Courtesy Photo/Ashburnham Police Department: William Schofield
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ASHBURNHAM — On Monday, June 13, at 7:38 p.m. Sergeant Wade Wright and Officer Brian Rosengren of the Ashburnham Police Department responded to Iriquois Drive for a report of a domestic disturbance.
According to Officer Rosengren’s Narrative for the incident, dispatch informed the officers that when the 911 caller was on the phone with her friend, a man could be heard in the background yelling that he was going to kill her. The caller then told dispatch that she and her friend went to a neighbor’s house.
When the officers arrived at the residence, they found William Schofield, a 35-year-old fire fighter for the City of Leominster, standing on the front steps. Schofield told the officers that he had an argument with his wife, whom he married last July.
Both Schofield and his wife have two children from prior relationships. Schofield’s children live with their biological mother and Schofield’s wife’s biological children live with her and Schofield.
“[Schofield] stated that he and his wife got into an argument and that he just called his brother to come and get him. That he was going to have his brother drive his truck and attached camper trailer to leave for some time. He stated that he was going to give his wife and her children some time alone because of the argument,” wrote Sgt. Wright in his Narrative.
Sgt. Wright added that Schofield also said he was a veteran who suffers from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury (TBI); and while he is prescribed medication by the VA hospital, he hasn’t been taking it as prescribed.
“Speaking with William I learned that he is a veteran. That he suffers from TBI and PTSD. He stated that he does take medication that has been prescribed by the VA hospital. He said that he was last at the VA approximately 3 weeks ago,” wrote Sgt. Wright in his Narrative. “That he has not taken his medication as prescribed. He explained that he takes one pill that helps with his memory. That he forgot to take that pill which made him miss taking his other pills. He did also admit that he has not done all that was asked of him by the VA hospital. He thought that maybe being stubborn was to blame for not doing all that he could.”
Officer Rosengren and Sgt. Wright then went to the neighboring residence where Schofield’s wife and her friend were, to get their side of the story.
“I asked [the wife] what happened, and she said that William pushed her, threw a burger at her and threw a water bottle at her,” wrote Officer Rosengren in his Narrative. “I asked her if she needed medical attention and she declined.”
Officer Rosengren then asked Schofield’s wife and friend to provide a written statement detailing the incident.
“In [the wife’s] affidavit she stated that William got upset because one of the kids entered the bedroom when he was naked,” wrote Officer Rosengren in his Narrative.
“She further said that William pushed her, and he told her that he didn’t care about her stupid kids and if she didn’t leave then he would slit her throat in front of them. He then went to the table and grabbed the scissors and made a motion to stab her. He told her that if she didn’t leave then next time he would.”
In her affidavit, Schofield’s wife said that after he grabbed the scissors, she got frightened and called her neighbor. Then she told one of her children to go to the neighbor’s house for help; at this time, while screaming, Schofield threw a water bottle at her.
“William was yelling at her and she screamed for [her child] to go to the neighbor’s house to get help,” wrote Officer Rosengren in his Narrative. “William got angrier and threw the water bottle at her and then dumped the water on her.”
Officer Rosengren asked Schofield’s wife if she wanted a restraining order and she said “yes.”
An emergency restraining order was granted by Judge Mary Beth Keating.
The officers then returned to Schofield’s residence where they placed him under arrest, filed a 51A with the Department of Children and Families, and seized his Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm handgun as well as his license to carry.
Schofield was transported to the Ashburnham Police Department where he was booked and placed into Cell #1 for a six hour cool off period, which Officer Rosengren said is required by law.
According to Officer Rosengren’s Narrative, Schofield was charged with Assault & Battery on a Household/Family Member, (for pushing his wife), Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, for making the stabbing motion toward his wife with scissors, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, for throwing a water bottle at his wife.
His bail was set at $1,540.
Schofield was arraigned in Winchendon District Court on June 14.
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