With golf-ball-sized lumps on his head and cuts on his face, a 46-year-old Lawrence man was ordered held without bail pending a dangerous hearing after a woman told Tewksbury police that he tried to rape her at knife-point, so she repeatedly hit him on the head with a cooking pan.
In Lowell District Court Monday, Judge Thomas Brennan ordered Frank Harrison, of 249 Ferry St. — who was wearing what appeared to be a hospital gown — held after he pleaded not guilty to armed assault to rape, indecent assault and battery on someone 14 or older, and kidnapping.
A dangerous hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Prosecutor Rachel Perlman that early Sunday morning, Tewksbury police responded to Extended Stay America at 1910 Andover St. for a report of a man covered in blood and bleeding from lacerations to his head. Harrison was bleeding from lacerations above his right ear, under his left eye and under his chin. He also had lumps on his head. He was transported to the hospital to be evaluated.
Police spoke to the alleged victim, who told them, “He tried to rape me.”
The alleged victim told police that she met Harrison at a party in Lowell. He offered her a ride to what she believed was another party, Perlman said. Instead, they drove to the Tewksbury hotel. Harrison and the victim went to his room, where the woman called a friend to pick her up.
It was then that Harrison allegedly took off his clothes from the waist down, grabbed the woman and attempted to rape her. Harrison allegedly grabbed a steak knife, while the victim hit Harrison in the head with a pot. When the friend heard screaming, he began banging on the door. Harrison heard the friend coming down the hall, allegedly threw the knife and ran out the door.
But defense attorney Keren Goldenberg argued that this was a setup for Harrison.
A hotel employee took a call from the alleged victim telling the employee not to let her friends up, then she called saying her friends could come up. That’s when Harrison came downstairs bleeding.
Goldenberg said it was “absolutely untrue” that Harrison assaulted the woman and she defended herself. Goldenberg said this could have been a scheme to rob Harrison.
The clothing was taken for analysis and the scene was processed, police said.