By Jessica Van Sack
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — A Boston firefighter who alleged police brutality after cops charged him with assaulting his girlfriend was acquitted yesterday after a jury trial that raised questions about a potential cover-up by the arresting officers.
Boston Police Internal Affairs has been investigating whether officers Brian Dunford and David Santosuosso beat firefighter Wayne Abron and then made up a story to explain his injuries, as the jake alleged. Dunford is the son of retired Superintendent-in-chief Robert Dunford.
The internal police probe is expected to pick up steam in the wake of Abron’s acquittal.
Abron, 42, sustained an eye-socket injury and facial contusions after police were called to a loud argument in his mother’s backyard in Dorchester between him and his girlfriend on March 23, 2008.
Abron’s then-girlfriend, Edwinna Wynn, a social worker, has been unwavering in insisting that Abron never touched her during their “spirited” argument and that cops tackled Abron from behind, smashing his head on the ground. Wynn’s account was backed by three members of Abron’s family who witnessed the arrest.
“All he remembers is having an argument with Ms. Wynn and then being tackled from behind (by cops) and waking up later that morning in the hospital,” said Abron’s attorney, Neil Tassel. “He’s very gratified obviously after having waited a year and a half to be exonerated.”
A Boston police sergeant testified that he asked Dunford and Santosuosso whether they beat Abron, who was bloodied and limp when cops hauled him in, Tassel said.
The cops claimed Abron got roughed up earlier in the night by the father of Wynn’s child, a story that prosecutors did not provide evidence to support. What’s more, Tassel said Wynn’s ex lives out of state and was not in town at the time.
Thomas Nee, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, could not be reached to respond on behalf of the two arresting cops. Efforts to reach the two officers were unsuccessful.
Copyright 2009 Boston Herald Inc.