Suspects throw bodycam into trash before arrest of 4 in Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Bodycam footage from the Providence Police Department obtained by ABC 6 showed a chaotic scene on July 23 at the Hartford Avenue Housing Complex.

Vanhersing Francisco was charged with assault of a police officer, felony assault, resisting legal or illegal arrest, and disorderly conduct.

Luis Cruz was charged with disorderly conduct, larceny, and resisting legal or illegal arrest.

Edison Dominguez was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting legal or illegal arrest.

David Espinal was charged with felony assault and/or battery, larceny of greater than $1,500 but less than $5,000, disorderly conduct, and obstructing an officer.

Officers made the arrests in the Hartford Avenue Housing Complex as part of an operation for the Violent Crime Task Force.

According to a police report, officers approached a group of 10 people in a Bodell Avenue parking lot as part of the task force’s work.

When officers ordered a few men out of a car, a crowd started to gather in the area, according to the report.

According to the report, someone in the crowd put a large jar of marijuana on a police SUV and people started posing for photos with it.

An officer knocked it off the hood and police allege that Francisco then picked up the marijuana and broken glass jar and threw it at the police car.

He was also accused of punching, kicking, and biting an officer, and police said the crowd began “taunting and threatening” the officers who were attempting to arrest Francisco.

Two other suspects were accused of picking up the body cameras of the officers, which fell to the ground during the struggle, and throwing one into the trash.

Espinal, who court records show was arrested later after leaving the scene, was also accused of taking the Apple Watch on an officer that had also fallen to the ground, and then fleeing the scene.

One officer was transported to the hospital for treatment of a bite wound to the hand.