Providence Police K9 Injured Responding to Breaking and Entering on Elmwood Avenue
GoLocalProv News Team
Providence Police K9 Injured Responding to Breaking and Entering on Elmwood Avenue
According to police, K9 Ripp was observed bleeding, with lacerations to his paws, after police apprehended a suspect -- with two outstanding warrants and sixteen packs of Newport lights in his possession -- who broke into Ali Market.
About Incident
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTShortly before 5 AM on Saturday, police were dispatched to the Mobil Gas Station at 389 Elmwood Avenue for a report of a breaking and entering.
Upon arrival, police spoke with the caller who said he observed a male subject breaking into the business across the street -- Ali Market located at 384 Elmwood Avenue -- where the suspect was observed by the caller smashing the main entry door before making entry.
At Ali Market, police observed that the main door appeared smashed with a small hole where a possible suspect would be able to fit through. Police gave loud verbal commands for anyone inside the business to make themselves known to police and come towards the main entry.
At this time a male subject made his way towards police, briefly coming within the field of view of police, before failing to fully comply with police commands to come to the door, at which point he proceeded to step away from the officers' field of view.
K9 Assistance
Police then established a perimeter and a K9 Officer and K9 Ripp were requested to assist, and Providence Fire apparatus was requested to assist Police in order to make entry.
As police made entry, they conducted a preliminary search of the first level which yielded negative results, before observing a staircase leading down to the basement area.
A Patrolman and K9 Ripp proceeded into the basement where they were able to locate a male subject entangled in a corner ceiling area concealed between plywood and metal pipes. Police were then able to grab hold of the suspect and effectively take in him into custody without further incident.
According to police, the suspect -- Gerardo Gonzalez -- was concealing on his person sixteen packs of Newport cigarettes, two Bic lighters, and one screwdriver
Gonzalez was transported without incident and turned over to detectives for charging.
During this investigation it was noted K9 Ripp received lacerations to his paws where he was observed bleeding.
A background search on Gonzalez found two active Superior Court full bench warrants out of Cranston Police.