Washington Park residents nervous as kids trick-or-treat in neighborhood of child rapist
By: Amanda Pitts
alpitts@abc6.com
@APittsABC6
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — As children across Rhode Island prepare for a night of trick-or-treating, residents of Providence’s Washington Park neighborhood are on high alert when it comes to safety.
Convicted child rapist Richard Gardner moved into their neighborhood just a few weeks ago, after spending thirty years in prison for kidnapping and raping children in the 1980’s.
Residents have been protesting outside of his new home nearly every night.
“I don’t think any parent in their right mind is happy about it.”
Roberto Escaler lives just a few streets away from Gardner.
“Our children are definitely at risk.”
He said the neighborhood is filled with kids, ones that will soon be going door-to-door.
Escaler and other residents will be outside of Gardner’s house Wednesday night as added protection, fearing some families might not be aware of who’s next door.
“We’ll be out there informing the trick-or-treaters and the parents, the adults, of who lives there and make them aware of the possible danger that they could be possibly walking into,” said Escaler.
His own children are aged 10 and 11. He said he feels terrible to break their Halloween tradition by taking them around in a new neighborhood.
“I just don’t feel it’s safe. Who knows where Richard Gardner will be tonight?”
Police have been sitting outside of Gardner’s house 24/7. They say that will continue, but they won’t be adding any extra patrols for Halloween.
Across the city, police are filling all patrol posts with officers. They’ll also be holding a safe alternative, inviting children under 12 to the Public Safety Complex for trick-or-treating from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Washington Park residents are planning to protest Wednesday at 6 p.m.
(c) WLNE-TV 2018
