Saugus man arrested for domestic dispute, assaulting cops

SAUGUS – A 39-year-old unemployed Parkway Drive man who lives with his parents was arrested Tuesday for allegedly strangling his 29-year-old sister, who also lives at the home, and getting into a full-fledged brawl with three police officers.Ralph DiVirgilio of 7 Parkway Drive was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot), domestic assault and battery, threatening to commit murder and resisting arrest.His father, Antonio DiVirgilio, 66, was also arrested and charged with resisting arrest.Police say it was their second time responding to the home for a domestic disturbance within 24 hours.At about 2:15 p.m., officers responded to the home after receiving a 911 call for a domestic violence dispute in progress.Officers interviewed the sister, who was emotionally upset, crying and bleeding from scratch marks all over her neck, police said.Ralph DiVirgilio allegedly admitted to grabbing his sister by the neck.When officers told DiVirgilio he had to be placed under arrest, he allegedly began fighting with the officers. “You’re not going to arrest me!” he said, according to a police report.Officer Anthony Gaieski, 32, was elbowed in the chest by DiVirgilio when he attempted to handcuff him, police said.DiVirgilio allegedly attacked Gaieski and officers Jeffrey Wood, 52 and Michael Ricciardelli, 36, for a full five minutes before he was placed into the back of a police car.DiVirgilio allegedly threw multiple punches at the officers, who said they returned the punches and were forced to use batons on the suspect numerous times.”I then struck the suspect with my baton behind his right leg three to four times with no effect whatsoever,” Wood wrote in his report.The scuffle moved from the house to the front porch, which officers said was extremely icy. Gaieski fell twice and was caught by Wood after falling a third time.DiVirgilio allegedly grabbed onto a hand railing and refused to let go as the three officers continuously pulled.Wood wrote the officers approached the point of “being physically exhausted” when the three officers finally overpowered DiVirgilio and handcuffed him.Police say DiVirgilio’s father, Antonio, actively prevented the officers from arresting his son after they handcuffed him.