HANSON (CBS) – The head of the Hanson Board of Health is seeking criminal charges after a fight broke out at the board’s meeting on Friday.

Chairman Bill Constantine says he was assaulted and threatened by several residents.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Kim Tunnicliffe reports

The melee broke out when the board took a vote and did not allow public comment. Members of the public in the audience started shouting, swearing and someone got up and flipped a table and threatened Constantine.

Constantine told WBZ NewsRadio the public was upset about a new animal regulation.

“I’m going to contact the U.S. Attorney regarding civil rights violations,” Constantine said. “This is absolutely unheard of.”