Man faces 11 charges after wild chase through city
Weekend traffic stop ends with multiple Tasers
WOONSOCKET — A Providence man was ordered held on bail at his District Court arraignment Monday on charges stemming from a weekend motor vehicle chase that began when he nearly struck two officers following a traffic stop.
Sergio Ricard, 28, of 54 Arch St., was finally taken into custody after a car crash, a foot pursuit and a struggle that ended after police subdued him with multiple blasts from electronic Taser guns.
Ricard was charged with 11 counts in all, including two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon — a Mercedes E500; reckless driving; criminal possession of marijuana; driving without a license; driving under the influence; obstructing; resisting arrest; leaving the scene of an accident; possession of an open container of alcohol; and refusal to submit to a breath alcohol test.
Police stopped Ricard in the Market Square municipal lot after he drove away from Back Street Bar in an erratic manner shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday, they said.
Officers described him as “belligerent.” They said the smell of alcohol and his watery, bloodshot eyes were telltale signs that he might have had too much to drink.
As Patrol Officers Matthew K. Bourgoin, 32, and Jeffrey Gagnon Jr., 25, stood on either side of his vehicle, Ricard allegedly gunned it, forcing both officers to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by the vehicle.
“While giving dispatch his name, I observed Ricard start rolling up his driver side power window, his right hand grabbed the shifter placing it into drive and he accelerated,” Officer Gagnon reported. “As the vehicle fled, the rear tire nearly drove over my feet, to the point I had to jump back to avoid being struck
by Ricard as he sped away through the parking lot. Officer Bourgoin also had to jump away from the vehicle to avoid being hit.”
Ricard’s attempted getaway posed “a serious threat” to a number of pedestrians who were in the area because it was closing time for nearby clubs and bars, the police said.
Though they were some distance away, officers in several cruisers were attempting to chase after Ricard when he crashed his car into a wall on River Street and tried to make a run for it.
In a driveway on nearby High Street, police reports say, officers fired electronic Tasers at Ricard twice in attempts to gain the upper hand — to no avail. By now, police had caught up to Ricard, but he continued to struggle violently, preventing officers from getting him into handcuffs.
It wasn’t until Patrolman Bourgoin fired a third round of Taser prongs at Ricard that he stopped resisting enough for a group of at least five officers to gain control of him.
Police said they found marijuana in his car — a criminal offense since he’s been arrested for possession of the drug before.
Ricard was taken to Landmark Medical Center to have the Taser prongs removed and a general evaluation following the motor vehicle crash.
Police said he received treatment for minor cuts and scrapes before being discharged to their custody for booking at police headquarters.
It wasn’t until
Patrolman Bourgoin fired a third round of Taser prongs at Ricard that he stopped resisting
enough for a group of at least five officers to gain
control of him.