Sebastian Corneau, 26, of no fixed address, Nashua

NASHUA – While allegedly standing outside in the morning chill clad only in his underwear and covered in dried blood, a Motel 6 guest named Sebastian Corneau was approached by a police officer who was called to the motel with ambulance personnel Saturday morning.

But moments after the officer, Ryan MacDonald, suggested to Corneau that they go inside the motel lobby where it was warmer, Corneau allegedly turned on MacDonald, allegedly squaring himself and displaying what police call “pre-assault indicators” while stating “let’s fight,” according to police reports.

Fight they did, with Corneau allegedly throwing punches at MacDonald, who was able to spray Corneau with a burst of pepper spray to the face, but it didn’t stop him from allegedly punching the officer, police said.

When all was said and done, Corneau was on his knees in the parking lot of the Spit Brook Road motel with MacDonald holding him at gunpoint. Another officer, Michael Sullivan, assisted MacDonald in getting Corneau into handcuffs, which he allegedly resisted until the officers had him in custody.

Police said MacDonald sustained minor injuries, but evidently didn’t require hospitalization.

Once Corneau was transported to police headquarters for booking, police ran a records check that showed Corneau is a convicted felon, based on arrests and indictments out of Belknap County Superior Court.

The list of charges filed in connection with Saturday’s incident include three counts, felon in possession of a dangerous weapon; two counts each of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon and criminal use of a self-defense weapon; one count each of domestic violence – criminal threatening with a deadly weapon and domestic violence – reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, all Class B felonies.

Also, three counts each of simple assault and resisting arrest or detention; and one count each of domestic violence – simple assault, and criminal use of a self-defense weapon, all Class A misdemeanors.

Corneau was arraigned Monday in Hillsborough County Superior Court South, and was ordered held on bail as his case proceeds. His next court appearance is for a dispositional conference scheduled for March 3.

Some of the charges, including the ones alleging domestic violence, stem from an incident that was the reason the motel employees called police in the first place.

According to the reports, Corneau had allegedly attacked a woman, described as his “girlfriend/intimate partner of two weeks,” in the second-floor motel room they were sharing.

He allegedly cut her with a knife and bit her on the arm before threatening her with an X-Acto knife, police said.

The woman told police that Corneau “grew paranoid while playing with an X-Acto knife,” and allegedly cut her wrist, prompting her to ask Corneau “are you trying to kill me?” according to police reports.

“Yes,” Corneau allegedly replied, then allegedly told her to run. She did so, running out of the room with Corneau chasing her, the reports state.

As for Corneau’s alleged attack upon MacDonald in the motel lobby, he managed to get the officer’s pepper spray from him, and briefly had possession of MacDonald’s baton as well, the reports state.

When MacDonald retrieved his baton, he administered three “compliance strikes” upon Corneau, but they “did not have an effect on Corneau’s behavior,” police said.

At that point, police said, Corneau allegedly grabbed a trash can, threw it at MacDonald and hit him.

Corneau also allegedly used as a weapon a serrated piece of plastic with sharp edges and a sharp point that MacDonald feared could cause serious injury or death, police said.

During the fracas Corneau also allegedly threatened to kill one of the two AMR paramedics who had been called to the scene, but neither was injured.

Anyone who may have any additional information on the incident is asked to contact the Nashua police Crime Line at 589-1665.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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