Man charged with punching trooper in the face, pushing him into traffic during a highway stop

State Police report arresting a Boston man they say tried beating up a trooper who had stopped him for speeding on Rte. 24 in Randolph early Saturday, in an attack that included him reaching for the trooper's gun and pushing him into the middle of the road, after first punching him in the head.

Police say Devin Fuller, 29, was doing at least 81 in a 55-mph zone on I-93 south before speeding onto 24 southbound. The trooper, activated his lights and got Fuller to pull over, then ordered Fuller out of his purple Charger after learning his license had been suspended the week before.

After his repeated requests to FULLER to get out of the car were ignored, the Trooper then attempted to take hold of the suspect’s arm and escort him from the vehicle. At that point FULLER punched the Trooper in the face and reached toward the center console. Fearing FULLER could be retrieving a weapon, the Trooper pulled the suspect from the vehicle and the altercation continued outside the car in the breakdown lane. FULLER repeatedly struck the Trooper, then tackled him to the ground and drove his face into the pavement. Throughout the assault the Trooper attempted to control FULLER and stop his assaultive action

As the Trooper got back onto his feet, FULLER grabbed him with both arms and drove him 15-20 feet into and across two travel lanes and in front of an oncoming vehicle, the driver of which had to take evasive action and change lanes to avoid hitting the Trooper. At that point the Trooper and suspect again fell to the ground and continued fighting, and FULLER pulled at the Trooper’s duty belt and reached for the Trooper’s service weapon. The Trooper put both hands on his gun to prevent the suspect from gaining control of it.

State Police said the trooper lucked out - an off-duty trooper was driving by, saw the struggle and stopped to help.

At that point FULLER got back into his vehicle, drove in reverse in the wrong direction about 100 yards at a high rate of speed, then put the car back into forward gear, pulled across two travel lanes with no regard for oncoming traffic, and fled down Route 24 southbound at an estimated speed of 140 mph, weaving across all lanes.

The Trooper, meanwhile, returned to his cruiser and pursued FULLER. The suspect exited Route 24 onto Route 139 in Stoughton. While exiting the ramp, the Trooper observed FULLER drive into an industrial park. Other Troopers responded to assist, including an MSP K9 unit and the off-duty Trooper who had pulled over to help at the site of the assault a few moments earlier. Stoughton Police Officers also responded to assist. The Charger was found abandoned in the rear of the industrial area. The MSP K9 unit and the Trooper who had been assaulted initiated a track of the suspect through a wooded area. While they were tracking FULLER’s route of flight through the woods, Stoughton Officers located and apprehended the suspect behind a Hampton Inn & Suites on Page Street.

State Police say troopers found a bottle of Hydrocodone pills, cocaine, some marijuana and three THC edible packets, as well as "plastic bags consistent with packaging and distribution of illegal narcotics."

Fuller was charged with assault with intent to murder, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, failure to stop for police, negligent operation, reckless operation, resisting arrest, possession of a Class D narcotic with intent to distribute possession of a Class C narcotic with intent to distribute, operating after license suspension, speeding and disturbing the peace, State Police say. He was held in lieu of $50,000 bail to await arraignment in Stoughton on Monday.

The trooper who initially stopped him was taken to a local hospital for treatment of cuts and bruises to his head and upper body and a lower body injury, State Police say.

Innocent, etc.