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« Tonight: Hip-hop showcase comes to AS220 | Today | Today's front page » February 28, 2008Update: Man dies after struggle with E. Providence policeEAST PROVIDENCE -- A knife-wielding man who fell unconscious during a struggle with police yesterday and who later died has been identified by his family as Leonel Farias, 40, of 153 James St. The family, who spoke to a Journal reporter this evening, said they had called police to their home yesterday evening for help after Farias turned violent. Family members said he had been diagnosed some time ago as a schizophrenic and, more recently, as a diabetic. Two sisters, Genoveva Porto, 46, and Gabriela Farias, 45, said they witnessed the incident. Both allege that police in subduing their brother used "excessive force" which the two believe caused his death. City police, in their account first provided this afternoon, would not disclose the name of the man involved or the location of the disturbance. The man, later identified as Farias, was described by police as 6 feet tall and weighing 300 pounds. According to the family, the knife he held was a small, serrated steak knife. Earlier this afternoon, Police Chief Hubert J. Paquette issued a statement which said the suspect, armed with a knife, confronted two police officers outside his home when they initially responded to the report of the domestic assault. The statement said the man later identified as Farias told police to “come and get him” and said they “would have to shoot him,” according to the statement. When the man turned and tried to get back inside, police used pepper spray and struck him in an effort to subdue him, “but the subject continued to act completely unreasonable,” the statement said. -- Journal staff writers Gina Macris and John Castellucci, with reports from Journal staff writer Alisha Pina and projo.com In the statement, Paquette said “a violent struggle ensued” between the man and several officers, who eventually put him in handcuffs. The man, lying on the ground, continued to kick at the officers until he fell unconscious, Paquette’s statement said. The man was taken by rescue workers to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived, Paquette said. He could not say what time the man was pronounced dead. Paquette also declined to release additional details of the incident, which he said is under investigation. He said the identity of the dead man will be made public once all his family members are notified. Several police officers at the scene received treatment from rescue workers for injuries they sustained in the struggle, according to the statement. No injuries were reported from the knife the man had been carrying. The Attorney General’s Office was not notified of the death until 8:30 a.m. today, a delay which “is troubling and does not inspire confidence” in the East Providence police department, said a spokesman for Atty. Gen. Patrick C. Lynch said late this afternoon. Michael J. Healey said, “You can’t reconstruct a scene 15 hours after the fact. That’s the salient issue here.” Earlier this month, Pawtucket police shot and killed a man at his home after responding to a 911 call there of a 6' 5", 300-pound man wielding a "Samurai-style sword.". It was the third fatal shooting involving that city's police in seven months. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsHeather | February 28, 2008 4:13 PM link It seem to me that Rhode Island police departments have a thing about killing mentally ill and out of control people. In my short stay, it seems there have been many police killings wehre officers were not in life threatending situation. It would probly do no good to ahve the Attorney General investigate. That would be a conflcit of interest. Tom S, from NH | February 28, 2008 5:06 PM link i live 2 houses down from the victom , i've lived there all my life , and i know he had problems all his life but in my opinion it shouldn't had ended in death , from eye withness accounts that i am possitive are correct they went overboard david m | February 28, 2008 5:52 PM link How many more people are going to die in this state by the hands of the police. How many more parents are going to bury their son/daughter. Although, EPPD did not shoot this man, apparently their skills and training can be just as deadly. We need a different approach to policing our state, too many lives being loss and also to the police involved the pyschological effect that they have to endure knowing they killed someone. Anon. | February 28, 2008 5:55 PM link Renee | February 28, 2008 6:22 PM link The only problem with this incident so far is that the E.P.P.D. didn't notify anyone from the A.G's office until this morning, 2-28-08. The manner of death will have to be determined by the Medical Examiner. There's no sense jumping to conclusions until all the facts are compiled and revealed. I'm sorry for the deceased and for those officers who had to be involved with this incident. Ernie | February 28, 2008 7:28 PM link Please, you people automatically point the finger at the police every time. You have no clue as to what happened! for all you know this man had a heart attack because he smoked 100 cigarettes a day. But lets blame the police. Know what? Next time you're confronted with a 300 pound psychotic man with a knife, TAKE CARE OF IT YOURSELF! DONT CALL THE COPS! AND PLEASE, BRING THE GUY DOWN PEACEFULLY AND WITHOUT A SCRATCH ON HIM. Tom | February 28, 2008 7:33 PM link The cops continue to stress the fact that it was a 300 lb man...well I would like to know the combined weight of the 10 police officers that were involved in the beating. The two that repeatedly kicked him in the head must have weighed more than him as well...I'm only focusing on this irrelevant detail because the asinine police department wants to distort the facts, leave out key details, and attempt to