Video shows man trying to set Abington police chief's cruiser on fire, investigators say
A man is accused of trying to set the Abington, Massachusetts police chief's cruiser on fire Friday morning.
Abington Police said surveillance video from their parking lot showed 39-year-old Franklin Cederholm walk up to Chief Patrick Molloy's car and pour gasoline over the front of the vehicle around 9 a.m.
Molloy said that an officer saw the man approaching through his office windows and quickly went outside to investigate. Once outside, the officer smelled gasoline and saw Cederholm pouring gas from two-gallon water containers. Molloy explained that, thanks to the officer's quick action, he was not able to finish emptying one.
"I'm very thankful that we have such a talented group of people here that act quickly and decisively and took care of this issue extremely quickly," Molloy said.
In the video, posted to the department's Facebook page, Cederholm can be seen being taken into custody. Police said Cederholm also had a lighter on him.
"Certainly this could've turned into something real dangerous," Molloy said. "If that car went up, it's right next to the building, so the building would've gone up."
Cederholm is charged with attempted arson, malicious damage to a motor vehicle and trespassing. Police said more charges could come as their investigation continues.
Cederholm was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said. He will later be arraigned in Brockton District Court. The department is still investigating a motive. Molloy said that Cederholm is not familiar to them.
The Abington Fire Department came and cleaned off the gasoline, according to Molloy.
Abington, Massachusetts is 21 miles south of Boston.