Rhode Island Reckless Driving Attorney
The Providence and Pawtucket police had a very chaotic and eventful evening on March 2nd, 2014. There were several incidents which occurred in the early morning which prompted the Providence Journal to state, “Mayhem at 3 a.m.” These incidents involved drunk driving, stabbings, automobile accidents, assaults and other incidents.
Incident #1: reckless and drunk driving resulting in Auto Accidents
The Providence Journal reported that “Providence police say a young man was 2 1/2 times the legal limit for alcohol when he hit a parked car, nearly crashed into a police cruiser, and sped through the city streets with a street sign lodged in his truck’s undercarriage.” Projo
Here is the applicable statute for reckless driving criminal offenses in Rhode Island:
“§ 31-27-4 Reckless driving and other offenses against public safety. – Any person who operates a motor vehicle recklessly so that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered, or operates a vehicle in an attempt to elude or flee from a traffic officer or police vehicle, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first conviction and a felony for the second and each subsequent conviction.”
The alleged drunk driving, criminal scofflaw was pinched for DUI as well as many traffic violations. The Projo reported that “His blood-alcohol level was .2 percent, according to a chemical test administered at the police station, said a police report. The legal level is .08. PROJO
Here is the applicable Driving under the influence (DUI) statute for RI:
“§ 31-27-2 Driving under influence of liquor or drugs. – (a) Whoever drives or otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor except as provided in subdivision (d)(3) and shall be punished as provided in subsection (d) of this section. “
The Providence Journal reported the following:
The Providence, RI Police officer was on his way to the public Safety Complex when he noticed “a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck stop in the oncoming lane around 3:30 a.m. on Dean Street and rev its tires, building clouds of smoke…. The truck suddenly sprang forward at the police cruiser.”
“Matsumoto stopped and the truck veered onto the sidewalk, taking down a “no parking” sign, and dragging it along as the truck sped toward Kinsley Avenue. The officer followed, siren blaring, as the truck continued through parking lots until it could go no further on a twisted and flattened tire, according to a police report.” Source
Witnesses reported that the alleged drunk driver was involved in another motor vehicle collision when his truck hit a car prior to this incident in an alleged hit and run accident. According to the United States Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: “In 2011, 9,878 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. These alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 31 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States. NHTSA
Incident #2: Stabbing on Federal Hill in Providence
The Providence police reported that there was a stabbing during a fight on federal hill in Providence. a man was killed in the incident and another man was taken to the Hospital and released. Two providence police officers actually witnessed the assault and apprehended the suspect
“§ 11-5-2 Felony assault. – (a) Every person who shall make an assault or battery, or both, with a dangerous weapon, or with acid or other dangerous substance, or by fire, or an assault or battery which results in serious bodily injury, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than twenty (20) years.”
Incident #3: Tire iron assault after Providence car accident
There was a minor motor vehicle crash on Broadway Street in Providence. Apparently a car rear ended another automobile in a minor collision. “Witnesses told police that Rosario rear-ended their car and then fled, so they chased after him.” PROJO
The person who allegedly was at fault for the RI car accident allegedly fled the scene in an apparent hit and run. It is unclear whether the negligent motorist ran from the scene because he was afraid of the other motorists or because he wanted to evade responsibility for the car crash.
In any event, the two motorists in the vehicle that was rear ended chased the man with a tire iron and allegedly assaulted the man with the tire iron. The Providence Journal reported that “He was charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon, driving without a license, and duty to stop after a crash.”
The man allegedly hit the man responsible for the accident in the head with a tire iron. It is unclear whether the victim suffered traumatic brain injury or the extent of his head injury,
Incident #3: Man shot
One man shot, another sought in Providence
The Projo reported that :”Ramon Figueroa was shot three times in the face and stomach, and was transferred from Roger Wiliams Hospital to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment, O’Connell said.”
Incident #4: Domestic Violence
Pawtucket man charged with threatening ex-girlfriend at gunpoint
According to the Providence Journal, “A Pawtucket man is accused of threatening his ex-girlfriend with a gun because he was angry that she’d called the police over him taking her car.”
