LOWELL, Mass. — City police Sgt. Mickey O'Keefe and Officer Carlos Ramirez will return to duty today after an internal police investigation found that they both were justified in shooting a 54-year-old Lowell man who came at them with a knife earlier this month.
O'Keefe, known for his role playing himself in the Oscar-winning Micky Ward biopic, The Fighter, and Ramirez were sent to 402 East Merrimack St., along with other officers Aug. 19 after a 911 call reported a domestic assault about 1 p.m.
Immediately afterward, police said only that officers fired two shots that struck William Dolan, 54, who lives at 402 East Merrimack St., after officers found him armed inside an apartment.
Court records further alleged that Dolan was holding a knife, and continued moving down a hallway toward the officers in an "assaultive manner" even though the officers repeatedly told Dolan to show his hands and drop the knife.
Police say each officer fired one shot in self-defense, striking Dolan in the right thigh and rib cage.
An internal investigation concluded yesterday and was reviewed by police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee.
It found that O'Keefe and Ramirez both used their weapons in accordance with police policy and procedure, and that their actions were "reasonable and necessary due to the life threatening encounter that they had with the suspect, Mr. Dolan," according to a prepared statement issued by Deputy Police Superintendent Arthur Ryan.
O'Keefe and Ramirez have been on paid administrative leave since the incident, which is standard procedure after such a use of force, but were to return to full duty today. Members of the Dolan family have declined to comment.
Police reports filed in court claim Dolan's 80-year-old mother, Joan Dolan, called police to report that her son was choking her.
William Dolan was charged with attempted murder, assault and battery on a person over 60 or disabled, assault and battery, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
He was arraigned Aug. 23 in his bed at a Boston hospital, but was later released. He was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail and is not allowed in-person contact with his mother.
Dolan is due in Lowell District Court for a status hearing Sept. 13.
Joan Dolan was treated and released from a local hospital after the incident.