Greenfield woman calls 911 at Leominster Wendy’s to report domestic assault, then attacks officers to prevent boyfriend’s arrest and gets charged with four counts of assault

LEOMINSTER — On Thursday, July 4, 2024, at around 9:36 p.m., Officers Jonathan Ramos, Robert Connors, and Brandon Carlson of the Leominster Police Department, were dispatched to the parking lot of the Wendy’s on 528 North Main Street following a report of suspicious activity.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narratives of Officers Ramos, Connors, and Carlson, and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

Dispatch informed the responding officers that the caller reported her boyfriend was “not doing well” and had struck her earlier in the day. The officers were also advised that the caller was in a Crown Victoria behind the restaurant.

When he arrived on scene, Officer Ramos said he saw the reporting party, later identified as Meghan Wheeler, with her boyfriend 40-year-old Ryan Adams near the driver’s door of the Crown Vic in the area of the parking lot that’s behind Wendy’s. Officer Connors and Carlson arrived on scene shortly thereafter.

According to police, Meghan E. Wheeler, 37, is a resident of 40 School Street, Apt. 6, in Greenfield.

“Due to the information I was provided by dispatch, I immediately separated the parties,” Officer Ramos said. “I spoke to Ms. Wheeler, who informed me of her concerns regarding Mr. Adams. While speaking with Ms. Wheeler, she informed me of a physical altercation between herself and Mr. Adams. Ms. Wheeler informed me that on Route 2 Eastbound, right before Westminster, she was hit by Mr. Adams. The argument stemmed from an issue with drug money.”

Meanwhile, Officers Carlson and Connors spoke with Adams, who told them that he was planning to go with Wheeler to Hampton Beach to camp that day.

“Ryan stated that Meghan drank a ‘sleeve of nips’ and had called 911,” Officer Connors said.

After speaking with Wheeler, Officer Ramos requested the Massachusetts State Police because he did not have jurisdiction over the domestic assault and battery (because it allegedly took place on the highway).

Officer Ramos said he also requested the Leominster Fire Department for a medical evaluation for Wheeler because she was intoxicated and had been struck by Adams.

While waiting for the Leominster Fire Department’s ambulance, Officer Ramos spoke briefly with Adams, who confirmed that he and Wheeler had been dating for three years.

“When the ambulance arrived, Officer Ramos requested that I go speak with Meghan while he spoke with Ryan,” Officer Connors said.

Officer Connors went over to the Crown Vic and spoke with Wheeler who was already speaking to the paramedics on scene.

“It should be noted that I could smell a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the car where Meghan was seated,” Officer Connors said. “I also observed a nip of Smirnoff vodka at her feet. At this time, the paramedics asked Meghan if she wanted to go to the hospital, to which she declined.”

After the paramedics left, Officer Connors asked Wheeler what happened. At first she said she didn’t want to talk about it, but when Officer Connors asked her if she had been hit by Adams earlier in the night, she stated that he struck her twice over a money dispute.

“I asked Meghan if Ryan hit her with an open or closed fist,” Officer Connors said. “Meghan stated that she believed that Ryan had hit her with a closed fist on the left bicep and left thigh. I asked Meghan if she was afraid of Ryan. Meghan stated that she had been afraid of Ryan earlier, but was not anymore.”

At this time, two State Police troopers arrived on the scene and spoke with Wheeler. The troopers then inquired with Officer Ramos and Officer Connors about what Wheeler had shared regarding the alleged altercation on the highway with Ryan. Officer Connors reported that Meghan had informed him Ryan had struck her twice with a closed fist. The troopers subsequently arrested Ryan for domestic assault and battery.

When Ryan was taken into custody, Officer Connors said Wheeler “became agitated and began yelling at all officers present that she did not want Ryan to go to jail.”

“Officer Ramos and I attempted to de-escalate Meghan by explaining that we were there to help her,” Officer Connors said. “Meghan became more agitated and was shouting and crying. Meghan then screamed at officers ‘I’m going to assault all of you.’”

