Man Arrested After Fight Outside Medfield American Legion Sends One to Hospital

A Connecticut man faces assault and battery charges after he was arrested on Oct. 29 outside of Medfield’s American Legion Hall on Peter Kristoff Way, according to logs.

John F. Sanford Jr., 44, of Lebanon, Conn. was charged with assault and battery, serious bodily injury, destruction of property over $250 and wanton after he allegedly got into a fight with another male outside Medfield’s American Legion, according to police logs.

“The two males involved were from a private family birthday party,” Medfield Chief of Police Robert E. Meaney Jr. said. “The family had rented the Legion Hall for the party. Family members called the station to report the fight.”

The call came into the station at 10:55 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The caller, according to police logs, reported a fight outside of the legion building. An ambulance was requested “for a victim of assault and battery,” according to police logs.

The Medfield ambulance transported one male to Norwood Hospital for injuries allegedly sustained during the fight, according to police logs.

“The individual transported to the hospital received a laceration to his back as a result of allegedly being pushed through a glass door,” Meaney said. … “The victim needed to be transported to the hospital and received numerous stitches to close the wound.”

Meaney said the fight was the result of an argument between “the two individuals” and he did not have “particulars to the argument.”

While alcohol was present at the event, Meaney said “the individual’s sobriety was not considered in the actions taken by the officers” on scene.

“One individual was transported to the hospital for his injuries and the other was arrested,” Meaney said. “There was no operation of a motor vehicle involved and there were no protective custody issues so testing for sobriety does not come into play [in this incident].”

Meaney said the decision to arrest one individual rather than both involved in a fight is usually a “judgment decision based on all the factors at a scene, which may include who was most injured by the act.”

“This does not preclude the other individual from also requesting that charges be taken out by the court,” Meaney added. “To my knowledge, no such charges have been requested.”

Explaining the Charges:

• Serious Bodily Injury: “Serious bodily injury indicates that the injury was more than a simple punch resulting in bruising or a small cut,” Meaney said.
• Wanton: “Wanton in a legal dictionary means that you commit an act without regard for its consequences,” Meaney said.