Taunton man arrested for boat theft

SOMERSET, Mass. (WPRI) - A Somerset man is facing charges, after police say he stole a boat.

"This was not your typical water rescue, we don't have that very often. It's far and few between" said Deputy Fire Chief David Messier

Police were called to the Somerset Marina around 7 a.m. on Thursday for a report of a boat robbery. According to police, 21-year-old Robert Nunes of Taunton, assaulted the elderly owner of the boat, then took off.

The boat was seen cruising toward the Braga Bridge, and that's when Nunes jumped into the river. He was pulled from the water by Police Lt. Brian Leonard and Deputy Fire Chief Messier.

" We had to pick him out of the water and pick him up and drag him on the boat, we laid him in the bottom of the boat there. I took my coat off, put it on top of him. The gentleman was only in his underwear. That was it, he was cold, he's very lucky to be alive" said Chief Messier

Nunes is charged with theft of a boat and assault and battery on a person over the age of 65.