Saugus Town Meeting member violently attacked, injured

SAUGUS – Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian was violently attacked outside his home Thursday, but no one is saying why.Lt. Michael Annese and Manoogian himself confirmed that he was attacked by an individual waiting for him as he returned home around 10 p.m. Thursday, but neither would comment further.Several sources, which asked to remain anonymous, said that Manoogian attended a Planning Board meeting Thursday and upon his return home was beaten with a tire iron or club of some sort that left him with a multitude of stitches. Manoogian said that report was not completely accurate and in fact put the issue to rest when he showed up at the Board of Selectmen’s candidate’s forum at Town Hall.Aside from a few tiny stitches over his lip Manoogian looked largely unscathed and remained quiet throughout the debate.Earlier in the day he said could not discuss the incident.”I have to listen to those in authority,” Manoogian said. “There is an ongoing investigation and I don’t want to say anything to complicate that process.”Annese said it wouldn’t be prudent for the department to comment.”The less we say from our end, the better opportunity we have to find who did this and why,” he said.This is not the first time Manoogian has been attacked at his home. Several years ago Manoogian was hit in the face when he answered a knock at his front door. A person was later charged and convicted of that assault.