5/22/24 Providence, RI – Police Car Stolen After Suspect Got Into A Scuffle With The Police Officer – Firearm Fell Out Of The Satchel The Suspect Was Running With – Suspect Captured

May 22, 2024

www.wpri.com

A 34-year-old man was arrested Tuesday evening after he reportedly got into a scuffle with an officer in Providence before taking off in his cruiser.

Ishmael Lee has been charged with simple assault, motor vehicle theft, possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, reckless driving and obstruction of justice.

A police report obtained by 12 News revealed that an officer was on patrol when he noticed two men riding Slingshots, one of which was Lee, in a bike lane on Broad Street.

The report said Lee ended up crashing into someone riding an electric scooter.

While speaking with the victim and Lee, the officer noticed Lee had taken the satchel he was wearing off and looped it around the handlebar of his Slingshot. Lee then tried to distance himself from it as he continued talking to the officer, according to the report.

Since the officer believed Lee might be carrying a weapon, the report stated he tried to pat the bag down the bag for his safety before allowing Lee to grab his identification. But Lee took off running before the officer could pat the bag down, according to the report.

The reported said the officer, who still had the satchel, chased him down the road where the two briefly struggled before Lee broke free and kept running.

The report said that a firearm fell out of the satchel as he was escaping, so the officer secured the weapon while calling for backup.

It was then that Lee hopped into the officer’s cruiser and drove off, according to the report. Lee didn’t get far, however, and ended up abandoning the cruiser at the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Atlantic Street.

Officers searched the neighborhood for Lee and eventually took him into custody in the area of Reservoir and Adelaide avenues, the report said.