Massachusetts state trooper appeared to be sleeping in cruiser while handcuffed prisoner left alone in hospital: news
14-10-2026
Massachusetts State Trooper Under Investigation for Sleeping in Cruiser While Handcuffed Prisoner Left Unattended at Boston Hospital
A Massachusetts State Police trooper is facing an internal affairs investigation following allegations that he fell asleep inside his cruiser while a handcuffed prisoner was left completely unattended inside Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston.
CBS NewsKey Incident Details and Timeline
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
CBS NewsThe Allegations: According to an investigative report by WBZ-TV’s I-Team, the trooper transported an arrested individual to the hospital for medical evaluation. Instead of remaining with the individual in custody as required by protocol, the trooper allegedly returned to his marked vehicle and fell asleep, leaving the handcuffed prisoner unmonitored inside the facility.
CBS News+ 1Outcome at the Scene: Hospital staff discovered that the prisoner had been left unattended. The individual did not attempt to flee or cause harm, and no injuries were reported among hospital personnel or visitors.
Safety Concerns and Department Protocol
Law enforcement procedures mandate that officers maintain continuous visual contact and direct custody of any detained person in a medical setting. Leaving a restrained prisoner unattended creates severe safety risks for healthcare personnel, patients, and visitors, while presenting a major escape and liability hazard.
CBS NewsCurrent Status and Investigation
Internal Affairs Review: The Massachusetts State Police confirmed that an active internal investigation is underway to determine policy violations and assess disciplinary action.
Duty Status: Department sources indicate that the trooper involved has not been placed on administrative leave and remains on active duty pending the findings of the internal inquiry.
CBS NewsHospital Statement: Massachusetts General Hospital deferred all inquiries regarding the incident and custody protocols directly to state police officials.
WBZ-TV’s I-Team report provides an in-depth breakdown of the ongoing investigation, safety violations, and departmental responses in this CBS Boston broadcast segment on the incident. This video report directly covers the television investigation detailing how the unattended prisoner was discovered and the subsequent actions taken by internal affairs.
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