About 2:00 AM, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, officers assigned to District D-4 (South End) responded to the area of 850 Harrison Avenue for a report of a fight.
Upon arrival, officers observed a suspect standing in handcuffs next to Boston Medical Center Public Safety. Officers were advised by Public Safety that the suspect had recently left the hospital with items belonging to a patient.
Officers spoke with the suspect, and an altercation ensued with the suspect reaching for an unknown item inside his right hoodie pocket. Public Safety attempted multiple times to deescalate the situation and retrieve the items. The suspect punched one of the officers and a violent struggle ensued.
While Public Safety was attempting to restrain the suspect, an officer was stabbed. The suspect continued to resist Public Safety and a second officer observed that his ballistic vest had a laceration to it, but he was uninjured. The victim self-applied to the emergency room with life threatening injuries. Homicide Detectives were requested and responded to the scene.
During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered two plastic bags of crack cocaine and cocaine. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation. The drugs were later determined to weigh approximately 26 grams.
The suspect, Branden Bannister, 37, of Roxbury, was placed under arrest and is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court for the following charges:
– Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon causing Serious Bodily Injury to wit knife
– Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon to wit knife
– Trafficking of Cocaine