A Providence man is in custody after allegedly leading local police on a chase in a stolen car that ended with a crash in Johnston.
Around 1 p.m., Feb. 28, members of third watch were notified by communications personnel that Scituate Police and Rhode Island State Police were in pursuit of a stolen motor vehicle.
The vehicle was described as a black Volvo S80 with Massachusetts plates, which had been entered into NCIC as stolen by the Uxbridge Police Department earlier that day.
Communications personnel reported that the vehicle was now traveling east on Hartford Avenue and had crossed into Johnston.
Johnston Police positioned a marked cruiser in the area of 2100 Hartford Ave., facing eastbound.
“Shortly after I observed the suspect vehicle drive past my location and enter the westbound lane of travel,” Johnston Police Officer Thomas Santurri wrote in the incident report.
The suspect starting traveling the wrong way on Hartford Avenue, so Johnston Police initiated a pursuit and took over as lead vehicles.
“As the second car I began broadcasting the direction, speed and traffic conditions, as well as the fact the vehicle was traveling on the wrong side of Hartford Avenue,” Santurri wrote. “At this time the suspect vehicle was traveling in excess of 65 MPH in a posted 35 MPH zone.”
As the pursuit approached the intersection of Hartford Avenue and the Interstate-295 South ramp, the vehicle veered back into the eastbound lanes and accelerated to around 80 MPH.
The pursuit continued east until the intersection with Atwood Avenue, when the vehicle nearly struck a third Johnston Police cruiser that had attempted to join the chase.
“While I was in the area of 1495 Hartford Ave., facing west, I observed the suspect vehicle traveling east at a high rate of speed,” Johnston Police Officer Michael E. Andreozzi wrote in his incident report narrative. “Suddenly, and without warning, the suspect vehicle left the eastbound lane of travel, entered my lane of travel and was heading directly at my police vehicle. To avoid a head-on collision with the suspect vehicle, I immediately turned towards the right lane narrowly missing being struck by the suspect vehicle.”
The near-miss led to an upgrade in criminal charges.
“At that time I was able to advise officers over the police radio that the suspect’s violent actions now consisted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon (motor vehicle),” Andreozzi wrote.
In the vicinity of 1300 Hartford Ave., the suspect’s vehicle collided with another vehicle as it was attempting to turn left onto Hartford Avenue. A cruiser was also damaged in the collision, by a tire that was dislodged from the civilian vehicle struck by the suspect.
“As a result of the collision the suspect vehicle became disabled and came to rest in the area of 1277 Hartford Ave.,” Santurri wrote. “I then observed a malke exit the driver’s side of the vehicle and attempt to run from the location. At this time I drew my Department issued weapon and ordered the suspect to the ground, to which he complied.”
The driver was identified as Raymond A. Grundy, of 136 Daniel Ave., Providence. Grundy also had a female passenger in the chase vehicle. She was not identified by police in the redacted police incident report.
Grundy was arrested and transported to Johnston Police Headquarters, where he was processed and held pending arraignment.
A criminal background check revealed Grundy had two active bench warrants — the first out of Providence Superior Court for failure to appear at a Restitution Payment hearing, and resulting bench warrant.
Johnston Police charged Grundy with Felony Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Second Offense), Reckless Driving and Eluding Police in a High Speed Pursuit, Operating with a Suspended License (Third Offense), Duty to Stop in Accident Resulting in Personal Injury and Resisting Arrest.
Grundy also received traffic citations for Obedience to a Traffic Control Device, Operating Left of Center, and Speeding.
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