Diego Javier Gomez. (Haverhill Police booking photograph.)
A 33-year-old Haverhill man is being held after he allegedly assaulted another man with a pipe Sunday night in front of a café geared to low-income and homeless residents.
Diego Javier Gomez, of 67 Washington St., Haverhill, was arrested by Haverhill Police on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily harm. He was ordered held at the Essex House of Correction in Middleton following his arraignment before Judge Susan H. McNeil Monday in Haverhill District Court.
According to a police report, Gomez allegedly attacked Pepe Simpson with an iron pipe during an argument Sunday, July 12, around 6:30 p.m., outside Common Ground Café, 194 Winter St., Haverhill. Police were called to the café where they said they found Simpson bleeding profusely from a head wound.
Simpson said he had been pepper sprayed and hit in the head. Witnesses told police, Simpson and Gomez had argued in the café’s parking lot the day before over a woman and Gomez returned and was “antagonizing” Simpson.
After Simpson was injured, witnesses said Gomez left on a motor bike. Gomez subsequently flagged down a police officer and said he was assaulted. According to the police report, Gomez told police he returned to the café to “smooth things over” with Simpson, but Simpson started the fight when he punched him several times. Gomez said he acted in self-defense, adding he used pepper spray on Simpson and hit him over the head with an instrument he described as a “baton.”
McNeil set bail at $5,000 cash and ordered Gomez to stay away from the victim and not have any contact. He is to return to court on Monday, July 24.