Milford guidance counselor put on leave after allegedly chasing three Framingham children with his car

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent

A Milford High School guidance counselor has been put on paid administrative leave by the school system after he was arraigned this week for allegedly chasing three bicycle-riding children with his car in Framingham.

Peter Bruce, 41, of Framingham, was arraigned in Framingham District Court this Monday for the incident, which occurred this past Saturday evening.

Bruce was charged in court with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon - his car. He was released on $750 cash bail with conditions to stay away from the children, the district attorney's office said.

Bruce could not be reached for comment.

According to the Framingham police report, the three boys - ages 10, 11, and 12 - told officers they were riding their bikes in the garage near 4 Bishop St.

When they arrived at the garage's top floor, Bruce yelled at them to get out, and began chasing them on their bikes with his car all the way down the garage, the boys told police.

A man who lived nearby saw the alleged incident from his apartment window, called the police, and ran outside to assist the children, according to the report.

None of the boys were seriously hurt or transported to the hospital, and the three said that Bruce did not make physical contact with them, Framingham Lt. Victor Pereira said.

"All boys stated they were afraid [Bruce] was going to run them over with his car, and one boy said while he was trying to get away he wiped out on his bike, and in his fall scraped his shin," Pereira said, adding that the officer who responded to the scene provided a bandage to the boy.

Police said Bruce stated that he did tell the boys riding their bikes to get out, but that was where the incident ended, and denied chasing the boys with his car.

Additionally, responding officers noticed the smell of alcohol on Bruce's breath, and said Bruce admitted to drinking during the day, according to the report.

The police report indicates that officers did not administer a sobriety test at the scene, said Pereira, adding that the tests are given on a case-by-case basis.

Bruce was arrested at the scene, Pereira said.

Bruce has worked at Milford High School for one year as a guidance, career, and academic enhancement supervisor, said Kathleen Perry, Milford assistant superintendent.

Bruce is due back in court on Aug. 22 for pretrial conference, the district attorney's office said.

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Jaclyn Reiss can be reached at jaclyn.reiss@globe.com