East Providence investigation

July 1, 2016 6:31 pm

By: Liz Tufts

East Providence, R.I.- Gary Tuburcio was heading down Taunton Ave back on June 3rd when he says he was harassed by another driver. "All of a sudden I have this guy in a black truck pull up beside me yelling and screaming at me belligerently for me to pull over”, says Tuburcio.

He says the man told him to pick up a bottle he says Turbucio threw out of his car. He said pull the f over, pull the f over. “I was actually fearing for my safety for a little bit”. That’s because he says the driver, now identified as East Providence City Councilman Helder Cunha flashed his city councilor badge. Tiburcio knew something wasn’t right because the man wasn’t driving a police cruiser. He managed to lose him, but when he got home he was told East Providence police were looking for him.

"They asked me if I littered, I asked everyone in my car if they did and they said no, adds Tiburico. Police aren’t releasing information, but Tiburico showed us the police report. In it it says councilman Cunha provided officers with a statement. We tried getting one of our own, but Cunha wasn’t home. Tiburcio says the councilor abused his power an he feels bullied. "Who are you to pull people over, you’re not a cop. If I were to do that, I would have been locked up in two minutes, " says Tiburcio.

Turburcio filed a complaint with the East Providence police department and the ethics commission. A court date is set for next week.