Cranston Man Arrested After 5-Hour Standoff Released On Own Recognizance: Cops

Police said they found two pistols, a rifle, a shotgun, ammunition and forearm parts in the man's house after the standoff.

By Joseph Hosey, Patch Staff

May 21, 2026 11:21 am EDT

Devan Garcia (Courtesy of the Cranston Police Department)

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man arrested after a five-hour standoff was released on his own recognizance, police said.

Devan Garcia's $25,000 personal recognizance bond was set during his arraignment Wednesday. Pretrial services are to monitor his mental health, court records show.

Garcia faces charges of felony assault and/or battery, large capacity feeding devices prohibited, eluding law enforcement and resisting arrest.

Garcia drew the attention of the law in March by making "several alarming comments on the Cranston Police Department's Facebook page regarding two upcoming department events, including the Department's annual memorial ceremony honoring fallen and deceased officers and the Spring Festival," the department said in a media release.

"Detectives also discovered that Garcia had posted videos and photographs on his personal social media accounts depicting himself with an AR-style rifle and loaded magazines," the release said.

Detectives determined Garcia had recently purchased several firearms from different Rhode Island gun stores, according to the release.

On May 13, "detectives obtained a court-authorized exigent risk protection order and search warrant for Garcia's residence to seize all firearms in his possession," the release said.

Early the next morning, Garcia left his Brandon Road home and drove onto Pontiac Avenue, per the release.
An officer operating a marked police cruiser activated the emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle," according to the release.

"Garcia refused to stop, performed a U - turn, and drove directly toward an unmarked police vehicle with activated emergency lights, striking the vehicle head-on," according to the release. "Garcia then exited his vehicle and fled on foot,
jumping fences and temporarily eluding officers before returning to his residence."

Crisis negotiators established telephone contact with Garcia and his family members while officers secured the perimeter around the home, the release said, and the East Providence Police Department deployed its Bearcat armored vehicle, assisting in evacuating some of Garcia relatives from the home.

"Investigators learned Garcia had retreated into the basement with firearms," according to the release. "After more than five hours of negotiations, Garcia exited the residence and surrendered peacefully."

A search of the house turned up a 9 mm pistol, a .380 pistol, camouflage AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, six .223-caliber 30-round magazines, multiple containers of assorted ammunition and a box containing assorted firearm parts, the release said.