Boston Public Library

Boston Police: 3 Officers Out of Hospital After Being Hurt Responding to Alleged Lewd Act

NBC Universal, Inc.

Three officers police said were hurt after responding to a report of a lewd act outside the Copley branch of the Boston Public Library are out of the hospital.

The Boston Police Department said 43-year-old Cornelio Conley was masturbating in front of the library when the officers arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Conley had allegedly become combative when library staff asked him to leave, assaulting a worker, police said.

Police said Conley resisted when the officers tried to subdue him.

"Conley threw a tarp, striking one of the officers," the Boston Police Department said in a statement. "Additionally, Conley punched and bit officers."

Initially, police said the officers were taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Shortly before 2 p.m., police said their conditions had been downgraded from serious and that they were treated and released.

Police did not say whether the library staff member was hurt.

Charges against Conley include lewd, wanton and lascivious conduct, assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of property and resisting arrest, authorities said.

Conley will be arraigned at Boston Municipal Court. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.

Contact Us