Civil Rights Team Cases & Investigations
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Police use of force cases and investigations
Below is a list of police use of force incidents investigated by the Civil Rights Team using our joint investigation model. This Office investigates police use of deadly force or allegations of excessive force by the police to determine whether the force used was reasonable under the constitution of the United States and the State of Rhode Island and whether it constitutes criminal conduct. We do not determine whether the use of force conformed with departmental use of force policies. Those determinations are made by the individual police departments.
Date of incident
6/29/2023
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
West Warwick Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into a high speed pursuit in West Warwick
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
10/18/2020
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Providence Police Department
Description of incident
Motor vehicle crash in Providence involving the Providence Police Department and Jhamal Gonsalves on October 18, 2020.
Reports/records
Investigative report and records
Date of incident
11/9/2019
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Law Enforcement
Description of incident
Investigation into an incident involving the discharge of a firearm by a
police officer at the Big River Management Area in West Greenwich.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
March 28-29, 2020
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Providence Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into the death of a suspect who was being held in the
Providence Police cellblock on March 28-29, 2020.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
3/5/2020
Status
The defendant was found guilty in District Court on 5/6/2021. The defendant appealed to Superior Court on 5/6/2021. The defendant entered a plea of nolo contendere on 9/26/2022 to one count of simple assault.
Law enforcement agency involved
Cranston Police Department
Description of incident
The defendant was charged with one count of simple assault based on his alleged use of excessive force against an individual on March 5, 2020 in Cranston.
Reports/records
Criminal Complaint
Date of incident
4/19/2020
Status
The defendant was found guilty in District Court on 3/18/2021. Defendant appealed to Superior Court where the case is currently pending.
Law enforcement agency involved
Providence Police Department
Description of incident
The defendant was charged with one count of simple assault based on his alleged use of excessive force against Mr. Rishod Gore on April 19, 2020 in Providence.
Reports/records
State's pretrial memo
Order denying motion to dismiss
Date of incident
7/9/21
Status
Grand jury declined to charge Officer Diaz with simple assault.
Law enforcement agency involved
Rhode Island State Police
Description of incident
The defendant was charged with one count of simple assault based on an alleged use of force incident involving the arrest of three juveniles.
Reports/records
View all investigative material documented before presentation to grand jury.
Date of incident
5/9/2020
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Cumberland Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into an incident involving an officer involved shooting by a
Cumberland police officer in the parking lot of Cumberland High School.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
4/21/2020
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Rhode Island State Police
Description of incident
Investigation into a custodial death incident in Exeter involving the Rhode Island State Police
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
6/2/2020
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Providence Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into use of less than lethal munition, resulting in serious bodily injury, by a Providence Police officer.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
11/22/2021
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Warwick Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into an officer-involved shooting by a Warwick Police officer.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
9/2/2021
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Bristol Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into an officer-involved shooting by a Bristol Police officer.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
1/14/22
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Warwick Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into an officer-involved shooting by Warwick Police officers.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
5/7/2021
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Providence Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into custodial death incident involving the Providence Police.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Previously released body camera footage from the Providence Police Department
Date of incident
2/10/2022
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Providence Police Department and Rhode Island State Police
Description of incident
Investigation into officer-involved shooting incident involving the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
12/31/2022
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Providence Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into custodial death incident involving the Providence Police.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
5/24/2023
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Cranston, Johnston, and Providence Police Departments
Description of incident
Investigation into officer-involved shooting at Plainfield Pike in Cranston.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Date of incident
10/12/2023
Status
No criminal charges filed
Law enforcement agency involved
Bristol Police Department
Description of incident
Investigation into officer-involved shooting at Metacom Avenue in Britsol.
Reports/records
Investigative report
Hate crimes cases and investigations
Below is a list of cases in which our Office filed a hate crimes sentencing enhancement.
Date of incident
8/3/2020
Status
The defendant was found guilty in District Court on 2/9/2021. The defendant appealed to Superior Court on 2/17/2021. The State refiled hate crimes sentencing enhancement on 3/2/2021.
City/town of incident
Barrington
Description of incident
The defendant was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct following an altercation with a neighbor on August 3, 2020 in Barrington.
Reports/records
Criminal Complaint
Notice of Appeal to Superior Court
Date of incident
6/14/2020
Status
The defendant was found guilty in District Court on 6/8/2021. The defendant appealed to Superior Court on 6/8/2021.
City/town of incident
Narragansett
Description of incident
The defendant was charged with disorderly conduct following an altercation with patrons at a restaurant on June 14, 2020 in Narragansett.
Reports/records
Sentencing enhancement
Date of incident
7/12/2020
Status
The defendant was arraigned in Superior Court on 3/26/2021. The State filed a sentencing enhancement on 3/26/2021.
City/town of incident
East Greenwich
Description of incident
Joseph Francis was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts following an alleged road rage incident on July 12, 2020 in East Greenwich.
Reports/records
Criminal Information
Sentencing enhancement
Date of incident
12/24/2021
Status
The defendant entered a plea of nolo contendere on 1/18/2021. The defendant was sentenced on 1/18/2021.
City/town of incident
Woonsocket
Description of incident
The defendant was charged with disorderly conduct and reckless driving following an altercation with an individual on December 24, 2021 in Woonsocket.
Reports/records
Criminal Complaint