Rhode Island State Police arrest man who drove off with son, led troopers on multi-state chase

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Massachusetts man allegedly drove off with his son on Sunday night and led troopers on a chase through two states, according to Rhode Island State Police.

The department received a request from Southbridge police around 8:30 p.m. to be on the lookout for a black Jeep Grand Cherokee in connection to a possible kidnapping incident.

Police said 40-year-old Seth Parenteau, of Southbridge, took off with his 15-year-old son, who is disabled.

Parenteau was allegedly “making concerning comments regarding the health of the juvenile.”

At one point, authorities found Parenteau’s jeep on Interstate 95 south in Providence.

Troopers tried to pull him over, but he fled southbound, entering Connecticut before re-entering Rhode Island. The chase ended on Church Street in Richmond.

Parenteau was arrested and evaluated at Westerly Hospital.

The child was evaluated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and was later released to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

Parenteau was arraigned in front of a Justice of the Peace on charges of eluding, reckless driving, child endangerment, and obstruction.

He was held on $6,000 surety bail and was held at the ACI.

He has a bail review hearing set for Tuesday at Washington County District Court.

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