East Providence chase ends with arrest, bullets across road
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The East Providence Police Department said that a man was arrested on Pawtucket Avenue after leading police on a chase following a shots fired call.
Police told ABC 6 News that the individual arrested was the suspect in a shots fired call on Estrell Drive. Police believe shots were fired into a house and a car there.
Officers said they chased a black pickup truck from that scene.
Police added the suspect vehicle then caused a multi-car crash at the corner of Taunton and Pawtucket Avenues. As a result of the crash, East Providence police chief Christopher Francesconi says multiple long-gun magazines spilled out onto the roadway.
Police said those magazines came from the suspect’s vehicle, and estimated a thousand rounds were spilled onto the street.
The suspect eventually exited his vehicle at that crash scene, where police took that suspect into custody.
Police had not located the rifle as of 4 p.m. Friday, and asked the public to be aware that it could have been discarded by the suspect in the Riverside area or in the Kent Heights area of East Providence.
During a police pursuit, we believe the suspect, who has been apprehended, discarded a weapon in an East Providence neighborhood. We have officers currently searching for the weapon. We ask anyone who sees any type of weapon to call 911. Thank you for your patience.
— CityofEastProvidence (@CityofEastProv) December 1, 2023
They asked that anyone who sees a rifle in that area not touch it and call 911 immediately.
Francesconi says two East Providence police cruisers were involved in a crash on Dover Avenue during the chase.
ABC6 News crews on scene on Dover Ave. saw one cruiser up against a house. That cruiser was towed from the scene.
Police confirm those officers sustained only minor injuries.
#BREAKING Police cruiser crashed into an East Providence home after chasing a fleeing suspect, who has been caught. @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/hylrISULfJ
— Kaitlin Gehlhaus (@KaitlinGehlhaus) December 1, 2023
Police also said it’s believed that the other people involved in the crash at Taunton and Pawtucket Avenues have non-life threatening injuries only.
There were no shots fired at the intersection where the chase ended, police say.
Police also said the chase was continued through busy parts of the city because of the report that a long gun was involved in the shots fired call.
The intersection reopened before 6 p.m. Friday.
Police said there is no threat to the public. They believe the suspect and homeowner at the initial shots fired call have some type of relationship. Police are still investigating that aspect of the case.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.
