WARE — On Monday, April 21, 2025, at approximately 4:51 p.m., Officer Derek Ames of the Ware Police Department was on patrol driving a marked cruiser down Main Street when he was flagged down by a man who was later identified as Michael [last name redacted].
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Statement of Facts of Officer Derek Ames and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Michael appeared distressed and had a small amount of fresh blood on his lip,” Officer Ames said. “Michael’s injuries are documented on video by my body-worn camera. Michael stated that he was standing on Main Street and was approached by a man named James Peterson. Through my duties as a police officer l am familiar with James.”
According to police, James B. Peterson Jr., 50, is a resident of Church Street in Ware, MA.
“Michael stated that he got into an argument with James over money,” Officer Ames said. “During that argument, James punched Michael in the face numerous times. Michael stated that this altercation occurred minutes before my arrival.”
Officer Ames asked Michael if he needed medical attention and he said that he did.
“I radioed to dispatch to send and ambulance to my location to have Michael evaluated,” Officer Ames said. “I did check the area for surveillance cameras but was unable to locate any in that area.”
Officer Ames noted that he will be following up with local businesses to see if footage of the altercation is available.
“It is important to note that I did see James in the area of Main Street a few minutes before this incident,” Officer Ames said. “James was walking by the North Brookfield Savings Bank towards Pulaski Street.”
Officer Ames radioed Officer Eric Robert Esteves and asked him to check the area for Peterson.
“Officer Esteves was unable to locate James,” Officer Ames said. “A male party who witnessed this altercation and also called to report it was still on scene. Through my duties as a police officer, I know this male party to be Brian [last name redacted]. I asked Brian what he saw. Brian stated that he saw a man he knows to be James Peterson punch Michael in the face. I asked Brian if he is familiar with James, he stated that he was. I provided Brian a witness form which he was able to fill out on scene.”
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Officer Ames said he also offered Michael a witness form but Michael said he was unable to write due to medical conditions.
“Michael stated that he suffers from aphasia and has difficulty communicating,” Officer Ames said. “Michael was advised of his Harassment Prevention Order (258-E) rights and stated that he would come to the station to apply for one.”
Michael was then transported by Ware EMS to the Bay State Wing Emergency Room in Palmer.
“Later that evening, at approximately 10:24 p.m., Officer [Romane] Gordon radioed to me that he had located James at the Cumberland Farms on West Street in Ware,” Officer Ames said.
Officer Ames and Officer Linda Zalatores responded to Officer Gordon’s location on West Street to assist.
“While on my way, Officer Gordon radioed for officers to step up our responses because James had become agitated and had threatened to stab him,” Officer Ames said. “When I arrived on scene, Officer Gordon had secured James in handcuffs on West Street, just outside the Cumberland Farms parking lot.”
Officer Ames said that Officer Gordon later told him that he drove up to Peterson while he was walking on the sidewalk and asked to speak with him.
“Officer Gordon stated that James told him that he has a screw in his pocket, that he’s not afraid to use it, and that he’s not going to jail,” Officer Ames recounted. “Officer Gordon stated that he immediately exited his cruiser and unholstered his department issued firearm.”
Officer Gordon said he held his gun by his side and didn’t point it a Peterson.
“Officer Gordon then gave verbal commands to James to place his hands on his head, he did,” Officer Ames said. “Officer Gordon then secured James in handcuffs as Officer Zalatores and I arrived on scene.”
Officer Ames said that Officer Gordon searched Peterson for weapons and did not find any on him.
“I advised James that he was under arrest for A&B on a person over sixty for the altercation earlier that day,” Officer Ames said. “James made a spontaneous utterance and stated that he did slap Michael earlier that day because Michael had pushed him first.”
Peterson was transported to the Ware Police Station for booking.
“While taking James out of the cruiser to escort him into the station, Officer Gordon located three glass cylinder’s that contained a smokey white residue inside of them,” Officer Ames said. “One of these glass cylinders was broken in half. Through my training and experience, I know these glass cylinders to be consistent with pipes used to smoke crack cocaine. Through my duties as a police officer, I am familiar with James and know that he is a user of crack cocaine.”
Officer Ames then asked Officer Gordon if he did a cruiser inspection at the beginning of the shift.
“Officer Gordon stated that he inspected the prisoner compartment of his cruiser and the three glass cylinders were not in the cruiser prior to James entering it,” Officer Ames said.
Peterson’s bail was set at $1,000.
“James was unable to come up with the money and was held,” Officer Ames said.
Peterson was charged with:
- Assault & Battery on 60+/Disabled (Michael is 61 years old, according to police)
- Possess Class B Drug
Peterson was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court on April 22, 2025. Following his arraignment, he was released on personal recognizance under the condition that he stay away from and not contact the victim.
On June 2, 2025, court records show that Peterson was arraigned on a new charge of violating the harassment prevention order filed by Michael, which was a breach of his pretrial release conditions.
On June 17, 2025, a warrant was issued for James B. Peterson, Jr. after he failed to appear for a pretrial hearing scheduled in East Hampshire District Court that day, resulting in a $50 default warrant assessment.
On June 18, 2025, Peterson appeared in court voluntarily, leading the judge to remove the default and recall the warrant.
The pretrial hearing was continued to July 17, 2025.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in April, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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