Rhode Island man sentenced for assaulting police, drug possession
BOSTON, August 7, 2026 – A Rhode Island man was convicted and sentenced yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court on charges related to a traffic stop that led to the assault of two police officers, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
NATHANIEL FENTON, 36, was convicted by a Suffolk jury on two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of class C narcotics, and possession of class B narcotics. Judge James Lang sentenced Fenton to four to six years for the assault charges and one year to be served concurrently for the drug charges.
On May 26, 2023, officers witnessed a silver SUV abruptly drive over the raised lane divider of Columbia Road in Dorchester and pulled the vehicle over. During the stop, officers noted a large sum of money, a burning marijuana cigarette, and the irregular behavior of the driver, later identified as Nathaniel Fenton. Fenton was breathing heavily, sweating profusely, avoiding eye contact, had difficulty controlling his coordination and motor skills, and visibly shaking.
When Fenton failed to exit the vehicle when asked and appeared to be scanning the area for means of escape, officers attempted to unlock the vehicle from the inside through the window. Fenton then rolled up the window, wedging two officers’ arms inside, put the car into drive, and accelerated at a high rate of speed, dragging two officers with him and narrowly missing a third officer who was standing in front of the vehicle. Officers released themselves several car-lengths away and Fenton ultimately struck a house a short distance away before fleeing on foot.
Officers found Fenton shortly after and arrested him on Blue Hill Avenue.
A nearby homeowner’s security camera footage showed Fenton concealing something behind their grill. In the area, officers found a clear plastic bag containing 20 white pills of oxycodone. Officers searched Fenton’s vehicle and found an additional 37 white pills of oxycodone and a single unknown blue pill, 5 Ziplock bags containing marijuana and 23 packs of THC edibles.
“This was an extremely dangerous situation that, thankfully, didn’t result in serious injuries to the officers involved. We will never tolerate assaults on the men and women who protect our neighborhoods and I thank the jurors for holding this individual accountable for his reckless actions,” Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications