TEWKSBURY — On Sunday, April 12, 2026, at approximately 10:04 a.m., police responded to Tewksbury State Hospital following reports of an unwanted man on the premises.
According to Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan Columbus, when officers arrived on scene, they located the man, 27-year-old Eduardo Cruceta, inside the hospital with campus security.
A preliminary investigation determined that Cruceta was at the hospital visiting a family member who was a patient. Chief Columbus said that during the visit, Cruceta’s family member appeared to be experiencing a medical episode, and Cruceta began acting erratically and threatening to kill employees.
“Campus security was unable to remove Cruceta from the hospital room, after several attempts of asking him to leave,” Chief Columbus said. “Cruceta then pushed a large chair into a pregnant staff member.”
Cruceta was arrested by Tewksbury police without incident.
Eduardo Cruceta, 27, of Boston, was charged with the following:
- Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon
- Assault & Battery on a Public Employee
Cruceta’s arraignment is scheduled for Monday in Lowell District Court.
Chief Columbus said the incident remains under investigation by Tewksbury police.
The release for this incident was issued two days after Michael Bradley Jr., the executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association sent a letter to Governor Maura Healey’s office seeking a comprehensive review by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security of recent security policy changes at Tewksbury State Hospital, including the removal of less-lethal tools such as pepper spray from public safety personnel.
