No discipline for Providence officer seen striking suspect at Dominican Festival

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A video is circulating on social media, showing a Providence police officer using physical force while making an arrest after the Dominican festival over the weekend.

Colonel Oscar Perez, Chief of the Providence Police Department, described it as a chaotic scene after the festival in Providence Sunday.

“People were throwing bottles, obstructing [the officers’] arrest, yelling and screaming,” added Perez.

“This individual decided he was going to bring a firearm into a city and upon encountering police, he decided he was going to resist arrest,” added Perez.

Adonis Placencio, 20, allegedly brought a gun to the festival.

Police swarmed him, and Chief Perez said the officers’ main goal was to prevent Placencio from shooting into the large crowd and police were eventually able to get their hands on that gun.

“Our officers have guidelines to follow, by policy, when it comes to using force,” added Perez.

Police said 10 arrests were made throughout the day Sunday.

“It’s never pretty to use force but sometimes we have to use force to compel compliance or for self-defense,” said Perez.

BLM RI PAC president Harrison Tuttle responded to the video with a statement that said, “The video that surfaced over the weekend reveals the uncomfortable reality of force being used to detain an individual. This footage should also remind the public that residents in lower-income communities experience profound fear for their own safety and that of their neighbors during encounters with law enforcement.”

Chief Perez said none of the officers involved will be facing repercussions.

Below are the mugshots of subjects arrested during incidents related to the Dominican Festival that were shared by the Providence police department.