Fall River sober house director facing Indecent Assault and Battery allegations

The director of a structured sober living house in Fall River is facing allegations from a resident.

According to a police report, at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Thursday August 24th, Officer Wayne Custadio responded along with Sgt Strong, who is a certified sexual assault investigator, for reports of a sexual assault incident that took place on Tuttle Street.

The victim stated she had been staying at the Safe Haven sober house located on Tuttle Street. The victim told officers that on the night of July 31, 2023, sometime between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. she was told by the director of Safe Haven, Charles Santos, to come into his apartment to get her medication. She stated that while she was in the apartment and waiting to get her medication, Santos grabbed her right breast and said “wow, you have big ones”. According to the victim, he grabbed her over the shirt and did not go under the shirt or bra. She stated she left the apartment and went to her room and began crying. She did not want to report it because she was afraid of being kicked out of Safe Haven.

While Officer Custadio was speaking with the victim, she stated other issues that were allegedly happening at Safe Haven. She mentioned that on one occasion, her medication went missing, and she believes it was withheld from her. She also said multiple people have overdosed in the house and staff never called 911.

Custadio noted that Santos was accused of a similar accusation in May of 2023, and he requested that Santos be summoned to court for Indecent Assault and Battery on a person over 14 years of age.