State Police Use Pepper Spray, Make Arrests at Protest for Black Lives Matter, Defunding Police

State Police Use Pepper Spray, Make Arrests at Protest for Black Lives Matter, Defunding Police

Providence police assisted Rhode Island State Police at a protest in Providence on Monday night -- which resulted in the use of pepper spray and the arrest of two protesters.

Shortly after 10 PM, approximately 15-20 state police vehicles operating at a high speed drove inbound on Westminster Street towards the last known location of the protest at Dexter Park. 

Providence police then followed the State Police cruisers and observed a state police cruiser surrounded by protesters at Dexter and Hollywood. 

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Pepper Spray Used -- Arrests Made

State Police then began advancing on a crowd of approximately 20-30 protesters. The State Police then began to use large cans of OC spray on the protesters while taking several protesters into custody. 

Other officers began to disperse the crowd while police observed several protesters attempt to retrieve homemade shields that the arrested protestors had dropped. 

Police then ordered them back and seized several of the shields and secured them in the prisoner van. Providence Police seized one homemade shield and it was later placed into the property room. 

State Police took custody of all their prisoners.