LAWRENCE — Accompanied by his lawyer, a prominent Andover man arrested early Sunday on charges of assaulting two women at a Lawrence rooming house met with police yesterday to give his version of the events that led to the arrest.
The man and his lawyer said he was the victim of a sequence of events that began when he stopped to give a ride to a woman who flagged him down and culminated with his being robbed of his ATM card.
Stephen Stapinski, 56, of 12 Apache Ave., the owner of an engineering firm and member of the Andover Finance Committee, is charged with assaulting two women and breaking a window at the Valley Lodging rooming house at 77 S. Union St., about 2:25 a.m. Sunday.
Police were sent to the rooming house in response to a report of a disturbance and arrested Stapinski on charges of assault and battery and malicious damage to property over $250.
Police said two women told them that Stapinski assaulted the women and smashed a window.
But Stapinski's lawyer, Scott Gleason of Haverhill, said his client broke the window only after his ATM card was stolen.
Gleason said thieves tried five times on Sunday to withdraw money using Stapinski's ATM card at various locations in the city but were unsuccessful.
He said an ATM surveillance video will be preserved on compact disc for police to review.
"They just need to go get it," he said of police going to the businesses to get the videos.
Stapinski pleaded not guilty to both charges at his arraignment Monday in Lawrence District Court.
Police Chief John Romero said Stapinski reported the robbery to detectives yesterday.
According to Romero, Stapinski told police this story:
He was driving in the city at around 2 a.m. Sunday, checking on rental properties he owns, when he was flagged down by a woman.
Stapinski stopped his vehicle and gave the woman a ride before stopping again at an ATM to withdraw money for fast food.
When the woman did not want to stop for food, Stapinski dropped her off at the 77 S. Union St. rooming house where she was staying.
Stapinski then went inside the building to use the bathroom and was accosted by two men before leaving, Romero said. Stapinski returned to the rooming house after he realized his ATM card was missing, Romero said.
Gleason declined to comment on what Stapinski told police.
"We're not going to do anything to jeopardize the investigation," he said.
Meanwhile, town officials in Andover are sticking by Stapinski.
Town Moderator Sheila Doherty appointed Stapinski as a replacement for outgoing committee member Harold Wright in March 2008 and reappointed him to the committee July 1.
Stapinski is now serving his first year of a three-year term on the Finance Committee.
Doherty said she's known Stapinski for years as an involved citizen who performs quiet acts of charity, helping out both families and organizations in need.
"He's done an awful lot in this community," Doherty said. "I think he's earned the time it's going to take to clear his name. If he needs that time, I'm willing to give it to him. I think we need to see how it will unfold."
"He said he didn't assault anyone and I believe him," Doherty said.
Stapinski was released on personal recognizance after his arraignment. His next court appearance is Jan. 14.
Romero said police are familiar with the Valley Lodging rooming house.
"There are a number of people to be interviewed in connection with this incident," said Romero. "From time to time, we've had to respond there for a number of different types of calls for services."
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