Man accused of stealing car, smashing into cruiser

By News Staff

news@abc6.com

A Providence man was charged with multiple felonies after police say he stole a car and smashed it into a Providence Police cruiser, sending the officer to the hospital.

It happened around 10 pm on Wednesday near the intersection of Willard Avenue and Eddy Street. 

Police say Stephano Black stole a 2005 Audi then while trying to flee from police, smashed it into the side of the cruiser, kept driving, and crashed again into another car before he was finally arrested. 

In court Thursday he faced 6 felonies including 2 counts of hit and run with injury, reckless driving, and assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon. According to court records, this is his 15th time being charged with driving with a suspended license dating back to 2012. Because of his history as a Superior Court violator, Black was held on $50,000 surety bond but will likely remain behind bars. 

Firefighters had to extricate the injured officer from his car. He was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening neck and back injuries

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