Man Who Jumped Off East Providence Bridge Caught With 14 Guns: PD

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — After a nearly hour-long search, East Providence police arrested a California man after he jumped off the Washington bridge Wednesday to avoid capture, according to Police Chief Christopher Francesconi.

Francesconi in a news conference Thursday said Joseph Darosa, 28, of Modesto, California, was caught with a suitcase containing 14 guns, four of which were stolen out of Texas, and one with an obliterated serial number.

"For the East Providence police department in my 22 to 23 years, this is the biggest seizure of weapons," Francesconi said.

Around 7 p.m., a special investigations unit from East Providence police were doing surveillance on an East Providence home. Francesconi said the surveillance pertained to a gun trafficking investigation.

Francesconi said officers saw Darosa leave the home with a suitcase and put the suitcase in the trunk of a Lyft driver's car. Officers also saw four men get into a second vehicle.

Investigators began following the cars. When getting onto Interstate 195 westbound, police tried to pull the cars over. In what Francesconi described as a "diversionary tactic" the second vehicle slowed down before speeding away, he said.

Francesconi said the Lyft driver stopped and had no knowledge of what was going on.

"Darosa exited the stopped vehicle," Francesconi said. "Sgt. Mello and Det. Feeney gave verbal commands for him to get back into the vehicle. Darosa ignored these commands and without warning jumped from the Washington Bridge into the water below."

Mello and Feeney immediately requested help rescuing Darosa from the frigid waters. East Providence, Providence and Rhode Island State Police sent several officers, a K-9 unit and launched a boat.

After a 50-minute search, a Providence police boat found Darosa in a marshy area along the East Providence shoreline.

Darosa was taken into custody and brought to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

"Miraculously, he only sustained minor injuries and was treated and later released into police custody," Francesconi said.

Mayor Roberto DaSilva commended the officers' efforts in rescuing Darosa from water cold enough to cause hypothermia.

"These guys did a great job locating him and bringing him to safety," DaSilva said.

Police said they seized the suitcase and found 13 handguns and a rifle inside. Francesconi said most of the guns were loaded.

"There are 14 weapons that will not be used in a homicide, that will not be sued to shoot an innocent person, that will not be used to take someone's life," DaSilva said. "We will never know how many lives were saved."

Darosa will face the following charges:

• 14 counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence
• 13 counts of license required to carry a pistol
• Four counts of possession of a stolen firearm
• Alterations of marks of identification on a firearm
• Possession of cocaine
• Obstruction of an officer in execution of their duty.

Francesconi said no other arrests were made, as of Thursday afternoon.

Police said they are still investigating Darosa's connection to the area. He's on probation for a meth trafficking charge out of California and is wanted on other charges, Francesconi said.

Francesconi said police are working with out-of-state law enforcement agencies to determine if the guns seized were used in any other crimes.

Police said Darosa will likely be arraigned Friday at a court still to be determined.