Scorned Boston Fire Cadet Charged After Alleged Assault on Cheating Boyfriend in Front of Police [WATCH]

A Boston fire cadet has been arrested and charged after police said she assaulted her boyfriend outside a Quincy restaurant over the weekend, as reported ^[1] by The New York Post.

Cara Stapleton, who graduated from the Boston Fire Academy earlier this month, was taken into custody Sunday evening following an incident in the parking lot of Chantey Restaurant, according to a police report obtained by WCVB.

NEW: A Boston fire cadet — pinned by Mayor Wu just weeks ago — was cuffed after allegedly pummeling her “cheating” boyfriend in a Quincy parking lot.

From graduation stage to police booking in record time.

Read more ⬇️https://t.co/BKVFxBCfcm ^[2]

— Mass Daily News (@MassDailyNews) August 26, 2025 ^[3]

Officers reported seeing Stapleton strike a man several times in the face as he lay on the ground. The man, whose identity has not been made public, was described by Stapleton as her boyfriend — later corrected by her to “ex-boyfriend.”

According to the report, Stapleton and the man had been removed from a nearby waterfront restaurant shortly before the incident. Police noted that Stapleton smelled strongly of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes.

One officer wrote in the report that while activating her emergency siren to get the pair’s attention, she saw Stapleton slap the man across the face. When questioned, Stapleton allegedly admitted to striking him because she believed he had cheated on her.

Stapleton also reportedly asked officers to remove her handcuffs, telling them she needed to attend EMT school the next morning and feared losing her job if arrested.

Police charged Stapleton with assault and battery on an intimate partner.

The man involved denied being injured and swore at officers on the scene, according to the report. He was taken into protective custody at the Quincy Police Department, where police said he was “extremely uncooperative” during booking.

Scorned female fire cadet, 25, beat boyfriend up in front of police for cheating on her, prosecutors say https://t.co/G5NqxAT4ue ^[5]

— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) August 26, 2025 ^[6]

Stapleton appeared in court Monday for arraignment, where she pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance, court records show.

Video posted earlier this month by the Boston Fire Department showed Stapleton among the recruits who had just completed academy training and were pinned during the graduation ceremony.

The case remains pending as Stapleton awaits further court proceedings.