LEOMINSTER — On Monday, January 12, 2026, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Officers Brandon Donahue and Phillip Allain of the Leominster Police Department responded to Leominster Hospital at 60 Hospital Road following a report of an assault and battery on three hospital employees.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narratives of Officer Brandon Donahue and Carlos Cintron and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
Officer Donahue said that when he arrived on scene, he met with the three hospital employees who were allegedly assaulted, two emergency department technicians and a nurse.
“They explained that a patient, Julia Persall, who frequently visits the hospital, came in today complaining of knee pain,” Officer Donahue said. “They described Julia’s behavior as abnormal, noting that she was wandering around the emergency room hallways and even running around them.”
According to police, Julia Persall, 25, is a resident of Fitchburg, MA.
Officer Donahue said hospital staff told him Persall wanted to leave, but she was told that she needed to wait for her group home, Community Resources-Justice in Fitchburg, to pick her up.
“After this explanation, Julia became aggressive, and in order to gain control of her, [the two emergency department technicians and nurse] had to restrain her on a hospital stretcher,” Officer Donahue said, adding that this took place in the back hallway of the emergency room at around 10:20 p.m.
Officer Donahue said that during the restraint process, Persall, who was wearing UGG boots, allegedly kicked one of the emergency department technicians in the chest.
“[The emergency department technician] reported that when this occurred, her left hand moved, causing her to scratch her left ring finger on the stretcher,” Officer Donahue said. The other emergency department technician reported that Persall punched her in the face and scratched her left arm, and the nurse said she was punched in the right side of her ribs.
“Additionally, [the nurse] noted that approximately five minutes after the incident, once Julia was finally restrained, Julia spat in her eye when [she] went into her hospital room (Room 17),” Officer Persall said. “I spoke with Julia in Room 17 and explained to her about the court summons I would be requesting. Please note that Julia was still wearing the UGG-style boots. A photo was taken of her footwear, as well as [the emergency department technician’s] left ring finger; there were no visible marks on [the other emergency department technician] or [the nurse] to photograph.”
“Please note that I was informed that Julia was diagnosed with bipolar disorder,” Officer Donahue said. “All units cleared shortly after.”
Officer Donahue requested a summons for Julia Persall, 25, of Fitchburg, for the following charges:
- Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon (shod foot)
- Assault & Battery on Ambulance Personnel (three counts)
The following day, Jan. 13, 2026, at approximately 1:10 p.m., Officer Carlos Cintron of the Leominster Police Department said that he went with the Leominster Police Department’s clinician Jennessa McQuade to the hospital to speak with hospital staff about Persall.
“Julia lives in a group home in the City of Fitchburg and was experiencing a behavioral crisis,” Officer Cintron said. “We spoke with Julia and she calmed down after a while. Julia then escalated again and suddenly threw an 8 oz plastic bottle at Jennessa, striking her in the leg.”
Officer Cintron said that when he stood in front of Persall in an attempt to prevent her from hurting anyone, she kicked his left leg.
“I informed her that she was under arrest and began to place her in hand cuffs. Julia then spat at my face and kicked me on my right leg. Julia was wearing UGGs,” Officer Cintron said. “Julia was placed in handcuffs (double-locked). Officer [Jonathan] Benoit arrived and transported Julia to the police station to be booked by the officer in charge.”
Officer Cintron said that while Persall was being booked, she hit Officer Tiffany Beaupre in her right forearm with an open hand.
For Officer Cintron’s new case, Julia Persall was charged with the following:
- Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon (for throwing a plastic bottle at McQuade, striking her in the leg)
- Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon (for kicking Officer Cintron while wearing UGGs)
- Assault & Battery on Police Officer (for spitting in Officer Cintron’s face)
- Assault & Battery on Police Officer (for hitting Officer Beaupre in her right forearm with an open hand)
Persall was arraigned for both cases by Judge Mark Noonan in Leominster District Court on January 13, 2026. Following her arraignment, she was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the alleged victims. Her next court date for both cases is a pretrial hearing on Feb. 13, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the arrest in this story took place in January, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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