PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The death of a 34-year-old man who was handcuffed by police early Friday morning is the focus of a use-of-force investigation, authorities said Friday night.
Providence police released an officer's body camera footage of the situation involving a man identified as Joseph Ventre who was loudly tossing and turning on the ground in a grassy area.
Officers went to 18 Collyer St. at 12:32 a.m. after receiving a report a man who was screaming in the middle of the street and potentially under the influence of narcotics, says a news release issued by a police spokeswoman, Lindsay Lague.
In the video, the man appears that the man is in medical distress. The officers tell the man they want to help him, and they discuss handcuffing him.
An image from Providence police body camera footage shows officers with Joseph Ventre, lying on the ground.
"Due to his erratic behavior, police attempted to place handcuffs on the subject to prevent injuries and for the safety of rescue personnel," says the news release, which says the man refused to comply with police commands.
At a certain point it appears they do handcuff him and he is placed on a stretcher.
He is noticeably quiet on the stretcher.
Firefighters took Ventre to Rhode Island Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:41 a.m., says the release.
Providence police investigators went to the scene. The state police and the attorney general's office joined the investigation in line with the protocol on use of force, the release says.
