CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM CASES & INVESTIGATIONS Please contact communications@riag.ri.gov to report technical issues. 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. Investigation into Providence moped crash (operator: Jhamal Gonsalves) 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/recordsInvestigative report and records Investigation into firearm discharge 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/recordsInvestigative report Death Investigation of Justynian Missiuro 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/recordsInvestigative report State v. Andrew Leonard (P3-2021-1369A) 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/recordsCriminal Complaint State v. Joseph Hanley (P3-2021-1037A) 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 DepartmentDescription 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/recordsState's pretrial memoOrder denying motion to dismiss Investigation into police misconduct involving Officer Domingo Diaz Date of incident 7/9/21 Status Grand jury declined to charge Officer Diaz with simple assault. Law enforcement agency involved Rhode Island State PoliceDescription 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. Investigation into officer-involved shooting 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/recordsInvestigative report Investigation into custodial death 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/recordsInvestigative report Investigation into use of less than lethal munition - serious bodily injury 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/recordsInvestigative report Investigation into officer-involved shooting/death resulting 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/recordsInvestigative report Investigation into officer-involved shooting/death resulting 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/recordsInvestigative report Investigation into officer-involved shooting 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/recordsInvestigative report Investigation into custodial death 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/recordsInvestigative report Previously released body camera footage from the Providence Police Department Investigation into officer-involved shooting 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/recordsInvestigative report Hate crimes cases and investigations Below is a list of cases in which our Office filed a hate crimes sentencing enhancement. State v. Richard Gordon (P3-2021-0533A) Date of incident 8/3/2020Status 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/recordsCriminal ComplaintNotice of Appeal to Superior Court State v. Christine Longo (W3-2021-0245A) Date of incident 6/14/2020Status 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/recordsSentencing enhancement State v. Joseph Francis (K2-2021-0134A) Date of incident 7/12/2020Status 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/recordsCriminal InformationSentencing enhancement State v. William Cook (31-2022-00316) Date of incident 12/24/2021Status 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/recordsCriminal Complaint