By
Kimberley Haas
DOVER
— A dispositional conference has been scheduled for two Farmington police
officers who allegedly assaulted a man in handcuffs last summer.
Sgt.
Michael McNeil Jr., 34, of Rochester, and Officer Gregory Gough, 24, of Dover,
are expected to appear in Strafford County Superior Court for the conference at
9 a.m. June 3.
According
to the prosecution, McNeil grabbed Randy Gray of Milton by the neck with his
left hand and exerted enough force to pull Gray’s body from a standing
position, while Gough grabbed Gray’s arms and torso, spinning his body during
the assault.
The
incident started when McNeil, who was off duty, pulled Gray over in Farmington
after witnessing a road rage incident he believed Gray was involved in.
McNeil
asked Gray if he had been drinking after allegedly smelling alcohol on his
breath. According to the affidavit, that is when Gray drove off at a high rate
of speed, striking McNeil in his left arm and leg with his driver’s side door.
Farmington police said McNeil was not seriously injured in the incident.
McNeil,
Gough, and two Milton officers arrived at Gray’s home in Milton 20 minutes
later after tracking him down through his car license plate. As Milton officers
handcuffed him, McNeil approached Gray.
That
is when McNeil allegedly grabbed Gray by the neck, trying to force him to the
ground, and Gough allegedly stepped in to help.
Milton
officers tried to the stop the assault, which ended when McNeil fell to the
ground himself. Gray was escorted to the back of a cruiser by Milton officers.
The
case against McNeil and Gough was reviewed by Assistant Grafton County Attorney
Jack Bell after Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi determined it was best to
have an outside attorney review the allegations. Velardi said the switch was
necessary since McNeil is an active police officer and a witness in several cases,
including the one against Gray.
McNeil
and Gough were each indicted earlier this year on a single simple assault
charge for the June incident. They were placed on administrative leave
following their indictments on Feb. 20.
Both
men are facing misdemeanor charges, which could result in up to one year in
jail.