State Police arrest 8 after ‘disturbance’ at Rhode Island courthouse

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said that eight people were arrested after a “disturbance” in the fourth floor hallway of the Sixth District Court in Providence on May 27.

The eight individuals were charged with disorderly conduct and simple assault.

They were identified as:

• 20-year-old Brian Royer, of Providence.

• 20-year-old Jael Baez Fernandez, of Providence.

• 23-year-old Geremy Tavaraz, of Providence.

• 22-year-old Leonardo Brito, of Pawtucket.

• 39-year-old Pedro Dejesus, of Providence.

• 18-year-old Nelson Forkpa, of Providence.

• 19-year-old Randy Espinal, of Providence.

• 19-year-old Luis Dejesus, of Providence.

Providence police said that the arrests occurred after an altercation between two groups outside a courtroom.

State police said that Pedro Dejesus, Luis Dejesus, Fernandez, Forkpa, Espinal, and Brito were held as bail violators on previous charges and transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions Intake Center, while Tavaraz and Royer were released with future court dates.

Providence and Capitol police assisted with the response.