A Rhode Island police officer accused of punching a lady at an abortion protest whereas he was off-duty was suspended from his job with pay Saturday whereas the Windfall Police Division conducts a felony investigation into his actions.
Democratic state Senate candidate Jennifer Rourke, who additionally serves because the Rhode Island Political Cooperative Chairwoman and a state Senate candidate, on Saturday morning tweeted video of the alleged assault.
“I am a reproductive rights organizer & State Senate candidate. Final evening, after talking at our Roe rally, my Republican opponent – a police officer – violently attacked me. That is what it’s to be a Black girl working for workplace. I will not surrender,” she wrote.
The Windfall Police Division confirmed Saturday that Jeann Lugo, who was additionally vying for the Republican nomination for a similar state Senate seat, was the officer in query.
“The PPD is criminally investigating the conduct of an off obligation officer final night throughout a protest the place a feminine was assaulted,” the division stated earlier Saturday. “The officer has served for 3 yrs and positioned on administrative depart w/pay this morning, pending a felony investigation and administrative overview.”
Lugo informed the Windfall Journal that he was “not going to disclaim” the punching allegation, however added that “the whole lot occurred very quick.”
“As an officer that swore to guard and serve our communities, I, sadly, noticed myself in a state of affairs that no particular person ought to see themselves in,” he stated within the e mail to the Boston Globe. “I stepped in to guard somebody {that a} group of agitators was attacking.”
Lugo didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Related Press.
Video of the occasion posted on-line exhibits two different people concerned in a bodily altercation on the protest proper earlier than a lady, apparently Rourke, is seen being hit. The video doesn’t present what occurred between Lugo and Rourke previous to Rourke being hit.
“I am a Black girl working for workplace,” Rourke informed the Journal. “There was no want, no want for any of this. I am not going to surrender.”
At noon Saturday, Lugo tweeted that he was dropping out of the race.
“I cannot be working for any workplace this fall,” he stated.
His Twitter account appeared to have been deactivated shortly afterwards.
Windfall Mayor Jorge Elorza tweeted that he had seen the video and known as it “immensely disturbing.” Elorza stated he was “restricted” in what he might say publicly, however added, “These accountable will likely be held totally accountable.”
The altercation occurred throughout a Friday protest outdoors the Rhode Island State Home in Windfall that was in response to the choice by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom that overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 resolution that had supplied a constitutional proper to abortion.
