A 19-year-old Falmouth man is facing more than a dozen charges after allegedly firing a Seekonk police officer’s gun during a struggle following a motorcycle crash Thursday.
Nathaniel A. Cronin was charged with assault and battery, attempting to disarm a police officer, two counts of assault and battery by discharging a firearm, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and 11 other related charges.
Cronin is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Taunton District Court.
According to police, the crash happened shortly before 12:30 p.m. near 178 Central Avenue (Route 152), when Cronin allegedly rear-ended a sedan that was stopped in the roadway while he was riding a motorcycle.
There were no initial reports of injuries, but Seekonk Fire/Rescue responded because of the nature of the crash.
While Cronin was being evaluated in the rear of an ambulance, officers determined he had allegedly provided false information during the investigation, police said.
Cronin then reportedly fled from the ambulance. Officers quickly located him less than a mile away near Edwards Street and Foch Avenue, where a struggle began.
As officers attempted to take Cronin into custody, police said he grabbed an officer’s firearm and partially pulled it from its holster. Cronin allegedly fired one round before officers regained control of him.
No injuries were reported.
Cronin was taken to the Seekonk Police Department for booking.
