PLYMOUTH, N.H. — A 22-year-old Massachusetts man who was held without bail is accused of throwing lit fireworks at a marked police cruiser in New Hampshire, police said Monday.
Kyle Martel, of Littleton, Massachusetts, was arrested on a warrant in Massachusetts on Sunday, Plymouth Police Chief Nathan Bufington told Boston 25.
Martel has been charged with arson (Class A felony), malicious explosion (Class A felony), reckless conduct with a deadly weapon (Class B felony), reckless conduct (Class A misdemeanor), and criminal mischief (Class A misdemeanor), Bufington said.
The charges stem from an incident that happened during the early morning hours of April 19, in which Martel allegedly threw a large lit firework at a marked Plymouth Police Department cruiser on Pearl Street in Plymouth.
At the time of the incident, the officer was seated inside the cruiser, speaking with a civilian standing outside the passenger-side window.
The firework detonated within feet of both the officer and the civilian, creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury, Bufington said. The explosion also damaged a nearby house.
“Anytime you throw an explosive device, it’s not a prank,” Bufington told Boston 25. “It’s criminal conduct that could have resulted in serious bodily injury or death. We take this very seriously.”
Martel is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday. Plymouth Police Department will request extradition to the State of New Hampshire, Bufington said.
Bufington said his department “remains committed to protecting the public and will aggressively investigate and prosecute reckless or violent acts targeting residents or officers.”
This investigation remains ongoing.
Police in Littleton, Massachusetts, assisted the department with the arrest, he said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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