Gigliotti

Legal Lines Being Drawn in Wake of Ruling in Death of Haverhill Man in Police Custody

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This is a developing story. Stay tuned to 97.9 WHAV for accurate news. See all of WHAV’s extensive  coverage of the Gigliotti death and aftermath. In the aftermath of the state medical examiner’s ruling, calling the manner of the July death of a man in Haverhill police custody a “homicide,” the beginnings of a legal battle appear to be taking shape. A lawyer for the family of 43-year-old Francis P. Gigliotti II told WHAV by text, he looks forward to “criminal prosecution” in the case.

Gigliotti

State Medical Examiner Rules Gigliotti’s Death a ‘Homicide,’ but Drugs, Alcohol Contributed

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This is a developing story. Stay tuned to 97.9 WHAV for additional news. The state’s chief medical examiner ruled Thursday that “homicide” was the manner of a 43-year-old man’s death in July while in Haverhill Police custody. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also ruled the cause of death for Francis P. Gigliotti II was “Cardiac dysrhythmia in a person with acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and ethanol while being restrained prone by police,” according to a press release Friday afternoon from Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office. Legal experts note that the term “homicide” means one person causes the death of another and the word is not interchangeable with “murder.” Under Massachusetts statutes, murder is a crime “committed with deliberately premeditated malice aforethought, or with extreme atrocity or cruelty, or in the commission or attempted commission of a crime.”  As of Friday, Tucker’s office had not decided on any criminal determinations.

Gigliotti

Service Aug. 16 for Gigliotti Who Died While in Custody; No Official Cause of Death Yet Available

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The man who died during, what was described as, a “struggle” with Haverhill Police July 11 will be remembered during calling hours and a funeral service Saturday, Aug. 16. According to his obituary released Tuesday, Francis P. Gigliotti II was a Haverhill High School graduate and worked in construction, most recently for Teddy Bear Roofing. The obituary adds he was proud of his American Indian heritage, enjoyed listening to music on his headphones while walking, liked to go shopping and loved people and animals, especially his kitten Bumbelina. Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright said her office received a death certificate Monday for registration purposes only.

Crime

Police Allege Atkinson Man Defaced Haverhill Stop Signs with Political, Anti-Police Messages

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An Atkinson, N.H., man was arraigned in Haverhill District Court Thursday on charges of defacing 36 stops signs in Haverhill with derogatory phases. Joshua Pelletier, 32, was arrested early Thursday morning and also charged with attempting to commit a crime and resisting arrest after local police detectives report finding him with stencils and a can of white spray paint. Messages used the existing word “Stop” to start political phrases. “(Stop) Blaming the Drugs HPD killed Gigga” was one, relaying anti-police sentiment in the aftermath of the death of Francis Gigliotti while in police custody. Other phrases were “(Stop) Crooked Cops,” “(Stop) Government Thugs,” “(Stop) Medicaid Cuts” and “(Stop) Killer Cops.”

When arrested, Pelletier was wearing, what police described as, a ballistic vest and carried a spring-loaded double-edged knife, a police report said.

Gigliotti

Previously Unannounced Haverhill Statement in Support of Officials Oddly Finds Its Way to Boston TV

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The Haverhill City Council threw its support behind Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and Police Chief Robert P. Pistone Jr. in the aftermath of the death of Francis Gigliotti Friday, July 11, while in police custody. Council President Thomas J. Sullivan made the brief declaration of support at the end of the regular City Council meeting Tuesday. He said the Council stands behind Barrett, Pistone and District Attorney Paul F. Tucker, who is leading the investigation. He also expressed sympathy for Gigliotti’s family and friends. “The Haverhill City Council offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Francis Gigliotti.

Gigliotti

DA Releases Videos of Man in Haverhill Police Custody, City’s New PR Firm Tailors Message

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Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker Monday released a 28-minute video compilation which tracks Francis Gigliotti’s movements during the two hours before he died Friday, July 11, while being restrained by seven Haverhill police officers. His press conference also brought the revelation, the city hired a public relations firm last week to guide its response. Tucker, speaking at a press conference in Salem, said the video was drawn from Haverhill city street cameras, business surveillance cameras and cellphone video submitted by the public. He pledged to release the entire 90 minutes of raw video “soon” and said his office is still accepting such clips. “At some point very soon we will release all the video footage that runs approximately 90 minutes.

Gigliotti

At Second Haverhill Rally Over Gigliotti Death, Protestors Call for Police Firings, Body Cams

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With the rallying call of “Justice for Giga,” some 50 demonstrators gathered at Haverhill’s GAR Park Saturday, demanding answers and more accountability from city officials after a Haverhill man died during what officials have described as a “struggle” with seven officers. Unlike last week’s demonstration, Saturday’s rally was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation. It featured speakers representing Francis P. Gigliotti’s family as well as party leaders, many who were from Boston, Lowell and Southern New Hampshire. The group passed out printed signs that contained slogans such as “Defund the Police,” Mental Health Matters,” “Release the (police) Names” and “End Police Terror.” They joined other handwritten signs that said “No Justice No Peace” and “Justice for Francis Giga.”

Gigliotti’s cousin, Rachael Wallace of Quincy, told the crowd Gigliotti was clearly in crisis and had committed no crime. “It wasn’t treated as a medical crisis and I want to understand why.

Gigliotti

Officials Plan First Public Briefing on Gigliotti Death Investigation Monday

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Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker on Monday is expected to provide an update Monday on the status of his office’s investigation into the death of Francis Gigliotti a week ago while in Haverhill Police custody. The district attorney will share City of Haverhill video camera footage, as well as bystander videos showing 43-year-old Gigliotti before and through the time he became “unresponsive” around Friday, July 11, around 6:30 p.m., on a sidewalk on the outskirts of downtown Haverhill. No advance information was provided about whether any findings by the chief medical examiner will be available. Tucker and Haverhill Police Chief Robert P. Pistone Jr. said in a release last Saturday afternoon that Gigliotti fell while leaving a building on White Street near the intersection of Winter and Emerson Streets. They said he then ran “in the middle of the street and that he hit a car with his head then continued down White Street.” Eventually, Gigliotti sought to enter Bradford Seafood at 124 Winter St., where officers held him down and, as reported in a statement, Gigliotti “became unresponsive, and first responders attempted lifesaving aid.”

Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett issued her own statement later that night, pledging a full and open investigation, and was the first public official to formally identify Gigliotti.