EXCLUSIVE: North Providence Employee Allegedly Poisoned Another Worker’s Gatorade Drink

EXCLUSIVE: North Providence Employee Allegedly Poisoned Another Worker’s Gatorade Drink

GoLocal has learned from multiple sources that last week, an employee of the North Providence Public Works Department poured out another worker’s Gatorade drink - and replaced the drink with automobile window wash fluid.

Automobile window wash fluid is typically made with methanol, which can be toxic and potentially lethal.

Multiple workers reportedly looked on while the fluid was replaced in the bottle.

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Later that day, when the worker returned to the office and unknowingly drank the window wash fluid, he reportedly became ill and was hospitalized twice due to the poisoning.

 

North Providence Investigating

According to multiple sources with first-hand knowledge, North Providence Police have begun an investigation.

The employee who allegedly put the automobile window wash fluid in the bottle was Alessio Dandrea — who was previously charged for a series of crimes by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2023.

When Bernie Salvatore, the acting director of the North Providence Pubic Works Department, was made aware of the incident last week, he placed Dandrea on "indefinite unpaid leave."

Salvatore told GoLocal that Dandrea had been working for the city for about one year and that he was a member of the union.

When asked if he was aware of Dandrea's federal criminal issues, Salvatore said, "I don't have any information about that."

GoLocal reached out to North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, who confirmed the incident and referred calls to Human Resources Director Josh Hernandez.

Hernandez did not respond to GoLocal's call.

North Providence Police Chief Alfredo Ruggiero was not reachable at the time of publication.

 

Prior Federal Charges

According to the U.S Attorney’s Office:

Federal charges were filed against a Johnston man following the seizure of two firearm silencers, one of which was attached to a rifle, and a “lightning link” auto sear (a device used to turn a semi-automatic rifle into an automatic weapon), announced then-United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Dandrea was been charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with possession of an unregistered firearm silencer and unlicensed importation/transportation of a machine gun from foreign commerce. 

According to charging documents, on June 14, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a parcel shipped from China addressed to Dandrea that, upon inspection, was found to contain an AR-15 “lightning link” auto sear. 

The seized lightning is classified as a machine gun by the ATF and is designed to modify the semi-automatic function/capability of an AR-15, rendering it capable of firing as an automatic weapon.  The possession or transfer of an unregistered drop-in auto sear is prohibited by the National Firearms Act.

A court-authorized search of Dandrea’s residence...by agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, and the Johnston Police Department resulted in the seizure of six firearms and two firearm silencers, one of which was attached to a rifle.  An investigation into Dandrea revealed that the two silencers were not registered to him, rendering their possession illegal under federal law.  

According to WPRI, “Prosecutors said investigators also found Nazi flags in Dandrea’s bedroom, and a search of his phone revealed he had text conversations with his brother about looking up the racial backgrounds of local business owners.

 

Dangers of Drinking Windshield Washer Fluid

According to national poison control, “Drinking windshield washer fluid often causes stomach upset and vomiting at first. The most serious symptoms of methanol poisoning don't happen for a while."

"Someone could swallow a fatal amount and feel fine for a few hours. Meanwhile, their body is metabolizing methanol into formaldehyde and formic acid, which are responsible for the delayed but severe results of methanol poisoning.” 

“The most important delayed effects of windshield washer fluid poisoning are making the blood more acidic, brain damage, and impaired vision. Eye symptoms range from blurred vision to complete blindness. Without prompt treatment in an emergency room, a person with methanol poisoning could suffer permanent blindness or even coma and death,” says poison control.