Somerset Cop Struck by Fleeing Fall River Man, Police Say

A Fall River man already wanted on various criminal warrants faces additional charges after he allegedly struck a Somerset police officer before fleeing at a high rate of speed and crashing his SUV into a bridge abutment near the Cove Restaurant and Marina in Fall River.

Police Chief George McNeil says Raymond Prevost, 28, who is "known to police," will be booked and arraigned as soon as he's released from the hospital.

Wednesday at around 8:30 a.m., Somerset police responded to a report of a man sleeping inside a running Nissan Rogue in the area of 61 Briggs Ave. He had reportedly been there since around 6:45 a.m. Police identified the man as Prevost and determined that he had multiple outstanding warrants.

As officers attempted to take Prevost into custody, he allegedly reached for the SUV's gear shifter. When Officer Raymond Almeida reached inside the vehicle in an attempt to stop the man, Prevost allegedly shifted the vehicle into drive and sped off, striking Officer Almeida. Almeida was pulled from the window of the moving vehicle by other officers, preventing him from being dragged, according to a media release from the Somerset Police Department. Almeida was not seriously injured.

Prevost was pursued by Somerset police into Fall River at speeds reaching 60 miles per hour before he crashed his Nissan into a bridge abutment at Davol Street. Prevost was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Fall River Police also responded to the scene of the crash.

Prevost is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, reckless operation, failure to stop, speeding, and a seatbelt violation.

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