Swampscott man asks police to shoot him

SWAMPSCOTT – Swampscott police had a second encounter with a man who asked the officers to shoot him outside the police station Thursday.According to Det. Sgt. Tim Cassidy, police officers saw Fiorenzo Lecce, 21, of 317 Paradise Road, Swampscott standing outside the Humphrey Street station around 10 p.m. Thursday. Cassidy said there was a short conversation in which officers asked Lecce if he had any weapons, and then Lecce took out a knife and moved toward the officers. When Lecce did not slow after police warned him to stop, officers tased Lecce.The encounter echoed a similar incident between Lecce and Swampscott police. In January 2013, Lecce was tackled to the ground by officers outside the Burrill Street station after brandishing a handgun, which police later found to be a toy. “During that incident Lecce continued to ask officers what they would do if he pulled the gun out,” said Cassidy.Cassidy said after Lecce was handcuffed Friday, officers asked him if he wanted to be shot and Lecce replied, “Yes.”Cassidy said it was good that Swampscott police were recently trained with the tasers two months ago. “If this happened two months earlier, it would have been a different outcome,” said Cassidy. When asked if Lecce would have been shot, Cassidy said. “We would have had to take the appropriate steps. If someone is coming at us with a knife, we would use the necessary force to stop the threat.”Cassidy reported that Lecce was placed under arrest and transported to North Shore Medical Center in Salem for evaluation, then cleared and released to officers? custody. Lecce was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and violating the town bylaw by possessing a knife over two-and-a-half inches.According to court documents, Lecce was arraigned in Lynn District Court Friday at 9 a.m. and will be sent to Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital for further evaluation.