Bodycam video shows Woonsocket police ordering man with bat to surrender at gunpoint

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Police body-worn camera video obtained by ABC 6 News showed an officer ordering a man to surrender at gunpoint after a bizarre incident involving a baseball bat.

Police allege that 52-year-old Luis Martinez Villegas confronted firefighters while holding a bat with knives attached to it on Nov. 26.

The video showed Villegas dropping the object to the ground after the officer drew his gun and ordered him to do so.

The bat police say Villegas had at the scene (Woonsocket Police Department).

Firefighters were originally responding to a smoke alarm at an apartment complex on Village Road.

Police said that when firefighters arrived Villegas appeared to be holding the bat in a threatening manner.

The fire department’s investigation found the cause of smoke at the apartment complex was the intentional burning of a paper material on a stove.

Villegas was charged with felony assault and 1st Degree arson.

A booking photo of Luis Martinez Villegas provided by Woonsocket police.

He was held without bail and will be arraigned Dec. 10, according to police.