East Providence chase suspect facing new charges to be arraigned in federal court
WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — An East Providence chase suspect facing new charges after his arrest in Coventry will be arraigned in federal court Wednesday.
Joshua Pavao, of Kissimmee, Florida, faces new gun charges after Coventry police arrested him Tuesday afternoon.
Pavao was initially set to appear in Kent County District Court on the new charges. Police said his case was moved to federal court.
Police said the arrest stems from the investigation out of East Providence.
Coventry police said these guns and ammunition were seized from 43-year-old Joshua Pavao, who led East Providence police on a chase last week. (Coventry police)
East Providence police released body-worn camera footage of Friday’s incident, beginning with officers responding to a house on Estrell Drive after a shooting incident.
Pavao is accused of shooting at the house, leading police on a chase, causing multiple car crashes, and discarding magazines from his vehicle.
He took off on foot when his vehicle became inoperable and was arrested in a parking lot.
Police found hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the investigation.
East Providence police release body-worn camera footage of a call for shots fired into a house on Estrell Drive which led officers on a chase, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (East Providence police)
Pavao was hit with 116 charges, mostly gun-related offenses.
He entered no plea to any of the charges.
He was given bail and was ordered to have no contact with the residents of the Estrell Drive home and surrender his firearms.
Police are investigating where Pavao was headed with that much ammunition.
East Providence police body-worn camera footage shows a heavily damaged vehicle on Taunton Avenue after a suspect led police on a high-speed chase. (East Providence police)
“We are doing absolutely everything we can to give our community answers. I want the answers, the deputy chief wants the answers — the entire police department, the entire city — we are working at that to provide answers as to, again what was the end game here. We all want to know that,” Chief Christopher Francesconi said in a press conference Tuesday.
Police said Pavao was living in Rhode Island part-time. It was unclear what his connection was to the house.
Pavao was being held by Coventry police.
