Hyde Park man who attacked woman then set himself on fire held on probation violation
BOSTON, February 12, 2026, – A Hyde Park man with a history of violent offenses dating back to 1989 was arraigned Wednesday in BMC Central for charges related to a December assault and self-immolation that left both him and the victim hospitalized, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
ADAM JOHNSON, 55, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Judge James Coffey set bail at $2,500 and ordered Johnson to stay away from the victim and the location of the offense.
Johnson is additionally being held for violating his probation on a 12-month suspended sentence he received after pleading guilty to assault and battery on a family or household member in October 2025.
Johnson will return to court March 10 for a pre-trial hearing and a final surrender hearing for the probation violation.
On December 23, 2025, officers responded to 15 Waltham Street in Boston for reports of an injured woman screaming for help. Officers found the victim bleeding heavily from a severe laceration on her head. The victim told officers she was struck with a metal stove grate by her friend, later identified as Johnson, and said he was inside the apartment attempting to light himself on fire. Officers encountered heavy smoke in the apartment and saw blood on the walls. They found Johnson unconscious in the bathtub, suffering from severe burns. He was transported to the hospital and listed in critical condition.
Johnson was evaluated by a court clinician after defense counsel informed the court of Johnson making statements that he wanted to harm himself. The clinician determined that Johnson could receive adequate treatment at the jail.
“These facts illustrate, in a very stark way, the situations police officers can encounter at any given moment on any given shift. Sometimes there’s people harming others, sometimes there’s people harming themselves, and sometimes, like here, there’s both,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications