A school security officer from an elite Boston institution faces charges of raping a woman visiting from Ireland. Authorities discovered her naked near the Massachusetts State Police barracks on Martha’s Vineyard.
Edward Brown, aged 27, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment for the alleged attack on August 15, which prosecutors claim occurred inside the barracks. Brown reportedly met the victim at The Ritz, a bar situated in Oak Bluffs.
Police responded to two 911 calls around 1 a.m. finding a distressed, naked woman. She reported encountering a man at the bar and then blacking out. Assistant District Attorney Courtney Scalice detailed the victim’s account in court. The woman described being followed by a Black man in a white hat before regaining consciousness face down and unclothed. She alleged her assailant held her as she fought back. Once she asked for water and he left, she escaped.
Police noted bruises on her legs and a red mark on her neck. Prosecutors linked Brown to the incident with assistance from a bouncer at The Ritz. The bouncer did not know Brown’s name but identified him as a friend of local state troopers.
Officer Ryan Costello, who previously knew Brown from college, confirmed Brown’s identity. Investigators were handed screenshots of texts between Costello and Brown after the incident, where Brown allegedly gave inconsistent accounts. At one point, he texted Costello asking if it was acceptable to be at the barracks with a woman.
Police secured a search warrant for Brown’s Uber account, revealing a ride shortly before the 911 calls. An Uber driver recalled transporting a Black male matching Brown’s description and a young White female to the barracks, noting the female appeared very intoxicated.
Brown has a record of police reports involving harassment claims from former girlfriends between March and August this year. After his arrest at Boston Latin Academy, where he worked in school security, police found suspected cocaine on Brown.
Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble expressed concern over the allegations, stating the ongoing cooperation with the criminal investigation and reviewing visitor procedures at police facilities. As a precaution, state police discontinued guest stays at barracks on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Brown was released on $10,000 bail, although prosecutors had requested $50,000. The judge ordered him to avoid contact with the victim and witnesses. He’s scheduled to return to court on December 11.
If convicted, Brown could face up to 20 years in prison and registration as a sex offender. His defense lawyer, Anthony Ellison, emphasized Brown’s not guilty plea and intent to mount a strong defense.
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