Second civil suit filed against Pawtucket officer facing charges in off-duty shooting

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — A Pawtucket police officer who is on leave after being criminally charged for a 2021 off-duty shooting of a teen in West Greenwich is now facing a second civil lawsuit.

Daniel Dolan is being sued by a Pawtucket resident for an interaction in July of 2019, where the resident claims Dolan unnecessarily punched him in the face and choked him out.

Michael Moreira is suing Dolan following the 2019 incident where Dolan was working traffic detail on the street in front of Moreira’s home.

According to the suit filed May 31, Moreira inquired to Dolan about moving one of the utility trucks to be able to get out of his driveway.

Moreira contends Dolan became hostile towards him and alleges Dolan said to him, “You want those trucks moved now? You make the call.”

Moreira said he expressed his frustration’s towards Dolan, but turned to walk back to his home when he accuses Dolan of charging at him to place Moreira under arrest.

“Even though Mr. Moreira did not use or threaten physical force, and his hands were raised above his head upon being told he was being arrested, Officer Dolan punched Mr. Moreira in his left eye,” read a portion of the suit.

Moreira goes on to contend that Dolan punched him several more times and placed him in chokehold and he alleges Dolan said, “Go to sleep.”

The charges in this case were ultimately dropped against Moreira.

The suit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against Dolan for his actions during the arrest and the city for failure to properly train and supervise Dolan.

According to an agenda item for June 8 Pawtucket City Council meeting, Moreira is seeking $330,000 in damages from the city.

This the second civil suit filed against Dolan. In a separate suit filed in April, a couple accused Dolan of unlawfully arresting them and assaulting them in the course of that arrest.

Dolan is also facing several felony charges from an off-duty shooting in June of 2021 where is charged with three counts of felony assault and one count of discharging a firearm for shooting a West Greenwich teen in the arm.

In that incident, Dolan is accused of following a car driven by the teen off the interstate and followed the vehicle into a pizza shop parking lot where he ultimately fired one shot at the vehicle.

Dolan is out on bail in that case with the next scheduled hearing set for July 6. He is currently suspended from the Pawtucket Police Department.

ABC 6 News has reached out to both city of Pawtucket and Dolan’s attorney and are awaiting responses.