LEOMINSTER — As a corrections officer beaten by an inmate continues to fight for his life, and while the inmate faces charges, a benefit motorcycle ride is being organized to help the officer’s family.
A Tidman Strong Motorcycle Ride fundraiser is being held Sunday to support Matthew Tidman, a Massachusetts Corrections Institution-Shirley officer who has been in intensive care at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington since the attack on August 31
The escorted motorcycle ride begins at 11 a.m. at the state Department of Mental Health’s Hadley Building, 167 Lyman St. Westborough. The route ends at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 456 Litchfield St., Leominster, where a fundraiser will begin at noon.
Leominster’s fundraiser will include live music by Point the Finger, a DJ, family activities such as bounce houses and face painting, food and a cash bar, gun raffles, a car show and raffles of items such as tickets to professional sports games, gasoline. cards, comedy show tickets donated by Mike and Lenny Clarke and one-on-one training time with professional boxer Mickey Ward of Lowell.
The combined donation for both events is $20 per adult and $10 for children 15 and under, payable at Eagles Hall in Leominster. According to organizers, all proceeds will go to Tidman’s family.
“Although Matt is strong, he has been on life support since this attack,” organizers said Facebook events page for the Tidman Strong Motorcycle Ride fundraiser. “God willing, Matt will fight for this, but the coastal battles are many. Matt has committed himself to public service and now we are asking the public for his support.”
Successful operation on Tuesday
Meanwhile, Tidman’s family and friends are marking a successful step in his recovery.
Month: Union: Shirley prison guard attacked by ‘slightly improving’ inmate
Massachusetts Federated Union of Correctional Officers legislative representative Kevin Flanagan said in a statement Wednesday that Tidman underwent surgery Tuesday night and continues to make “slight progress” since the Aug. 31 attack.
“The doctors are happy with his progress but have said immediately that Matt’s recovery will be long and will require more surgeries in his future,” Flanagan said. “The hope is that the good days outweigh the bad and it continues to move upwards.”
Flanagan said family members are grateful for the “outpouring of support” they’ve received over the past month.
“With all the positivity and good vibes out there, it’s definitely channeling through Matt. He’s tough and a fighter and will continue to be through all his ups and downs,” he said.
Life sentence for murder
The inmate accused of attacking Tidman — Roy L. Booth Jr., 40, a Virginia man serving a life sentence for murder — was charged this week with armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery which caused grievous bodily harm and mayhem.
A Middlesex grand jury indicted Booth on Wednesday. He will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn sometime in October.
According to investigators, Booth was in the recreation area of MCI-Shirley’s medium security area just after 2 p.m. on Aug. 31 when he grabbed a metal pole that weighed between 10 and 15 pounds and attacked Tidman, hitting him several times. At the time, Tidman was supervising the inmates.
Investigators alleged that Booth unscrewed the object used to hit Tidman, part of a weight-lifting apparatus, and hid it as he approached and then attacked Tidman.
Investigators said fellow corrections officers restrained Booth after the beating and helped Tidman. Booth was placed in protective custody and transported to the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center next door.
Booth has been at MCI-Shirley since March 2021 as part of the Interstate Corrections Compact, which transfers inmates between states under certain circumstances. Booth is serving a life sentence 2001 murder of Melissa Tanner in Portsmouth, Virginia.
“This incident highlights the dangers corrections officers face every day while performing their duties,” Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement. “Officer Tidman still has a long road ahead of him and we know this terrifying incident of workplace violence will have a lasting impact on his family and colleagues.”
