Boston man charged with attacking, gouging MBTA officer’s eyes during booking process
BOSTON, April 15, 2026 – A Boston man in MBTA police custody for an outstanding warrant was arraigned Monday in Roxbury BMC for jumping on a Transit police officer’s back, attacking him and gouging his eyes before being transported to court, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
FRITZNEL JEAN, 28, of Boston was charged with mayhem, assault and battery on a police officer, causing serious bodily injury and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.
Judge David Breen ordered Jean held on $100 bail and revoked his bail for 60 days on a pending Quincy District Court case. Jean is due back in court on May 12 for a probable cause hearing.
At about 8:20 a.m. on April 10, MBTA police responded to the booking area at Transit police headquarters to assist an officer with a non-compliant arrestee, later identified as Jean. Jean was arrested the night before on an outstanding warrant out of Quincy District Court, where he is facing charges for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and shoplifting.
When the officer opened the cell door to escort Jean to the fingerprinting station, Jean shouted at the officer that he wanted to go free. The officer told Jean that he was going to be booked and then transported to court. Jean continued to shout and be uncooperative. The officer told Jean he was going to have to go back into the cell. As the officer turned his back to open the cell door, Jean lunged toward the officer, jumped onto his back and bit him on the back of his head.
Other officers attempted to gain control of Jean to stop the attack. A violent struggle ensued as officers attempted to handcuff Jean. During the struggle, Jean began to scratch and gouge the first officer’s eyes, causing significant facial injuries. Another officer witnessed Jean grabbing the first officer’s face while driving his thumbs forcefully into the officer’s eye sockets. Jean attempted to bite another officer’s hand before he was restrained.
Boston EMS responded and evaluated all officers involved. The first officer suffered severe bruising, burst blood vessels to both eyes, and a cut on his left bottom eye, requiring two stitches.
“This was an extraordinary burst of violence that hurt one officer and endangered all the others involved. I thank the officers for restraining this defendant before he could inflict more injuries and I wish the wounded officer a full and fast recovery,” 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