Rochester Police Report Details Southcoast CEO Alleged Assault

ROCHESTER — More details have emerged in police reports on the Saturday night incident that led to Southcoast Health CEO Keith Hovan being charged with assault and battery.

According to the police report, officers were called to Hovan's home at Mary's Pond Road in Rochester just before 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 for a reported domestic disturbance.

They arrived to find Hovan, 51, covered in a liquid that smelled of alcohol and with a minor injury to his arm, and the alleged victim inside the home with an injury to the face under the eye and some evidence of bleeding.

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The officers called emergency medical services to the residence to check on the alleged victim, who is an adult.

The alleged victim will not be identified in accordance with WBSM policy.

Police said residents told them that the dispute began over what television show to watch and later escalated.

Hovan was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery, with bail set at $240, according to the report.

Bail was paid and Hovan was released at 6 a.m. Sunday.

The report noted that the alleged victim did not want to take a protective order against Hovan.

However, his license to carry firearms was revoked due to the nature of the charges against him.

Police returned later that morning to confiscate Hovan's firearms.

He owned a large number of firearms — more than 40, according to the police report — which were removed.

The police report noted that J&S Guns, an Acushnet company, will take most of the weapons.

Hovan was arraigned on Monday and is due back in court on Nov. 24 for a pretrial hearing.