Former Massachusetts police officer charged after allegedly punching man in custody multiple times

BOSTON – A former Weymouth Police officer has been charged with assaulting a man in custody by allegedly punching him multiple times without legal justification.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 43-year-old Justin Chappell was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled a plea hearing for April 11, 2024.

According to the charging document, on July 2, 2022, Chappell was a police officer for the Weymouth Police Department. While arresting an individual, Chappell allegedly punched the arrestee approximately 13 times with a closed fist without legal justification.

Chappell was decertified by the POST Commission late last year.

“Members of law enforcement take an oath to serve and protect with professionalism and integrity. Today’s court filings allege that Officer Chappell violated this solemn obligation. Our office will continue to hold accountable officers who deprive people of rights under color of law,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

“It is hard to comprehend why Justin Chappell allegedly felt entitled to repeatedly beat a man in his custody, punching him in his face approximately 13 times,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “In doing so, we believe Officer Chappell violated this man’s civil rights and betrayed his sworn oath, his community, and colleagues. We’d like to thank the Weymouth Police Department for its full cooperation with our investigation.”

The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Weymouth Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torey B. Cummings and Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.