Body camera video shows chaotic scene before arrests outside Providence club
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — New body camera footage obtained by ABC6 News showed police making multiple arrests outside of Motion Nightclub in January.
Motion management is scheduled to appear in front of the Providence Board of Licenses for an emergency show cause hearing regarding that disturbance.
The disturbance occurred on Jan. 26, and the nightclub was ordered to close for three days.
The club was allowed to reopen with a police detail required under an agreement made at the Jan. 30 Board of Licenses meeting.
The video from one officer’s bodycam showed police making multiple arrests on Broad Street.
#WATCH: New @ProvidenceRIPD bodycam video obtained by ABC6 shows the chaos outside Motion Nightclub before seven arrests were made last month. The Providence Board of Licenses is scheduled consider the matter today. More details: https://t.co/LnXt63qdVL pic.twitter.com/DjNT58dkCf
— ABC6 News Desk (@ABC6) February 13, 2025
Board of Licenses chairman Dylan Conley previously told ABC6 News a crowd of around 500 people was gathered outside the club when police were called.
Police arrested seven people on charges including simple assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction.
The incident at Motion came a day before Mayor Brett Smiley and other officials hosted a previously planned briefing to release a report on the city’s nightlife.
Responding to questions about the incident at Motion, Smiley said he had confidence in the structures in place to respond.
“I have confidence in the Board of Licenses for taking the appropriate steps that all of our clubs live up to their obligations as nightlife providers,” Smiley said. “The vast majority of our nightlife providers are good actors, play by the rules, [and] provide an incredible experience without issue.”
The report, commissioned by the city and completed by Jon Stover & Associates, did highlight concerns among nightlife business owners about rising private security costs.
Smiley pointed to data in the report showing more than 630 nightlife businesses operate in Providence.
“What you end up reading is about one or two or three bad apples, and the reality is the majority of the people who enjoy late night experiences here in the city do so safely and do so with a great experience,” Smiley said.
The report also noted bar and nightclub owners were concerned with limited police presence, leading them to hire additional private security guards.
Stover & Associates recommended the city improve lighting in downtown Providence to “enhance the real and perceived safety of nightlife customers and employees,” and suggested prioritizing noise ordinance enforcement for business that are repeatedly cited.
