16 Charges for Man Who Led Police on Chase Through Woonsocket

The Rhode Island State Police have charged a 56-year-old Pawtucket man with a slew of charges for allegedly leading police on a chase through Woonsocket that involved numerous crashes and sent one innocent bystander to the hospital.

Richard J. Reis, 56, of 39 Chapman St., Pawtucket, was drunk when he was speeding on Diamond Hill Road, police said, and he tried to evade police by moving behind a building at the Walnut Hill Plaza.

Police spotted his red Ford Taurus and he fled as a trooper tried to pull him from his car. The trooper was struck on the side as Reis sped away and then crashed into the Shell gas station across the street.

Police once again tried to get Reis out of his car, but he resisted, put his car in reverse, struck another car and fled north on Diamond Hill Road.

The pursuit ended after the Taurus became disabled after Reis crashed into four other motorists.

Reis was transported to Rhode Island Hospital for non life-threatening injuries from the crashes. Another motorist was transported to Landmark Hospital for minor injuries.

No officer was hurt.

Along with a DUI charge, Reis was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, resisting arrest, receiving stolen goods, driving with a suspended license and a pile of warrants for other crimes, including:

• A warrant from Cumberland police for reckless driving.
• Warrants from Warwick police for shoplifting and failing to appear in court for a status conference for a felony assault charge from Warwick police.
• A Superior Court warrant for failing to appear for a pretrial conference for forgery and counterfeiting from Pawtucket police.
• A Superior Court warrant for failing to appear for a status conference for felony assault with a dangerous weapon from Cumberland police.
• A Sixth Division District Court warrant for failign to appear for an ability to pay conference for driving with a suspended license from Central Falls police.
• A Third Division District Court warrant for felony shoplifting from Warwick police.
• A Third Division District Court warrant for failing to appear for arraignment for driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence and other traffic violations from Warwick police.

Reis will be arraigned in Sixth Division District Court after he is released from the hospital, police said.

Photos Courtesy: Walter Belonos, ribns.com (Twitter: RIBNS)