Man, With Knife, Allegedly Assaults Tiverton Coffee Shop Employees

charged a Fall River man with two counts of felony assault with a dangerous weapon after an alleged incident at the , where two employees had to lock themselves in a back room in fear for their safety.

Paul Montigny, 53, of 960 Stafford Road, Fall River, MA was arrested at 8:10 p.m., Monday, May 21 at the Moose Cafe, located at 1160 Stafford Road. He was charged with two counts of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and possession of a knife with a blade longer than three inches.

Police responded to the Moose Cafe around 8 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls of a man, described as white, with scraggly gray hair, wearing camouflage pants inside the Moose Cafe holding a knife and demanding money for gas, said Lt. Patrick Jones. He said it was also reported the man was holding the knife close to someone's throat.

Upon arrival, Jones said they saw a man pacing back and forth inside the store, and they told him to put his hands up. The man refused. They tried to talk him out of the store and he reportedly refused again.

"A brief struggle ensued as officers attempted to handcuff him," Jones said.

The man, identified as Montigny, continued to resist, dragging his feet and falling to the ground to prevent officers from removing him from the establishment. Upon securing him in the police cruiser, Jones said Montigny allegedly began kicking the seats and windows trying to damage them.

Jones said an officer was able to retrieve the suspect's knife from inside the cafe, which had a blade longer than three inches. Officers spoke to witnesses and two female employees, who alleged Montigny entered the Moose Cafe acting erractically and asking for gas money, specifically demanding it from the employees. Jones said the two women reportedly locked themselves in the back room, and Montigny allegedly banged on the door, attempting to enter.

At that point, Jones said the women hit the hold up alarm because they were fearful Montigny would enter the back office, harm them and take their money.

Police noted there was a retired Massachusetts police officer in the Moose Cafe, who was reportedly able to convince Montigny to give him the knife.

"Which he secured in a bag behind the counter prior to police arriving," Jones said.

Police took Montigny into custody and was arraigned at headquarters on his charges. Jones said they transported Montigny to the ACI in Cranston after he reportedly tried to rip the toilet out of his holding cell. He's currently being held on surety bail on an undetermined amount, pending a mental health evaluation.

"I have to commend the officers that handled that situation, that no one was hurt and Mr. Montigny was taken into custody," Jones said.