According to Officer Connors, Wheeler ran at Officer Ramos with her hands outstretched. Officer Connors and Officer Ramos simultaneously ordered Wheeler to “take a seat.”

“Meghan continued to scream at myself and Officer Ramos before attempting to run at Officer Ramos again,” Officer Connors said. “I grabbed onto Meghan’s arm again and pinned her against the car with help from one of the troopers until she calmed down again.”

Officer Connors said that while she was pinned to the car, Officer Ramos and he told Wheeler to sit down and explained to her that she cannot run at the police like that.

“Meghan continued to cry and shout,” Officer Connors said. “Meghan then attempted to run at me and grabbed onto my forearms. When Meghan grabbed onto me, she then lost her balance and fell to the ground. Due to the fact that Meghan was holding onto my forearms, I went down to the ground with her. When Meghan was on the ground, she began kicking and also kneed me in the left side of my torso. I ordered Meghan to stop kicking, and she calmed down.”

Officer Connors said Wheeler then got up and sat in her car.

“At this point, multiple people from the neighboring apartment complex had come out and were watching the incident,” Officer Connors said. “Multiple people from the Wendy’s drive thru were also watching the incident.”

Officer Ramos then approached Wheeler in the Crown Vic and asked her if she wanted to go to the hospital again.

“Officer Ramos was trying to get Meghan to go to the hospital to avoid prosecution and arrest for her actions,” Officer Connors explained. “Meghan agreed she would go to the hospital. Officer Ramos then called for another ambulance to transport Meghan.”

Officer Connors reported that when the ambulance dispatched by the Leominster Fire Department arrived on the scene, Wheeler “changed her mind multiple times about going to the hospital before finally agreeing to go.”

According to Officer Carlson, when the ambulance arrived, Meghan walked to it with the assistance of Leominster Fire and got inside. The ambulance began to drive around Wendy’s and went out of the officers’ view. Shortly thereafter, Meghan reappeared from behind Wendy’s, followed by the Leominster Fire crew.

“It was stated that Meghan had gotten out of the ambulance before they had fully left the parking lot,” Officer Carlson said. Adding, “Meghan was given multiple chances to be transported to the hospital. It was then determined that Meghan would be placed under arrest for physically assaulting Officer Ramos and Officer Connors.”

According to Officer Connors, Wheeler was charged with the following for the following reasons:

1. Assault & Battery on a Police Officer (two counts): “Meghan rushed at me after she stepped out of the vehicle and grabbed both of my forearms,” Officer Connors said. “Meghan then fell. When on the ground, Meghan then kneed me in the left side.”
2. Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon: “While Meghan was on the ground, she kicked, making contact with my lower half while wearing a hard rubber toe shoe,” Officer Connors said.
3. Disorderly Conduct: “Meghan was shouting and causing a disturbance in the Wendy’s parking lot,” Officer Connors said. “Wendy’s was open for business to the public, and multiple people from the neighboring apartment complex came out to observe. Multiple people in the drive thru were also observing.”
4. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon: “Meghan attempted to kick Officer Carlson while wearing a hard rubber toe shoe while he was placing her under arrest,” Officer Connors said.
5. Assault: “Meghan rushed at Officer Ramos twice with her hands outstretched after stating ‘I’m going to assault you all.’ This caused Officer Ramos to retreat swiftly,” Officer Connors explained.

Wheeler was arraigned in Leominster District Court on July 5, 2024. She attended a pretrial hearing on August 5, 2024, which was continued to September 9, 2024.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.

To learn more about News Link Live’s unique business model, please read the following:

An online business model that could replace local newspapers

The Medium is the Message by Marshall McCLuhan

The Ego and the ID by Sigmund Freud

Support News Link Live’s independent, local journalism, by making a donation today!

---

Got a tip, story idea, or question? Reach out to us!