SAUGUS — A Saugus man was arraigned in Lynn Thursday after allegedly stabbing three Saugus Police officers while they tried to serve a warrant at his Tuttle Street home.
Steven Sossong, 43, of Saugus, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, and larceny of a motor vehicle.
Sossong was arraigned in Lynn District Court Thursday afternoon, and was court-ordered to spend at least the next 20 days at Bridgewater State Hospital for mental health evaluations.
The officers’ injuries are not life-threatening and they are expected to recover. Their names have not been released.
According to Essex County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Tsingos, police visited Sossong’s house on Tuttle Street after receiving a report that a U-Haul vehicle had never been returned, and was thus considered stolen.
Police said the incident occurred shortly after 7:20 a.m. Upon officer arrival, Sossong allegedly declined to exit the residence, and refused to allow police into his home.
After police entered forcibly, Sossong allegedly attacked three officers, stabbing them with a six-inch blade, Tsingos said. All three officers were allegedly stabbed in their arms. One officer had a stab wound that “made bone visible,” and another had “filet-style” wounds exposing tendons in his forearm, Tsingos said.
The Saugus Fire Department also responded to the call, and Lt. Gregory Cinelli was able to wrestle the knife away from Sossong, Tsingos said. His thick protective gloves prevented him from getting injured in the process, Tsingos said.
Psychiatrist testimony at Sossong’s arraignment convinced the court to order him to undergo mental health evaluations at Bridgewater State Hospital — Sossong was described as responding “in a way that didn’t make sense” and “his phrasing was off” in interviews before his arraignment.
One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said she was drawn out of her home by the heavy police presence gathered on the quiet, residential street.
“I saw the EMTs bring out one of the officers from the residence,” she said. “He clearly had a severe arm injury and his arm was all wrapped up. I saw them put him in the ambulance and leave.”
After he was subdued, the neighbor said officers had the suspect lie on the ground outside his front door for 15 to 20 minutes.
“There wasn’t any altercation (at that point),” she said. “I saw them carry him to the second ambulance on the scene. He was restrained, arms behind his back, face down in a pouch they were carrying him in.”
The three injured officers were later taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, while a fourth officer was also taken to MGH as a precaution.
Sossong was transported to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital after his arrest before being brought to his arraignment.
The neighbor said she rarely saw Sossong and added that the house had appeared abandoned until just a few days prior, when Sossong was seen outside weed-whacking.
A cab driver at the scene, who also did not want to be identified, said he’d known Sossong for years, describing him as “quiet,” and someone who “kept to himself.”
The driver added that he’d seen a U-Haul sitting outside the home for some time.
“He wouldn’t tell me why he didn’t return it,” he said.
A spokesman for Saugus Police said the investigation will be led by the State Police Detective Unit for Essex County. State Police have also sent patrols and a patrol supervisor from Troop A, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and a State Police chemist to assist.
A short stretch of Tuttle Street was closed off Thursday afternoon, with yellow police tape around the brick house where the incident took place. A small police presence was still on scene around 1 p.m., with police and crime scene analysts frequently entering and exiting the house.
Item reporter Steve Krause also contributed to this report. Elyse Carmosino can be reached at [email protected]. Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].
