Former Somerville Police Officer Michael McGrath yesterday admitted to sufficient facts in Cambridge District Court to the charge of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon in connection with deploying pepper spray on an individual who was in custody and who posed no threat to him.

Judge David Frank continued the matter without a finding and placed the defendant on probation for the term of one year with the condition that he not seek employment as a police officer.

This charge arose out of an incident that occurred on October 1, 2019, in Somerville, where Officer McGrath, without cause or justification, deployed his capstun pepper spray into the face of a prisoner in his custody.  At that time, the prisoner had his hands cuffed behind his back and he did not physically resist or engage in assaultive behavior that would justify the use of the pepper spray. 

— Middlesex District Attorney’s Office