Saugus man trashes home, goes berserk on cops

SAUGUS – A Saugus man whose parents think he may have mental problems and a dependence on alcohol attacked a family member and trashed his house Tuesday night before violently resisting arrest and forcing police to use pepper spray on him, according to a Saugus Police report.Richard P. McMahon, 28, of 9 Allen Place, was arraigned in Lynn District Court Wednesday on a number of charges, including domestic assault and battery, resisting arrest, destruction of property and assault and battery on ambulance personnel for punching an EMT in the chest who was attempting to treat his eyes for the pepper spray.Police arrived at McMahon?s home at about 9 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a call from McMahon?s distraught mother, the report said. On arrival, police found broken kitchen items on the floor, which McMahon had reportedly broken in a rage. The mother said McMahon was “out of control and destroying the home,” and that he had hung up the phone while she was talking to a 911 dispatcher, for which he was charged with intimidating a witness.The report said McMahon?s mother directed the police to the basement, where they were able to handcuff him on assault and battery charges, but once officers began leading him up the stairs, he “completely flipped from being cooperative to being in a wild rage.”McMahon managed to free his right hand from the handcuffs and it took three officers to put them back on and escort him outside, where he continued to bend and contort his body in resistance, forcing officers to pepper spray him in the face in order to get him into the squad car.In addition to shoving his mother in an attempt to flee the residence before police arrived, McMahon broke two mirrors and a window. His mother stated in the report that she believes her son has become increasingly depressed since moving in with her from California and that he may need treatment for mental problems.McMahon was released on $2,500 bail and will be in court again on Jan. 26.Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].