Gardner District Court
(Courtesy Photo/Fox25 News)
GARDNER — The 21-year-old Spencer man who stole an ambulance and attacked staff at Heywood Hospital last Wednesday had been admitted to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation following a mental breakdown.
After allegedly becoming delusional, Harrison Barjolo Jr. was transported to Heywood Hospital by an assistant coach of his football team. Barjolo is a student at Franklin Pierce College and a defensive back on the college’s football team.
According to Fox25, while speaking with a nurse about his treatment plan, Barjolo busted out of the exam room, gaining entry into the emergency department by attacking staff and a civilian. He then hijacked an ambulance and lead police on a chase from Gardner into Hubbardston before driving back to the hospital, where he struck a pole in front of the building.
For more: Spencer man attacks staff, steals ambulance from Gardner hospital
Barjolo’s father, Harrison Sr., told Fox25 that his son’s mental state began to depreciate when he returned to Franklin Pierce College after Thanksgiving. Harrison added that his son had never experienced mental health problems before.
“My son left the Monday after Thanksgiving. He sent a text message that he loved me and everything was fine with him,” Barjolo’s father said. “Tuesday, he called me when I was at work and said, ‘Daddy, do you remember how we’ve been talking about the second coming of Christ?’ And I said yes.”
Barjolo then told his father that he was the second coming of Christ.
“I was shocked and said, ‘What did you mean by that?’” his father said.
Barjolo’s father said the odd communication continued with his son for a few days, after which, he was about to head to the college to get his son, but the assistant coach beat him to it.
On the day of his son’s arraignment in Gardner District Court, Harrison Sr. waited in the lobby for hours reading the Bible until his son appeared before a judge at around 4:30 p.m.
“I am very heartbroken,” said Harrison Sr. told Fox25 outside the courthouse. Later adding, “It was very disturbing when I saw the news last night that he stole the ambulance. They tried to demonize my son. He’s a very good boy. He’s just having a mental breakdown. In his sound mind, he wouldn’t do that.”
Harrison Sr. also thanked Gardner police for getting the situation under control without hurting his son in the process.
Following his arraignment, where a court psychologist spoke with the judge, the judge sent Barjolo to Bridgewater State Hospital for up to 20 days.
The judge upheld the Commonwealth’s bail of $25,000, adding that he may reconsider the amount depending on the outcome of Barjolo’s mental health treatments/evaluations at Bridgewater.