force the public to focus on everything but the issue of his murder at their hands. epcitizen | February 28, 2008 7:35 PM link He probably threw a heart attack. Between the pepper spray and the exertion that would have been enough to trigger a heart attack. Tony P | February 28, 2008 9:40 PM link As someone who works in the mental health field, this is an incredibly sad story. This, and the other accounts in the news lately are nothing new and they speak to the fact that we are failing at many things: the delivery of mental health services, training our police, and having them respond appropriately. I don't think it makes anyone feel safer knowing that those who swear "to serve and protect" end up causing so many people harm. And come on now, it's East Providence, where corruption is the protocol... K | February 28, 2008 10:06 PM link Multiple psychological issues, 300lbs and fighting multiple police officers with a knife. The officers did not shoot him, as they would have been justified in doing so. They used minimal force (pepper spray and baton), and arrested the man. The man continues to fight, then dies. Do you think a 40 year old, weighing 300lbs may have heart issues? Should the police be responsible because the man had a bad ticker? The police didn't just find this guy on the side of the road minding his own business. They responded to a call of a "violent" man with a knife, who then challenged them to "shoot him". Jim | February 28, 2008 10:28 PM link Well I also know the mentally ill man personally grew up with the family.Although he had mental issues the police were very well aware of who he was they were not strangers to the residence and had been there on several occasions .I believe that in this case excessive force may have been used due to the size of the man & nature of the call,I've actually witnessed excessive force by the eppd personally.I'm not saying the man couldn't of had a heart attack or something of that nature but I find hard to believe that those injuries didn't have major effects I guess we will find out soon enough!I really think that the police in EP have been slowly turning into the LAPD with there smash mouth tactics if it turns out that the man died due to the injuries I would love to see all invoved due time in max! Mr.m | February 29, 2008 1:11 AM link You can't blame the police everytime there is a tragic incident and someone dies. The medical examiners result and a complete investigation will reveal the facts. Accountability is a must and if there is found to be any wrong doing then the chips will fall where they may. It's always tragic when a life is lost but this is the real world with no script and these things are going to happen. Patience people..... Dan | February 29, 2008 5:08 AM link When the police do their job they are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. I know those that whine about the police do not have the intestinal fortitude to do a policeman's job. When they are in trouble they are the first to call the police for help. Thank god for the EPPD. CHARLES HALL | February 29, 2008 5:50 AM link Don't the EP police have stun guns or did they just beat him over the head with their batons until he struggled no more. I hope an autopsy is performed and if anyone overreacted there should be reprecussions, not the normal police (justifiable) response. Citizens have rights! Patrick | February 29, 2008 6:03 AM link Just what I would expect from EPPD, they are know for their "forceful" ways by many throughout the state. I'm sorry for the family of this man, but I hope this is the one that finally shows the true EPPD.. roland | February 29, 2008 6:06 AM link In sorry about this man's death but I also think people need to lay off about the law enforcement in providence, many i doubt any of you have ever been in the situation of a police officer. thier job is to keep people safe not to arrest a man and ask him if he has heart problems while hes waving a knife at them! With out them "life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short"-Thomas Hobbes, you hate the police go somewhere else. Alex | February 29, 2008 7:18 AM link remember...perception is not reality...why is it that RI citizens practice "Guilty before found Innocent?"....I'm waiting for the facts... chris | February 29, 2008 7:25 AM link Let's blame the police BEFORE we know what really happened and let's leave out the fact that he injured officers at the scene. If anything, the police deserve credit for not shooting the man when he was threatening them with a knife. Knives kill. If this man had killed a member of his family or someone else, the police would have been blamed for not acting to subdue. Jerry | February 29, 2008 7:44 AM link To the people defending the police, your on the right track. The others will be shown to be fools. While police maintained a safe distance, the sister moved in and stood next to the man. If the man tried to stab the sister, the police would have had to shoot. If the sister wasn't in the way, police could have continued to try and talk the man down. Man then charged father with knife, drawing police in close. Threw knife at officer, then charged officer. None of this was reported by family to the media, why? No officer struck man after cuffs were on, but called for rescue and offer medical attention while man was alive, and while the man continued to fight. And wait until you hear the ME report. Know the facts, before you open your mouth, and remember that your just talking about the issue, while the officers have to live it. Must be nice to second quess from home, without having to make descions while your life is at risk. Show some respect for the people risking it all to protect others. d | March 5, 2008 5:28 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Okay, so how the heck did the man die? He fell where? This seems very fishy to me. EPPD at its finest I'm sure.