Warwick Man Subdued By Crowd During Cranston Road Rage Assault

WARWICK, R.I.  — Cranston Police arrested a Warwick man for felony assault and disorderly conduct Friday at 2:42 p.m. at the 1282 Elmwood Ave. Mobil after he rammed his car into another at Park and Elmwood, then chased and assaulted the driver with a baseball bat before a crowd subdued him, inflicting broken ribs and a concussion.

Warwick Police are investigating a potential incident in the City of Warwick that is believed to have occurred prior to this collision and assault, according to Cranston Police Major Todd Patalano. Warwick Police confirm they are investigating a disturbance in Warwick near the Cranston city line believed to be related to the Cranston assault, but are still working to determine the details and could not comment further at this time.

Cranston Police received numerous 911 calls reporting a disturbance at the Mobil Gas Station involving  two men fighting in the parking lot, with one possibly struck with a  pipe. It was further described as a car accident escalating to an active assault, according to Patalano.

When officers arrived, they found a large crowd directing them to the entrance of the Mobil.

Several people were restraining a man on the ground, later identified as James Germalm, 47, of 235 Holmes Road Warwick, R.I. The crowd informed the officers they were preventing Germalm from continuing to strike the other man with a bat. Witnesses also alerted officers to the victim, who was inside the Mobil lying on the ground bleeding from his head, according to Patalano’s statement.

The victim explained  he was in his vehicle with a friend stopped in traffic at the intersection of Park Ave and Elmwood Ave.  when another vehicle, operated Germalm, rammed his car from behind. The victim attempted to flee on foot and Germalm chased him on foot, striking him at least twice with a bat, hitting him in the head once. The incident was captured on video surveillance, Patalano said.

Onlookers restrained Germalm until officers arrived and attempted to arrest him. Germalm suffered broken ribs and a concussion during the restraint leading to his arrest, according to Patalano.

Cranston Police charged Germalm with three counts of Felony Assault with a Dangerous Weapon & one count of Disorderly Conduct.  He is currently receiving medical treatment and will be arraigned at Rhode Island Hospital. 

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.