Policeman Assaulted by Homeowners at Local Fire

Early Saturday morning, two Norton residents were arrested for hitting a police officer as their home was on fire.

and responded to 22 King Philip Road at 3 a.m. Saturday for a report of a house fire. The Norton Dispatcher was told that the residence was fully engulfed and all residents were out of the house.

While the fire department was attempting to extinguish the fire, they requested police assistance with the resident, Richard M. Dunn, age 55 who was reportedly interfering with firefighter operations and was requested to leave the property.  Dunn was repeatedly requested to move away from the burning home, but refused. As Dunn was being escorted away from the residence, he struck Norton patrolman James Cameron and was subsequently placed under arrest. As Dunn was being placed under arrest, his son, Richard E. Dunn, 22, struck Cameron as well, and was placed under arrest by patrolman Nicholas Precourt.

No one was injured in the incident.

Both males are charged with assault and battery on a police officer, and Richard M. Dunn is additionally charged with interfering with a firefighter. Both were released and will appear in Attleboro District Court on Monday.

 Mansfield, Easton, Raynham and Taunton Fire Departments assisted with the incident. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Norton Police Department, Norton Fire Department and troopers assigned to the State Fire Marshall’s Office.