Dangerousness hearing set for New Bedford man with four assault counts

A judge will hold a dangerousness hearing for a New Bedford man who attacked his girlfriend and chased people with an axe on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Depending on the judge’s ruling, Shawn Michael Ferguson, 46, could be held in detention up until his trial begins.

Ferguson has been held without bail since being apprehended on Saturday, Sept. 19.

A judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation after a public hearing at the Wareham District Court on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The doctor evaluating Ferguson determined that he was mentally competent, according to Beth Stone.

Ferguson  was taken into police custody after reports that he repeatedly struck his girlfriend and ran after a bystander, after chasing others with an axe earlier that morning.

Ferguson faces four charges: assault and battery on a family/household member, assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. 

During the hearing on Sept. 23, Assistant District Attorney Jordan Carpenter said Ferguson was reported yelling and swearing at four Asian bystanders. He was screaming, “This is my land. I’m Native American,” and telling them to go back to their country.

He also screamed, “I’ll gouge your eyes out,” and ran back to his car to grab an axe. After this altercation, Ferguson was seen attacking his girlfriend and running after a female bystander on Swifts Beach, according to the police report.

Massachusetts State Police officers located the axe from earlier that morning in his trunk, Carpenter said at the hearing. She said Ferguson has a violent history on his record and has violated probation before. She said he shows clear, convincing evidence of being dangerous and cannot be released back into the community.