Man, 32, sentenced to prison for torching Providence police cruiser

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Cranston man who torched a Providence police cruiser has been sentenced three years in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha.

Nicholas Scaglione, 32, set the cruiser on fire during a downtown Providence riot in 2020.

According to court documents, Scaglione ignited the fire with lighter fluid. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson in April.

Former Gov. Gina Raimondo called the incident outside the Providence Place Mall an “organized attack on the community.”

Authorities said the riot coincided with, but was separate from, the nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Court documents also said that Scaglione wrote a text message, saying in part, “That was pent-up years of rage and frustration with the way I’ve seen and been treated by police.”

Scaglione was ordered to pay full restitution to the Providence Police Department, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.