MARTHA’S VINEYARD – From the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office: Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois announced today that 27-year-old, Edward Brown, of Boston, was arraigned on October 13, 2026, in the Edgartown District Court for his involvement in sexual assault that occurred in August 2026 in the town of Oak Bluffs.
On August 15, 2026, at approximately 12:57 AM, the Dukes County regional comms center received two 911 calls for a distressed female, naked, on the side of the road by the State Police barracks in Oak Bluffs. One of the 911 callers remained with the female, later identified as the alleged victim, and at the direction of law enforcement, transported the alleged victim to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Upon arrival to the hospital and through further investigation the Oak Bluffs Police Department learned that the distressed female had been out with friends that night at an establishment in Oak Bluffs when a male unknown to her approached her. She recalled the man grabbing her buttocks and trying to buy her a drink. She initially could not recall anything that happened after that at the establishment and she next recalled waking up naked with the same male, now naked, on top of her in an unfamiliar location. She further explained that she fled down two
flights of stairs and then went out of the building, running to the roadway. She recalled that she was outside for a few minutes until someone found her.
Edward Brown was arraigned in the Edgartown District Court on the charge of Rape. The Commonwealth requested $50,000 bail with conditions of a GPS, and stay away from the victim and witnesses. The court ordered Mr. Brown held on $10,000 with conditions. Mr. Brown is due back in court on December 3, 2026, for a pretrial hearing.
The case will be prosecuted by the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office, First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Elumba, Courtney Scalice, Assistant District Attorney, Chief of Child Abuse and Vulnerable Victims Unit and Victim/ Witness Assistant Caitlin Carroll. The case is being investigated by Lt. Nick Curelli and Detective Tim Millerick with the Oak Bluffs Police Department.
District Attorney Galibois extends his gratitude for the investigative efforts made by members of his staff and the Oak Bluffs Police Department. He would also like to note that the Massachusetts State Police are fully cooperating with the Oak Bluffs Police Department and this investigation.
Due to the sensitivity of this matter and it still being a pending investigation we will not be commenting further at this time.
The Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office reiterates that all defendants are presumed innocent.
From Oak Bluffs Police Chief Jonathan Searle: “On Friday, Oct. 9, the Oak Bluffs Police Department, assisted by the Boston Police Anti-Corruption Division, arrested Edward J. Brown, 27, on a charge of rape in connection with an alleged incident at the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Oak Bluffs in August.
“This arrest followed a thorough investigation conducted independently by the Oak Bluffs Police Department, in conjunction with the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office. Our investigators followed the facts and evidence throughout the investigation.
“The case remains under investigation. Due to the nature of the case and because the suspect has been arraigned, no further information will be released at this time by the Oak Bluffs Police Department.”
All further media inquiries should be directed to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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