Former Fall River Officer Sentenced for Assaulting Man in Custody

BOSTON (WBSM) — A former Fall River police officer was sentenced today for assaulting a man in custody with a baton and failing to report the assault.

Nicholas Hoar, 37, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.

In February 2024, Hoar was convicted of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of false reports.

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While on duty on December 21, 2020, Hoar struck an individual who had been arrested in the forehead with a 22-ounce steel expandable police baton. The result of the injuries required stitches.

According to court documents, Hoar then submitted two official police reports which excluded any mention of the fact that he had struck the arrestee in the forehead with a baton.

Hoar also falsely blamed the victim’s injury on a fall.

“Police officers take an oath to uphold the law and the vast majority of men and women in uniform bravely protect and serve the public across this District each and every day,”  Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said.

“Nicholas Hoar violated his oath and broke the law. This lengthy prison sentence sends a message to the entire community that we will continue to hold members of law enforcement accountable when they violate a person’s civil rights," he said.