Student Charged for Pulling False Alarm

A college student wearing nothing but a pea coat and a pair of dress shoes was arrested after pulling a fire alarm on the Johnson and Wales University campus on Harbourside Boulevard Friday morning.

Police said Jeremy Foucher, 20, of North Hampton, Mass., pulled a fire alarm early Friday morning, causing the evacuation of building J. 

Johnson and Wales security officers detained Foucher after they saw him pull the alarm on a surveillance video. His distinctive coat made him easily identified after the incident, police said, and it was apparent he was intoxicated.

When he was turned over Cranston Police officers Ryan Shore and Jeremy Machado, Foucher became belligerent, ignored inquiries into the the false alarm and responded to their efforts to arrest him with "extreme resistance," causing both officers to be assaulted, police said. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

As he was being escorted to the police cruiser, Foucher reportedly said "I'm sorry, I pulled the fire alarm because I was locked out of my room and I thought they would let me back in."

Police said Foucher was charged with a felony count of interference of a fire alarm apparatus, two counts of simple assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for his "irresponsible actions."

Police take false alarms seriously because of the cost of dispatching resources and the chance of a real fire happening at the same time.

Foucher was arraigned in Kent County District Court and was ordered to undergo alcohol screening as a condition of his bail of $5,000 personal recognizance. He was also required to sign a waiver of extradition, police said, and will return to court on May 13.