Suspect in alleged stabbing identified as Lincoln man

CUMBERLAND – A 24-year-old Lincoln man faces felony charges of assault on a police officer and possession of a knife over 3 inches in length after allegedly stabbing a local police officer in the thigh during a scuffle outside Cumberland High School Saturday evening and prompting the officer to fire his gun and wound his assailant as he fled.

Police Chief John Desmarais on Monday identified Brennan Matthew Cronin, 24, of Lincoln, as the man encountered by local Patrolman Michael Petrarca, 24, going through trash bins on a loading dock behind the school when he arrived there at 6 50 p.m. Saturday to check out a report of a suspicious person.

“This person starts running on the police officer. The police officer chases him, grabs him and that’s when the person takes out a knife and stabs the officer in the upper thigh,” Desmarais said Monday.

“The suspect gets up and starts running away, the officer fires his weapon, the suspect goes down and then

the officer was able to make it back to his cruiser, waiting for help to arrive, EMS,” Desmarais said.

The incident had begun with Officer Petrarca conducting a field interview with Cronin upon his arrival at the scene and conducting a radio warrant check which came back as no warrants outstanding, according to Desmarais.

Another officer at that point radioed to Officer Petrarca asking what the subject was wearing in connection with an investigation being conducted on a report of person acting

strangely at a business nearby.

When the subject’s description came over the radio, Cronin is alleged to have begun running away on foot, Desmarais said.

Officer Petrarca was able to catch up with the subject after he had fallen to the ground and at that point Cronin is alleged to have stabbed Petrarca in the right thigh with a large knife, Desmarais said.

“The officer saw the subject with the large knife in his hand and the officer was bleeding heavily from his leg wound,” Desmarais reported.

“The subject started to run towards a residential area. And the officer discharged his firearm, striking the subject

in the left thigh. The subject fell to the ground,” Desmarais said.

Officer Petrarca was able to make it back to his police cruiser where he placed a tourniquet on his leg, Desmarais said.

Other officers arrived at the scene at that point and assisted Officer Petrarca while also taking Cronin into custody, Desmarais said. The large knife was also recovered, the chief said.

Both Officer Petrarca and the suspect were transported to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence for treatment Desmarais said.

An ongoing officer involved shooting investigation of the incident was opened by the Rhode Island State Police, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and local detectives Saturday night.

Following treatment, Cronin was arraigned in his hospital bed on the felony assault and weapon charges with bail being set at $30,000 with surety.

Officer Petrarca suffered a wound that almost severed a major artery in his leg but was treated successfully at the hospital and released to go home.

“He’s doing a lot better, he is at home today and he’s on crutches,” Chief Desmarais said while noting the department’s concern for his injury.

“It only goes to show the level of danger that we as police officers face each and every day. At a time that you are dealing with a pandemic anything can happen,” Desmarais said of the risks police officers face.

This week is National Law Enforcement Week, a time that also highlights the risks that police officers and others in law enforcement face while doing their jobs throughout the country.

As for Cronin, Desmarais said he has had past contacts with police and that remains a part of the ongoing investigation.

“I hope during the investigation more comes out about who this person was, that’s part of the investigation, and when it does we will certainly release that,” Desmarais said.