Background: Cellphone footage of the fight that resulted in the arrest of Steven Dana (Benjamin Osmanovic/WBZ). Inset: News footage of Steven Dana in court on June 4 (WBZ).
Steven Dana faces serious charges, including attempted murder, two counts of strangulation or suffocation, and assault and battery on a disabled person. The altercation occurred on a Wednesday, with Hopkinton Police responding to a call about the incident just before 7 p.m. According to the police, an unexpected element of the case was the existence of a video capturing the entire episode, which surfaced as they arrived on the scene.
The argument began over Matt Duffy, identified by local CBS affiliate WBZ, using a boat ramp meant exclusively for Hopkinton residents. Dana approached Duffy and his friends, who were jet skiing, and demanded they leave, as recorded by Duffy’s friend, Benjamin Osmanovic. Dana’s words, “It’s time to go,” were captured on video.
In the footage, Dana is seen descending a hill and confronting Duffy, who was on crutches because of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Police noted that the video showed Dana slapping Duffy before tackling him and forcefully holding him underwater.
Duffy, speaking to WBZ, recounted the terrifying experience, explaining his helplessness due to his injuries. “I couldn’t use either of my arms or my leg as they were both broken, and I was just praying that he let go or my friends pull him off of me,” he said. Fortunately, Duffy’s friends were able to intervene and pull Dana away. The police arrested Dana after reviewing the video evidence supplied by Osmanovic.
Duffy told WBZ, “I couldn’t use either of my arms or my leg as they were both broken, and I was just praying that he let go or my friends pull him off of me.” Duffy’s friends were able to pull Dana off of him, and police viewed Osmanovic’s video when they arrived. Dana was placed under arrest.
As of Thursday, Dana was still in custody at the Hopkinton Police Department and was being held without bail. He was scheduled to be arraigned in court on Friday. His next court date was not available.
