Boston Radio: WMEX Host Michele McPhee Arrested For Assault

Michele McPhee

A WMEX 1510 AM radio host accused of assaulting a state trooper while being arrested for drunken driving early this morning appeared at her arraignment in South Boston District Court this afternoon with a facial injury.

The Boston Herald reports Michele McPhee, 45, of East Boston, pleaded not guilty to charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer.

State Trooper Patrick J. Cadeliere stopped McPhee’s Mercedes SUV on I-93 northbound in South Boston around 1 a.m. today after noticing her vehicle was swerving in and out of lanes and coming “within mere inches of sideswiping the jersey barrier on right side of the road,” according to court documents.

When Cadeliere spoke with McPhee, she allegedly admitted to drinking wine with dinner, told him she had “defended cops for 30 years” and demanded that he contact high-ranking members of the state police about pulling her over, court documents show.

Cadeliere, who suffered a leg injury during the dispute, said he had to radio for backup to help place McPhee under arrest. McPhee suffered a head injury during the struggle to put her in cuffs, court documents show.

McPhee’s defense lawyer, Chaz Fisher, said she spent six hours at Tufts Medical Center overnight and needed more than 20 stitches to close a wound to her head. He declined to comment after the arraignment.

McPhee, who did not have a prior criminal record, was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court Aug. 4 for a pretrial hearing.

WMEX issued the following statement:

"Michele McPhee is a respected member of the 1510 WMEX family, and the management of 1510 WMEX stands behind her in this difficult time as we would any friend or family member. We respect Michele's privacy, and ask that any further questions regarding this event be directed to her counsel. We leave it to the judicial system of the State of Massachusetts to provide due process and justice to Michele, while we continue to support her within our family, and wish her a speedy recovery from the serious injuries that she sustained in the course of this event."