« Coast Guard flies R.I. fisherman from boat to hospital | Today | Photo: On a roll at Gillette »

January 17, 2008

Update: W. Warwick officer accused of assault arraigned

CRANSTON -- A West Warwick police officer charged with domestic simple assault stemming from a Christmas Eve argument with his girlfriend was allowed to remain free after his arraignment today in District Court.

Patrolman Jonathan I. Caldwell, 32, of 98 Randall St. in Cranston, was given a pre-trial date of Jan. 28. He remains free on $1,000 personal recognizance bail posted at the time of his arrest Jan. 4. A no-contact order with his girlfriend, Rachel Pineda, 26, remains in effect.

According to police reports, Pineda told Cranston police officers that she tried to keep Caldwell from leaving his house after he had been drinking on Dec. 24.

She said she stepped between Caldwell and the door and that he pushed her into a wall and onto the floor. While she was on the floor, she told the police, Caldwell punched and kicked her before leaving.

Pineda said she sought treatment at Kent Hospital, where emergency doctors told her she had suffered torn cartilage in her knee.

She said she did not report the incident immediately because she did not want Caldwell to lose his job but that she eventually went to the police at the urging of family members who noticed her bruises.

Caldwell, who joined the force in 2001, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

-- Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:09 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)