Visitor Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Tewksbury Hospital Employee

A 27-year-old Boston man was charged with assault and battery after pushing a chair into a pregnant staff member.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:48pm

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An extreme close-up of a broken wooden chair leg, the harsh flash illuminating the rough, splintered texture against a dark background, conceptually representing the violence of the alleged assault on a hospital employee.The aftermath of a violent incident at Tewksbury Hospital exposes the growing safety concerns for staff at the facility.Boston Today

A man visiting Tewksbury Hospital was arrested on Sunday morning for allegedly pushing a chair into a pregnant staff member. The incident comes amid growing safety concerns at the Massachusetts medical facility, where an employee was recently assaulted by a patient just days after the CEO issued new guidance barring the security team from carrying defensive tactical weapons.

Why it matters

Tewksbury Hospital, which treats patients who can't receive care elsewhere, has faced increasing staff safety issues in recent weeks. The new policy change limiting security tools has raised concerns among nurses and other employees about their ability to protect themselves.

The details

According to police, around 10 a.m. on Sunday, 27-year-old Eduardo Cruceta of Boston began acting erratically and threatening staff after a family member experienced a medical episode. Campus security asked Cruceta to leave the room multiple times, but he refused and then allegedly pushed a chair into a pregnant staff member. Cruceta was arrested without incident and is due in court on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a public employee.

  • The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
  • Just days prior, on April 8, 2026, the Tewksbury Hospital CEO issued new guidance barring the security team from carrying defensive tactical weapons.

The players

Eduardo Cruceta

A 27-year-old Boston resident who was visiting a family member at Tewksbury Hospital and allegedly pushed a chair into a pregnant staff member.

Tewksbury Hospital

A Massachusetts medical facility that treats patients who can't receive care elsewhere, which has faced growing staff safety concerns in recent weeks.

Amy Dumont

The CEO of Tewksbury Hospital, who issued new guidance barring the security team from carrying defensive tactical weapons.

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What they’re saying

“I want to assure nurses, clinical staff, support staff and others who work with patients: your safety matters deeply. This policy does not weaken our commitment to protecting you. It means we are relying on approaches that work best in health care.”

— Amy Dumont, CEO, Tewksbury Hospital

What’s next

Cruceta is due in Lowell District Court on Monday to face the charges.

The takeaway

The incident at Tewksbury Hospital highlights the delicate balance between providing a therapeutic environment and ensuring the safety of staff, as the hospital navigates new policies that limit security tools amid growing concerns over employee assaults.