Officer Arrests Driver for Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest

WARWICK, RI — Officer Gregory Johnson started out interviewing the driver of a black BMW about a crash he’d just been in Dec. 21 at 2:15 p.m. at 650 Bald Hill Road, but wound up arresting him for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. 

Johnson arrived at the scene of the crash, where officer Christopher Gillis was already interviewing one of the drivers, and offered to interview the BMW driver.

Johnson spoke with Joshua Andrea, 21, of 1 River St., Apt. 3, West Warwick, and asked him about the crash, according to the officer’s report. 

Both Andrea and his passenger smelled of burnt marijuana, Andrea reported. They had difficulty explaining the circumstances of the crash, only noting that the light had been green when the crash occurred. 

Johnson spoke with three witnesses, who said the black BMW had driven through a red light, striking the other cars. When presented with this information, Andrea swore at Johnson, using a racial slur, and advanced on Johnson as if to strike him, according to the report. 

Johnson dropped his clipboard to fend off Andrea’s approach, and instructed him to go back to his car and stop swearing. Andrea did not comply, continuing to swear at the officer. 

Johnson told Andrea to put his hands behind his back so he could handcuff him,  but the man resisted, and Johnson pinned him to the ground to continue the arrest. Andrea told the officer he’d cooperate, but then instead tried to roll over, and was subdued again by Johnson. 

Adrea also resisted being frisked, and refused to spread his legs during a search. A second officer transported Andrea to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.