Former State Rep. charged after stealing campaign signs

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Former State Rep. Brian Coogan was charged Tuesday with attempting to steal political signs of another candidate.

According to police, a witness saw Coogan drive up to a house on Summit Street on a motorcycle, and then urged his female passenger to remove a sign for City Council candidate Bruce Rogers.

According to Lieutenant Thomas Rush the motorcycle fell over and a sign fell off the bike.

Coogan and his passenger quickly drove off, leaving the dropped sign and another that they were trying to remove from a fence with no avail.

Lt. Rush says the witness identified Coogan in a photo line-up at the East Providence Police Station.

Coogan agreed to turn himself in, and was arraigned in Providence District Court on one count each of three misdemeanors: attempted larceny (the sign left on the fence) , receiving stolen goods (the sign he dropped) and conspiracy.

Coogan’s female motorcycle passenger has not been identified.

Coogan was beat in the September primaries for house District 64 by Helder Cunha who is political allies with Rogers.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016