Providence Cop Charged After Punching Political Opponent: State Police

PROVIDENCE, RI — Providence police officer and one-time State Senate candidate Jeann Lugo is charged with assault and disorderly conduct after video showed him punching political opponent Jennifer Rourke, a fellow candidate, at an abortion rights rally on Friday.

The video, captured by journalist Bill Bartholomew, has been viewed nearly 5 million times on Twitter since Friday, and has initiated statements from Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee.

"I've seen the video and it's immensely disturbing," Elorza said in a tweet, appearing to reference the footage. "Those responsible will be held fully accountable."

On Monday, McKee said "everybody should be held accountable for their behavior, and it doesn't matter what position they're in."

"If what we're being told turns out to be true, he should be severely disciplined and I would say the man should lose his job," he added.

Lugo was arrested by Rhode Island State Police troopers over the weekend in Warwick, officials said. State police confirmed that the arrest was a result of what happened at the protest.

Lugo was arraigned and released. A future court date is scheduled with the Sixth Division District Court.

Friday's Rally

Lugo and Rourke, who is the chair of the Rhode Island Political Cooperative, were both in attendance at a Roe V. Wade rally on Friday, which was attended by hundreds of people at the Rhode Island State House.

A fight broke out after Josh Mello, of Cranston, who was live-streaming the event, started shouting at the demonstrators, and Rourke tried to break up the conflict, the Boston Globe reported. Mello agreed to leave but was then assaulted by an unidentified person, and, as Rourke again tried to intervene, she was hit repeatedly by Lugo, according to the Globe.

Read more: At Providence Roe V. Wade Rally, Residents Wary Of Future Rulings

"Last night, after speaking at our Roe rally, my Republican opponent — a police officer — violently attacked me," Rourke, who is co-founder and chair of the Rhode Island Political Cooperative, said in a tweet Saturday. "This is what it is to be a Black woman running for office."

The Providence Department of Public Safety identified Lugo, a three-year veteran officer, as Rourke's assailant. Lugo was off-duty at the time of the attack and has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending a criminal investigation and administrative review, according to the department.

On Monday, Lugo's attorney, Daniel Griffin, released a statement on behalf of his client.

"There is far more to what occurred regarding the incident than what is being reported," he said.

He continued:

"We are working diligently to identify and speak to witnesses and we continue to obtain and analyze other video footage taken that night. Unfortunately, our approach is in direct contract to the one taken by the media which, as usual, was to hastily publish a story and condemn Officer Lugo based on seconds of edited video devoid of any context."

According to Globe reporting, Lugo said he would drop out of the District 29 race.