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May 5, 2008

3 charged with felonies in peace worker assault

PROVIDENCE -- Three men were charged with felony assault this morning for the vicious attack of a streetworker for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence outside a downtown nightclub over the weekend.

Nicholas Nalle, 26, Sophea Chao, 21, and Michael Leng, 22, all of Fall River, Mass., were arraigned in District Court on charges stemming from the beating and stabbing of Sareth ``Tony’’ Kim, 32, the streetworker, who the police say was ambushed in parking lot near the intersection of Clifford and Dorrance street.

The police said that a beef between the Fall River men, who are members or associates of the Original Bloods gang, and a group of Providence men with ties to the Providence Street Boys gang started in the Level 2 nightclub on Richmond Street and spilled into the street.

Investigators allege that Nalle struck Kim in the head with a baseball bat. Kim also suffered multiple stab wounds in the brawl. Nalle was charged with assaulting Kim with the bat, and with possession of a dangerous weapon, the baseball bat. Chao was charged with assault for kicking Kim, and Leng was charged with a felony assault for allegedly participating in the beating.

Judge Joseph Ippolito set bail for Nalle at $30,000 surety, or $3,000 cash, while bail was set respectively for Chao and Leng at $20,000 and $10,000 surety bail. They were also ordered to refrain from having any contact with Kim.

Meanwhile, Kim is recovering from his injuries at Rhode Island Hospital.

Extra: A special, multimedia report on the gangs of Providence.

-- By Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski

Posted by Jack Perry  at 11:25 AM | Permalink

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