Providence city employee arrested for felony assault

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A Providence city employee was arrested Friday for a felony assault.

Police say a woman reported being assaulted by the employee on August 11. According to police, the victim was chased down Broad St. by a group of women who rammed her car and blocked her in. She said when she exited the vehicle, she was attacked and punched several times by the city employee, and pepper sprayed by another woman.

Police identified the employee as Violga Rodriguez, 26, a Control Center Operator who has worked at 1 Communications Place since 2017.

According to the victim, Rodriguez is the current girlfriend of her child’s father.

Rodriguez is on administrative leave with pay from the City of Providence. She is charged with felony assault and vandalism.