Man charged with stabbing of Cumberland Officer

CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WLNE): A Cumberland police officer is recovering after he was stabbed outside of Cumberland High School on Saturday night, according to Police Chief John Desmarais.

The officer was on a routine patrol in the area of Cumberland High School where he saw a white male at the loading dock area of the building.

Another officer in the area radioed to ask what the individual was wearing after investigating a report of a man acting strangely at  a nearby business.

At this point, the individual fled on foot and the scene chased the individual and caught up with him upon falling to the ground.

The individual then stabbed the officer with a large knife in his right thigh and began to run.

The officer then discharged his firearm striking the individual in his left thigh as he ran for a residential neighborhood. The individual then fell to the ground.

Other officers arrived quickly to the scene and assisted the injured officer with his wound.

Both the officer and the male individual were taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment.

The Cumberland Police Officer involved was Michael Petrarca, 24.

The male individual was identified as Brennan Matthew Cronin, 24, of Lincoln, R.I.

Cronin was arrested and arraigned at the hospital. He was charged with, felony assault, assault of a police officer, and possession of a knife over 3 inches.