Crime & Safety
Shirtless Man Allegedly Resists Arrest After Trespassing onto Demolition Area
Joseph Cunha, 23, of 70 Russell Ave., screamed "I'm an American!" as officers pulled him onto the ground for wandering into 231 Central Ave., the site of a recent house fire.
A shirtless man was arrested for drunkenly trespassing onto the site of a recent house fire close to midnight last Friday, July 20.
According to reports, an East Providence police officer was guarding 231 Central Ave., the scene of a , when a shirtless man walked into the site barricaded in yellow tape, reads the report. After an officer called out to the man, later identified as, Joseph Cunha, 23, of 70 Russell Ave., he unsteadily walked behind a dumpster to hide and said, "I'm an American, I can go anywhere I want."
Cunha went further into the demolition site. The officer followed and grabbed his arm. Cunha then threw down his t-shirt, slapped the officer's arm and put up his fists. The officer pulled Cunha to the ground. As he went down, he repeatedly screamed, "I'm an American!" The officer reportedly smelled alcohol on his breath.
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He was taken to the East Providence Police Station and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and simple assault and battery.
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