Man tried to set Mass. police chief’s SUV on fire, police say

An Abington man was arrested Friday morning after police say he attempted to set fire to the Abington Police Chief’s cruiser outside department headquarters.

Authorities said that around 9 a.m., a lieutenant spotted the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Franklin Cederholm, pouring gasoline on the chief’s marked cruiser parked right outside the station at 215 Central St. 

Surveillance video released by the Abington Police Department shows a man approaching the SUV and pouring liquid onto the driver’s side of the vehicle. Within seconds, officers can be seen swiftly exiting the police station and putting the man in handcuffs.

Officials credited officers’ quick response with preventing a dangerous situation.

“If it weren’t for the quick actions of the members of the Abington Police Department, this event could have turned into something catastrophic,” police said in a statement posted to Facebook.

Cederholm will face charges of attempted arson, malicious damage to a motor vehicle, and trespassing. Police said the investigation remains active and additional charges may be filed.

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.