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Ex-N.H. trooper to plead guilty in chase beating

An image of the incident, as captured by a television helicopter.WFXT-TV

A former New Hampshire state trooper is slated to plead guilty Thursday to assault charges in the videotaped beating of a Massachusetts suspect who crossed into Nashua during a pursuit in May, according to prosecutors.

Andrew Monaco is expected to admit to three counts of simple assault, according to the office of New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph A. Foster.

Monaco’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.

Monaco had previously been placed on leave from the New Hampshire State Police. The agency said on Tuesday that he no longer worked there as of July 22.

A separate case will continue against Massachusetts State Police Trooper Joseph Flynn, who was also accused in the May 11 incident involving suspect Richard Simone Jr. of Worcester. Flynn is scheduled for a pretrial conference Oct. 13, according to Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan G. Morrell.

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Simone was wanted on assault and larceny charges when he led authorities on a chase that began in Central Massachusetts. Troopers struck him repeatedly after he got out of his vehicle and knelt on the ground. The incident was captured on camera by news helicopters.

Flynn has been on leave since immediately after the incident and has been suspended without pay since he was charged in July, according to David Procopio, spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police. Flynn is also under an internal investigation, which will not be decided until after the criminal case.

“Following completion of the criminal case and our internal investigation his employment status will be assessed again,” Procopio said in a statement.

Flynn’s attorney, Ronald J. Caron, said Wednesday that his case remains pending “until the AG’s office sees the light.”

“Joe Flynn committed no criminal act,” he said. “There’s no question about that.”


Andy Rosen can be reached at andrew.rosen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @andyrosen.

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