LYNNÂ —Â A judge ordered $500 cash bail for a city woman who police said was drunk and attacked another woman with a meat cleaver, sending a second woman who tried to intervene to the hospital.
Shirley Bernard, 47, of 131 Ocean St. #82, was arrested and charged with assault and battery; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and assault with a dangerous weapon; at 10:40 p.m. Tuesday.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Bernard’s behalf at her arraignment in Lynn District Court Wednesday.
Police said officers responded at 9:46 p.m. Tuesday to the Ocean Street building and found Bernard trying to leave and holding a cloth up to her bleeding mouth.
Bernard told police she was coming from the apartment to which officers were responding and had been punched in the face, according to Lynn Police Officer Taylor Kulakowski’s report. He also reported Bernard smelled strongly of alcohol.
Police continued to the apartment where they found three people: the female alleged victim; the male alleged victim, who also lives at the apartment, according to court documents; and a female witness.
The male alleged victim told officers he and Bernard had been arguing about his being in a relationship with the female witness. The male alleged victim said the argument got heated and Bernard bit him, after which the witness told Bernard to leave.
“Bernard ran at her and (the female witness) pushed her away,” Kulakowski reported that the male alleged victim said. “At this point Bernard went into the kitchen and grabbed a meat cleaver and proceeded to go after (the female witness).”
Police reported the female alleged victim tried to stop Bernard but the defendant cut her left wrist — leaving a 2-inch long and ½-inch deep wound.
The female alleged victim said she punched Bernard to get away, according to police. The male alleged victim then tried to grab the knife and was also cut, according to police. Both the male alleged victim and female witness said Bernard then dropped the knife and they forced her out of the apartment, according to police.
The female alleged victim was transported to Union Hospital, police reported.
Assistant District Attorney Shailagh Kennedy said in Lynn District Court Wednesday that the male alleged victim (who refused medical care the prior evening) said the female alleged victim had been transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital for surgery.
She also noted Bernard made suicidal statements while being driven to the police station, including asking an officer if she could use his gun to shoot herself.
Kennedy requested $2,500 cash bail and that Bernard stay away from the named victims.
But public defender Mary Teczar said the case made no sense.
She noted police responded to a report of an unwanted guest but Bernard lived at the apartment. Teczar also said police reported the female witness told them she picked up the knife and cleaned it before officers got to the apartment.
She said her client “vehemently denies” the allegations, and she requested a small cash bail or that Bernard be released.
Judge Ellen Flatley ordered $500 cash bail and scheduled Bernard to return to court Aug. 20.