AMESBURY — A domestic dispute between a husband and wife took a potentially deadly turn yesterday, when, according to police, 38-year-old Manuel Grieco attacked and beat his spouse, 40-year old Dawn Tanski.
Amesbury police said Grieco inflicted serious injury on his wife, using his 'hands and feet' as weapons before fleeing the couple's home on 11 Oak St. in a red Ford Ranger.
With help from the Newburyport police, who caught up with Grieco at Haley's Ice Cream on Route 1, the suspect was apprehended and taken into custody at 1:06 p.m.
He was charged with attempted murder, domestic assault and battery and intimidation of a witness and is due to be arraigned in court early this week.
"We put out a BOLO (be on the lookout) for that particular individual in that vehicle, and it was spotted by someone in Newburyport," said Sgt. Kevin Ouellette last night. "He was arrested and brought back here."
Officers Denis Champagne and Gary Wright made the arrest and, as of last night, Grieco was being held on $50,000 bail.
"He's here and will probably be in Middleton county jail by tomorrow," said Ouellette, who reported the victim was recovering from her injuries at a local hospital.
"She's in the hospital," the sergeant said. "As far as I know she's conscious. "She's not in grave condition."
Newburyport Officer Charles Eaton reported he observed Greico's vehicle in Newburyport as Grieco turned from Low Street onto Route 1 headed south. Eaton pulled him over just shy of the turnpike rotary.
Grieco reportedly told Eaton the domestic argument stemmed from a dispute over child custody. He also reportedly claimed he took his wife's cell phone because she was going to call 911, an act that triggered the charge of intimidation of a witness.
