The chair of the Tisbury select board is facing new charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer who was trying to serve her trespassing papers, according to police and court records.
The chair of the Tisbury select board is facing new charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer who was trying to serve her trespassing papers, according to police and court records.
Tisbury police filed charges on Friday against Christina Colarusso in Edgartown District Court, according to the court docket. The charges are indecent assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct stemming from an incident on Nov. 25.
State police earlier this month said they had issued Ms. Colarusso, who was elected to the select board in 2023, a criminal summons for allegedly breaking into a Steamship Authority freight boat that was docked in Vineyard Haven in the early morning hours of Nov. 25.
Later that day, Tisbury police attempted to serve her with a trespass notice on behalf of the Steamship Authority, according to a report released by Tisbury police on Monday.
The officer, whose name is redacted, saw Ms. Colarusso walking along Main street in Vineyard Haven around 2 p.m. and drove toward her. Ms Colarusso allegedly flagged the officer down before the altercation.
Details of what happened are not clear because Tisbury police redacted several portions of their report. Police Chief Chris Habekost found that some portions should be withheld because they contained personal information pertaining to reputational and medical matters, according to his letter in response to a records request from the Gazette.
A second report connected to the alleged trespassing on the ferry was withheld entirely because the matter was referred to state police by the Tisbury department, and its publication could have a detrimental effect on the state’s ongoing investigation, according to Chief Habekost.
The remaining unredacted portion of the Tisbury police report notes that the officer advised Ms. Colarusso that she was going to be taken into custody and later summonsed into court for the charges.
Case files for both cases are not yet available in the Edgartown courthouse, a clerk said Monday, and no hearing dates have been scheduled.
Tisbury police did not respond to a request for further comment on the alleged incident with an officer. The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office declined to speak on the matter, citing the pending case.
Ms. Colarusso, who has been absent from select board meetings for the last several months, did not respond to requests for comment.
Ms. Colarusso won the 2023 election by just three votes over incumbent Abbe Burt. She has been missing from board meetings going back to September, including the fall special town meeting, leaving the other two members to deal with the running of the town.
When reached Tuesday, fellow select board member John Cahill declined to comment on if her absence has affected the daily governance; the incidents have not come up otherwise at select board’s meetings.
Ms. Colarusso went to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and had worked aboard boats, including Sealift Command. She previously worked at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport, logged time as a Chilmark lifeguard and volunteered as a Chilmark firefighter.
Comments
I saw what happened, and
Concerned MVI saw what happened, and reading about these new charges was appalling. If the reports outlined here are accurate, this behavior is completely unacceptable—especially from someone serving as chair of the Tisbury Select Board and entrusted with the public’s confidence. What options do the residents of Tisbury have to remove her from this position? As I understand it, in Massachusetts an elected official can only be recalled if the town has adopted a recall bylaw; otherwise the only immediate remedies are resignation or waiting until the next election. Regardless, this situation clearly demands transparency, accountability, and a serious public discussion about how the town ensures ethical conduct from its elected officials.
THIS CHRISTMAS PRAY FOR HER
GODSPAL MVTHIS CHRISTMAS PRAY FOR HER.PRAY FOR US ALL. GOD BLESS US ALL.
I have compassion for
Lynne C Fraker Vineyard HavenI have compassion for Christina, a valued member of our community who is clearly in crisis. The redactions are appropriate; the public does not need access to personal details.
Select Board member Cahill declined to comment, but anyone who attended last night’s Tisbury Select Board meeting could plainly see that the absence of a third board member has a real and immediate impact on the daily governance of the Town. With only two members seated, a single “no” vote is sufficient to halt committee appointments, the establishment of a dredge program, or any other action that one board member opposes.
With the next election not until April, the question before us is unavoidable: do we respond to the request of 200 residents and hold a special meeting, or do we continue to limp along under a governance structure that is effectively stalled until then?
Where is the town manager.
Tom Engley West TisburyWhere is the town manager.
What role would the town
Enough Already Oak BluffsWhat role would the town manager have in this? The selectboard is his boss?
The Town administror is very
VH resident VHThe Town administror is very much a part of the solution. The Selectboard may be his boss, but they are a team that needs to work togeather for the benefit of the Town.
Missing months of meetings
MV Resident Oak BluffsMissing months of meetings and actions like this are indicative of deep issues that deserve our compassion and patience and not only because she is a “respected member” of our community, but because she is a human and something is clearly going on. Its always such a sad situation when someone’s struggles affect so many parts of their lives and in turn, so many others. Let’s keep our frustration of how her hurt is hurting us because I guarantee you she knows it and doesn’t need to constantly hear about it more than she already is. She doesn’t need this additional shame.
I will reitterate a previous
VH resident VHI will reitterate a previous comment....Now is the time for Tisbury to follow Oak bluffs lead and go from a 3-person to a 5-person select board. With a new Town administrator who desparately needs the guidance and support of the Select Board that hired him, it is a disservice to our Town Administrator to put him in a situation without the support he needs to be successful. If it were a 5-person select board, then being without any selectboard official would not be as critical. It would also give our new administrator a fighting chance to make positive changes in VH. It has been two select board members carrying the weight for a very long time. It is not fair to the two selectboard members, the tax paying residents and all town of Tisbury citizens. I urge everyone to watch this weeks selectoard meeting on MVTV. All we need is a signed petition from residents to put on the Town Meeting warrant and we can move from 3 to 5 selectboard members. This way no matter what an individual board members situation, the town and the town administrator are protected
Mayor and and nine seat town
Albert GosnoldMayor and and nine seat town council.
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