Adrian
A Massachusetts man, identified as NICHOLAS AKERBERG, 28, of Yarmouth Port, was captured on video entering the Woburn District Court in a Boston suburb on Monday while wearing a gas mask and tactical gear. According to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, AKERBERG deployed pepper spray at multiple court officers, a police officer, and an assistant district attorney.
Security footage from the courthouse shows a man dressed in a helmet, gas mask, tactical boots, and sunglasses approaching the building as a court officer opens the front door. The video then captures the individual spraying pepper spray at the officer before forcing his way inside. Additional officers inside the courthouse tackled the suspect to the ground. Officials reported that AKERBERG punched, shoved, and assaulted multiple individuals before being subdued by law enforcement.
At the time of the attack, AKERBERG was found in possession of eight canisters of pepper spray and two smoke canisters. Following the incident, AKERBERG, the police officer, and two court officers were treated at a hospital and later released.
Middlesex District Attorney MARIAN RYAN condemned the attack, stating that this was the third serious incident at the courthouse since March 10. “These are not just acts of violence, they are challenges to the rule of law and to peaceful, orderly dispute resolution,” RYAN said. “The rule of law is not a fancy academic concept, it is the foundation of our democracy. Anyone who desecrates these sacred places will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
AKERBERG has been charged with six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, five counts of assault and battery on a public employee, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, assault, disrupting a court proceeding, disorderly conduct, bomb threat, and intimidation. During a Monday arraignment, he was ordered to be held, his bail was revoked, and he was mandated to undergo a competency evaluation. AKERBERG is scheduled to return to court on May 2.
[Source: Associated Press](https://apnews.com)
[Source: Middlesex District Attorney’s Office](https://middlesexda.com)
