Police Officer Says Suspect Forced His Assault

“PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Patrolman Robert Kells testified Wednesday he was forced to grab a child molestation suspect because the man refused to acknowledge his order not to contact the children.

“I unfortunately had to break the law,” Kells said. “I had to do that to make him understand not to go to the house with the kids.”

Kells, a Marine veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is on trial over allegations that he falsely imprisoned and assaulted Ricardo Tavares, and caused Tavares emotional distress, in the December 2004 encounter.

A surveillance video, taken at the Pawtucket gas station where Tavares worked, shows Kells grabbing Tavares and accusing him of molesting two girls. The state Department of Children, Youth and Families cleared Tavares of wrongdoing.”

Read the original article, by Katie Mulvaney, at the Providence Journal Online.

**THE LAW OFFICES OF JOHN R. GRASSO DO NOT REPRESENT ANY PARTY IN THIS CASE.