Grand jury won’t charge Providence police officer accused of using force in arrest of teen

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday a grand jury didn’t find a Providence police officer accused of having used excessive force in an incident involving juveniles last summer.

Back on July 9, Providence police said two officers, Domingo Diaz and Mitchel Voyer, were suspended without pay after they arrested three teenagers, following a high-speed chase.

The chase, police said, started on Manton and Chalkstone avenues and ended on King Street.

Police were tracking the three teens who were driving around in a convertible, and allegedly pointing and shooting BB guns at people.

In some of the 41 body camera video released by Providence police, the attorney general’s office noted than one officer, including Diaz, is seen punching one of the teens in the head.

Attorney General Peter Neronha said Diaz’s use of force took place for about 20 seconds.

“Other officers also reported using force during the arrest of this individual, though their actions were not visible on video,” said the attorney general’s office.

Neronha’s office conducted an investigation because it “concluded that there existed sufficient evidence to present the evidence involving one of the officers to the Providence County grand jury.”

The attorney general’s office said two separate use of force experts reviewed the actions of the officers involved.

“One of the experts found that the officers acted reasonably based upon the circumstances they were facing,” said Neronha’s office. “A second expert found that some of the initial strikes were excessive and unreasonable, but could not render a conclusive opinion as to all of the strikes delivered.”

Wednesday, the grand jury declined to charge Diaz with simple assault against one of the juveniles involved.