Brockton couple arrested after police find syringes within reach of child

BROCKTON, Mass. — Brockton Police responded to a call on Kame Street on Sunday night after they received reports of a man that had been swinging a hammer at cars driving by, and ended up finding a toddler in a dangerous environment.

Neighbors and police say the incident started with a distraught man and ended with him and his girlfriend being arrested, and the 2-year-old child taken from their home.

Hilario Gabriel, who lives in the neighborhood, said he received a call from his wife saying a man had hit her car with a carpenter's hammer as she drove down the street.

"He smashed the hammer twice on the car," Gabriel said.

As Gabriel looked down the street, he saw Stephen Cavagnaro across his driveway.

"I saw it was him and I said 'I know what's going on,'" Gabriel said.

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Soon, police arrived and attempted to speak with Cavagnaro, but were confronted by his girlfriend, Jessica Barone, at their home.

According to police, he came out, looking very agitated, then ran back inside and refused orders, which led to police stunning him with a Taser.

Upon investigating the home, officers found numerous syringes, some uncapped, drugs and paraphernalia in the filthy home, just feet away from Barone's 2-year-old.

The child was taken to the hospital and DCF is also involved.

Barone and Cavagnaro are facing a slew of drug charges. He is also being charged with assault with a deadly weapon and she is being charged with child endangerment.

Both Barone and Cavagnaro were scheduled to be arraigned today. Police say the child in under the care of relatives.

Cox Media Group