Captain Placed On Leave After Truck Drives Into ICE Protesters

CENTRAL FALLS, RI — A Wyatt Detention Facility captain has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation after a pickup truck was driven into a group of about 100 protesters late Wednesday night. The prison released a statement Thursday afternoon saying that Thomas Woodworth has been placed on leave pending the independent investigation from the Rhode Island State Police and an internal investigation

The statement said Wyatt Detention Facility Warden Daniel Martin is conducting a review of the incident, the officers' response and the center's protocol for protests outside of the facility.

The seemingly peaceful protest took a chaotic turn at the Wyatt Detention Facility when a black pickup truck drove into the group of about 100 blocking the entrance to the building and pepper spray was dispersed. The protesters were from the group "Never Again Action" and were demonstrating against an agreement with the prison and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house detainees at the Rhode Island facility.

According to "Never Again Action" five people were taken to the hospital for treatment, including two hit by the truck. One person sustained serious injuries.

Aaron Regunberg, a former state representative and activist who was at the protest, said the night started off as a "lovely, peaceful protest," with songs and speeches to make "a powerful statement." But he said the scene turned violent in an instant when the truck drove into the line of protesters that he said included three minors. He said guards then pepper-sprayed the crowd.

"It was peaceful and it was non-violent," he said. "You had minors and elderly there. Then there were elderly people on the ground with their eyes all puffed out (from the pepper spray). It was scary in the moment. This happened with all those bystanders around and all the media right there."

Regunberg said those who were there have been urged to go to the Central Falls Police Department to give witness statements today after he said police did not take statements last night.

"We were shocked there were no arrests last night," he said. "This was a violent assault."

The Rhode Island Attorney General's office issued a statement saying it is working with the Rhode Island State Police to investigate what happened in Central Falls. The AG's statement concluded:

"Once we have a full understanding of the relevant facts, we will determine how to proceed. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right of allAmericans; it is unfortunate last night's situation unfolded as it did.We urge all to exercise restraint as our investigation proceeds."

"We are glad the Attorney General's office is investigating this," Regunberg said. "But it's very important for all of us involved in this that work that it not just be words. We need action from our state leaders."

"Never Again Action" issued a statement to Patch Thursday morning: "Last night we experienced a small example of the violence that ICE uses against our immigrant neighbors every day. As Jews, our families taught us the lessons of the Holocaust, and we promised that we would speak out and act if we ever saw a group of people being targeted, dehumanized, and rounded up.

"We will continue to answer the call of our ancestors and sound the alarm: #NeverAgainIsNow. Every person in the United States needs to join the fight to close the concentration camps, shut down ICE, and secure permanent protection for all undocumented people in the U.S."

Demonstrators outside Wyatt say they were pepper-sprayed, nearly run over https://t.co/plpIMl0yBX
— NBC 10 WJAR (@NBC10) August 15, 2019

Wyatt has been the scene of protests in recent months with about 130 ICE detainees being kept there.

According to the Never Again Action Twitter account, the group formed six weeks ago and has since had 36 actions across the country "shutting down dozens of ICE detention centers and field offices. ... We are just getting started."