Johnston man charged with child abuse after breaking up fight between kids

Incident was captured on video, shows suspect tackling child during street brawl

The victim’s family provided video footage of the alleged assault to a Rhode Island ABC 6 television news reporter. The reporter posted the video on social media. In the video, two children start fighting underneath a basketball hoop. Eventually, as one child gains the advantage, an adult male who was watching the fight, jumps into the brawl and tackles one of the children, falling on the street. The video posted on social media ends immediately after.

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In the video, two children start fighting underneath a basketball hoop. Eventually, as one child gains the advantage, an adult male who was watching the fight, jumps into the brawl and tackles one of the children, falling on the street. The video posted on social media ends immediately after.

Screenshot

In the video, two children start fighting underneath a basketball hoop. Eventually, as one child gains the advantage, an adult male who was watching the fight (at left), jumps into the brawl and tackles one of the children, falling on the street. The video posted on social media ends immediately after.

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CHARGED: David A. DelGreco, 35, of Johnston, has been charged with one count of Child Abuse (a felony) and one count of Obstruction of an Officer (a misdemeanor).

Photo courtesy Johnston Police (DMV image; not a booking photo)

Posted Thursday, September 8, 2022 12:15 pm

By RORY SCHULER

Johnston Police have arrested a Johnston man and charged him with child abuse after he broke up a fight between two children and allegedly assaulted one of them.

David A. DelGreco, 35, of Johnston, has been charged with one count of Child Abuse (a felony) and one count of Obstruction of an Officer (a misdemeanor).

DelGreco was arrested and charged after allegedly “assaulting a juvenile boy who was 11 yrs. of age,” according to Johnston Police Chief Joseph P. Razza.

“He was released on $10,000 PR before a JP and his next District Court Kent date is on Oct. 21,” Razza wrote via email.

The victim’s family provided video footage of the alleged assault to a Rhode Island ABC 6 television news reporter. The reporter posted the video on social media. The reporter also posted a photo of injuries allegedly suffered by the 11-year-old victim.

Johnston Police did not identify the juvenile victim.