Francesca Elliott, Assault on a Federal Officer, Massachusetts 2019

A North Reading woman was arrested and charged with assaulting a federal officer in Boston, Massachusetts.

Francesca Elliott, 24, was charged in federal court with one count of assaulting a federal officer, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston.

The alleged assault occurred on August 17, 2019, at approximately 10:30 p.m. outside the Thomas P. O'Neill Federal Building on Causeway Street in Boston.

According to the charging documents, Elliott and another individual had exited an event at TD Garden and were speaking in loud, aggressive tones and appeared to be intoxicated. A uniformed member of the Federal Protective Service ordered the individuals to stop, but Elliott allegedly struck the officer in the face with her cellphone, causing a laceration on his right eye.

The officer was able to secure Elliott in handcuffs after a brief struggle. Elliott was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/north-reading-woman-arrested-assaulting-federal-officer