March 28, 2024
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Pittsfield man uses son as shield against arrest

PITTSFIELD – A man who didn’t want to accept a routine traffic ticket ended up repeatedly punching a Pittsfield police officer and using his 7-year-old son as a shield to prevent being arrested, according to police.

Edward Wilshusen, 37, of Pittsfield was arrested Tuesday night and charged with refusing to sign a uniform traffic summons, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer and endangering the welfare of a minor.

Officer Jason Emery stopped Wilshusen on Industrial Park Road for having loud vehicle exhaust.

When Wilshusen refused to sign the summons and became verbally abusive, Emery attempted to arrest him. The man then punched Emery several times in the head and face and held his young son in front of him so officers could not arrest him, according to police.

Through the assistance of several other Pittsfield officers – Shane Barker and Chief Steven Emery and Trooper Christopher Carr – and the use of pepper spray, Officer Jason Emery was able to take the child away from the man, get Wilshusen under control and place him under arrest.

Emery said it was the first time in his 12 years as a police officer that he had been assaulted. On Thursday morning, he still bore the evidence of the blows, with cuts and scrapes on his knees, forehead and nose, and severe bruising.

Emery said Wilshusen has three out-of-state convictions for assault on a police officer. The officer said it was “an act of cowardice” on Wilshusen’s part to use his own child to avoid a $200 traffic ticket.

“That boy was screaming through the whole incident,” Emery said.

Wilshusen was taken to Somerset County Jail in Skowhegan, where he posted $2,000 bail and was released.

Correction: This article appeared on page B4 in the State and Coastal edition.

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