Jeann Lugo, 35, was charged with easy assault and disorderly conduct.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Rhode Island police officer accused of punching a lady at an abortion protest whereas he was off-duty has now been charged in reference to Friday’s demonstration on the State Home.
In a Saturday night information launch, state police stated Windfall patrolman Jeann Lugo, 35, was charged with easy assault and disorderly conduct.
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Jennifer Rourke, the chair of the progressive Rhode Island Political Cooperative searching for the Democratic nomination for a state Senate seat, stated she had been punched within the face at the very least twice by Lugo, who — on the time — was operating for the GOP nomination for a similar seat. Windfall police stated earlier Saturday that Lugo had been suspended from his job with pay pending an investigation, and Lugo subsequently ended his marketing campaign.
Friday’s protest outdoors the Rhode Island State Home in Windfall was in response to the choice launched the identical day by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 choice that had supplied a constitutional proper to abortion. Video of the occasion posted on-line reveals a bodily altercation on the protest proper earlier than a lady showing to be Rourke is seen being hit. The video doesn’t present what occurred between Lugo and Rourke beforehand.
In a name with The Related Press on Saturday, Rourke stated that as she was trying to escort a counterprotester who had agreed to go away off the premises, one other bodily altercation broke out throughout which she was punched within the face a number of instances. She confirmed she pressed fees towards Lugo.
State police say Lugo turned himself in Saturday, was arraigned earlier than a justice of the peace after which launched. He’s due in courtroom once more on July 8. Lugo didn’t reply to requests for touch upon Saturday and Sunday, however informed the Boston Globe earlier than fees had been introduced that he “stepped in to guard somebody {that a} group of agitators was attacking.”
Lugo had additionally informed the Windfall Journal he was “not going to disclaim” the punching allegation, however added that “the whole lot occurred very quick.”
Rourke informed the AP she had by no means interacted with Lugo earlier than and didn’t know he could be on the protest.
“I’m disillusioned he selected to make use of violence on this means. As a police officer, he’s skilled to deescalate. He didn’t do what he was skilled to do,” she stated.
Rourke sought medical care and obtained a CT scan on Saturday afternoon. She stated she was doing OK however was experiencing lots of tenderness in her face and ringing in her ears.
Two different folks had been additionally charged following the Friday occasion that briefly turned violent. One of many two folks, Nicholas Morrell, of Warwick, stated in a Sunday message that he’s 30, not 31 as police stated, and he had “video proof of your entire factor (and) I used to be arrested for standing there.”
The opposite one that was arrested didn’t reply to a social media message Sunday searching for remark.
