being held without bail. A dangerousness hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 17. Hagerty faces multiple charges, including assault and battery with intent to murder and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Hagerty doesn't have a listed phone number, and his attorney Daniel Rich did not respond to a request for comment.