BOSTON --
A MetroWest man was arrested on Monday after he allegedly tackled a police officer to the ground during a traffic stop.
Alexander D. Papasodero, 21, of Milford, is accused of gouging Officer Christopher Alberini's forehead with his fingernails, poking him in the eye with his thumb and wrestling with the officer in the road as traffic swerved around them on Route 135 in Ashland, Police Chief Scott Rohmer told the MetroWest Daily News.
Alberini pulled over Papasodero's car after he saw him driving erratically on Route 135 on Monday night, Lt. Richard Briggs told the paper.
"The officer asked for his license and registration and he (Papasodero) said, 'For what?"' Briggs told the paper. "He refused to give his license and registration, and he used profanities."
When Alberini told the man he was being arrested, Papasodero pulled the officer into the car and a struggle began, the paper said. Another officer helped Alberini get the driver out of the car, but the struggle continued, and Papasodero tackled Alberini to the ground in the street, the paper said.
Papasodero was eventually subdued and arrested, the paper said.
Papasodero was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, malicious destruction of property worth more than $250, malicious destruction of property worth less than $250 and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Papasodero pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Framingham District Court and was released without bail. He will return to court on April 10.