Stuart technically is free, and will be monitored by a GPS bracelet.
Former Springfield police officer George Stuart, who faces multiple charges for an arson and standoff at his Ludlow home, is back in the hospital.SPRINGFIELD — George W. Stuart, the retired Springfield police officer facing charges for an arson and standoff at his home in Ludlow, is back in Baystate Medical Center because of infections and abscesses in his stomach, his lawyer said.
Thomas J. Rooke, Stuart's lawyer, and Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth were in front of Hampden Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis on Thursday to again discuss Stuart's status.
Rooke said the 71-year-old Stuart was brought from Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow to Baystate on Wednesday and admitted. He said doctors added two additional shunts in addition to the two he had before.
He had been released from the same hospital Aug. 18 and brought to the jail, and his $250,000 cash bail – which he had posted – was revoked, leaving him held without right to bail.
But Thursday, Velis said as soon as Stuart is fitted with a GPS monitor – which will be done in the hospital – the bail is reinstated. Both prosecution and defense agreed to that under certain conditions.
That would technically mean Stuart is free, but Velis set stringent conditions on Stuart that he said are aimed at keeping him from harming himself or others.
Rooke said he expects when Stuart leaves Baystate Medical Center he will be admitted to Wing Memorial Hospital.
Velis said the Probation Department must be regularly advised of Stuart's condition. Velis said he must be informed 24 hours ahead when Stuart is discharged from whatever hospital he is last in and Stuart will be brought before him to discuss his status.
Stuart is recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot to the stomach following a 7½-hour standoff with police in Ludlow on July 18.
Stuart, who was apparently distraught over a pending divorce, has denied charges of arson and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.