Fall River Man Charged for Destroying Somerset Office, Assaulting Police

SOMERSET — A Fall River man has been arrested for allegedly throwing a microwave and a toaster around an office and allegedly assaulting police before officers tased him twice on Saturday.

Somerset police said in a release that 36-year-old James Patricio has been charged with assault and battery on a police officer and other assault charges, along with destruction of property, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

At around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, police were called to 1166 GAR Highway in Somerset on a report of a man allegedly destroying an office.

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After being directed to the office by the business owner, police officers found the man, later identified as Patricio, "yelling loudly," according to the release.

Police said the officers could see several items — including a microwave and a toaster — that had apparently been thrown around the office.

Patricio then allegedly went into a nearby bathroom and continued screaming before allegedly charging at police.

Although the officers used a Taser, they said it was "not immediately effective."

In the following struggle, police said Patricio allegedly grabbed an officer's firearm and tried unsuccessfully to take it out of the holster.

According to police, the officers then backed off — but Patricio allegedly kept damaging objects in the bathroom and office, so police used a Taser again.

The officers eventually were able to handcuff Patricio and worked with Somerset Fire Department ambulance crews to take him to the hospital.

No injuries were reported in the incident, according to police.

Patricio is being evaluated at a local hospital and will face charges at a later date, the release stated.

He faces three different assault and battery charges as well as charges of malicious destruction of property under $1,200, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

"I am grateful for the training and professionalism of the officers who responded to this call involving an individual who was behaving both violently and irrationally," Somerset Police Chief Todd Costa said.

"Somerset police officers are trained to use restraint, and to use their extensive training to effect arrests with the least amount of force possible, and these officers did an excellent job of bringing this situation under control without anyone being injured."