A woman fled a Massachusetts State Police barracks naked and screaming for help before a caller stayed with her until help arrived, according to prosecutors and police reports.
Story Snapshot
- Prosecutors say a Boston Public Schools employee raped a woman inside a state police barracks; he pleaded not guilty.
- A 911 caller found the woman naked and distressed near the barracks around 1 a.m., and she was taken to a hospital.
- Court audio and filings outline a timeline from an Oak Bluffs bar to the barracks and her flight to the road.
- The alleged setting inside a law‑enforcement site raises serious institutional oversight questions.
What Prosecutors Told the Court About the Alleged Assault
Assistant District Attorney Courtney Scalice told a judge that Edward Brown held the woman by the neck and raped her while she kicked and screamed. Prosecutors said the woman reported waking up naked and face down with a man forcing himself on her. They said she ran from the Martha’s Vineyard barracks soon after. Brown, a Boston Public Schools security employee, was arraigned in Edgartown District Court and pleaded not guilty to a rape charge.
Prosecutors described a sequence that began at an Oak Bluffs bar, included a ride to the barracks, and ended with the woman’s escape. An Uber driver reportedly dropped off a man who looked like Brown with a “very young-looking” woman at the barracks on August 15. The Boston Globe reported court records saying Brown stayed as a guest of Trooper Ryan T. Costello and told him he brought a woman there for sex, an assertion authorities are now testing.
Immediate Aftermath: Roadside Rescue and Medical Care
Oak Bluffs police said a caller found the woman naked, distressed, and near the barracks at about 1 a.m. The caller stayed with her until officers and medical workers arrived. Responders took her to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for care. These details launched the local investigation that led to Brown’s arrest days later. The roadside discovery, the 911 call, and the hospital transport are key fixed points in the case timeline reported by multiple outlets.
Boston.com reported that media obtained audio from the arraignment, which captured prosecutors’ description of the alleged assault and the timeline. Brown’s lawyer told the outlet that Brown maintains his innocence. He emphasized the presumption of innocence under law while contesting the allegations. Brown’s attorney also argued in court that the woman did not want to pursue charges, according to a police affidavit cited by CBS Boston. Prosecutors are proceeding with the case.
Why the Location Raises Oversight and Trust Concerns
The alleged assault inside a Massachusetts State Police workplace magnifies public concern about oversight. Reports say Brown was a civilian guest at the Martha’s Vineyard barracks, not a trooper. Still, the setting puts pressure on leadership to explain access, supervision, and visitor controls. The Globe reported that records may clarify who authorized Brown’s stay and what logs, surveillance, or communications exist from August 14–15. Those institutional answers matter for public trust.
This case also touches common points of confusion in sexual assault law. In Massachusetts, prosecutors must prove lack of consent beyond a reasonable doubt. When intoxication is claimed, they must also prove the person could not consent and that the accused knew or should have known that. The process often keeps medical and forensic details private while a case is active. That balance protects victims and due process, but it can leave the public wanting clarity.
The Stakes for Schools, Police, and the Public
Brown’s job with Boston Public Schools triggered safety concerns, even though news reports say the alleged victim was not a student. The district has addressed employment questions while the case moves forward. For the State Police, this case tests whether basic controls worked inside a secure facility. For the public, it sharpens a broader frustration: people expect government institutions to guard the vulnerable and police themselves without fear or favor. Accountability here will set a tone.
Sources:
whmi.com, cbsnews.com, dailymail.com, bostonherald.com, bostonglobe.com, capecodtimes.com
