Officers were called at around 12:30 a.m. on a report of a man who was screaming in the street and possibly under the influence of drugs. They found him groaning unintelligibly as he rolled on the ground next to a ballfield. Officers struggled with the man as they handcuffed him. The officers held Joseph Ventre down on his stomach for about 90 seconds while cuffing his hands behind his back. An emergency responder joined them, and then he stopped yelling and died.
Agency: Providence Police Department
Motive: welfare check/erratic behavior
Confrontation Type: Mental Health/Welfare Check
Service Call: Yes
Body Camera: yes
Official Disposition: Pending investigation
Victim Name: Joseph Ventre
Death Date: May 7, 2021
County: Providence
Geography: Urban
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Race: White
Cause of Death: Physical Restraint
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Drug or Alcohol Use
Armed: Unarmed/Did Not Have Actual Weapon
Weapon: no object
Fleeing: not fleeing