SALISBURY — A Methuen police officer was arrested this weekend and then placed on paid administrative leave after he was allegedly involved in a wild brawl at the Surfside 5 Bar & Grill on Salisbury Beach.
Shawn Tardif, 38, was arrested and charged with assault and battery and wanton destruction of property at 11:20 p.m. Saturday night, according to Salisbury police.
He is scheduled for arraignment today in Newburyport District Court.
Tardif either bumped or was bumped by another person, precipitating a fight at the Surfside 5, said Salisbury Police Chief Thomas Fowler.
The six-year Methuen police officer is accused of damaging DJ equipment, prompting the destruction of property charge, Fowler said.
Surveillance video captured the brawl, which Surfside 5 manager said he needed to review before he could comment. “We’re still investigating,” Rehrauer said.
Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said he was notified of Tardif’s arrest and what allegedly occurred in Salisbury Saturday night. He in turn notified Mayor Stephen Zanni and Peter McQuillan, city attorney, he said.
Yesterday, Tardif, who works the midnight shift, was placed on paid administrative leave “until the matter is reviewed,” Solomon said.
“Hopefully we’ll have a better understanding of all this by Tuesday or Wednesday,” Solomon said.
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Material from the Newburyport Daily News was used in this story.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter under the screenname EagleTribJill.
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