A Brockton police officer responding to a 911 call was overcome by an angry mob, a confrontation that sent him to a hospital with a concussion, cracked ribs, and a back injury, authorities said yesterday.
“That’s the difficulty of being a police officer,’’ Mayor Linda Balzotti of Brockton said by phone yesterday, calling the incident disheartening because it shows a lack of respect.
“You go out every day to every call, and you just don’t know what you’re going to face,’’ she said. “You have to admire those who do the job.’’
Backup officers responding to his call for help shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday found Officer Eric Smith surrounded by more than a dozen people outside 108 Pine Grove Drive, said Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.
Smith appeared to be “cornered and injured,’’ yelling for his team to arrest a suspect, identified as Trevell Starks, 27, of Brockton.
As police looked on, Starks punched Smith in the face, knocking him to the ground, Cruz said. Starks then kicked the fallen officer as the crowd around him grew. Starks then began reaching for Smith’s firearm, Cruz said...
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