PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez addressed an officer’s use of force during an arrest that was captured on camera while trying to disperse crowds at a local festival on Sunday night.

Police said they seized suspected narcotics and a gun with a high-capacity magazine while trying to break up “disorderly parties” at the Dominican Festival, according to an incident report obtained by Target 12.

Six people were arrested in one incident, but police say 10 arrests were made and two firearms were seized overall that day.

Perez said there were “unofficial events” which included public drinking in the area of Miller Avenue and Broad Street just before 10 p.m.

Police said Adonis Placencio, 27, of Providence, had an open bottle of alcohol which he was observed drinking in front of officers, according to the report. He was asked to leave the area but “refused to do so,” despite being warned he would be arrested for disorderly conduct.

Officers also noticed Placencio was wearing a black satchel, which he was trying to “conceal […] from police in a nervous manner,” according to the incident report.

“While Placencio was trying to discard the satchel within a group of people and hand it off to someone else, he was maintaining constant eye contact with police while trying to take the satchel off and then putting it back on as police kept an eye on what he was doing,” the report said.

When police got to Placencio, officers felt “a weighted object” inside the satchel and realized it was the handle of a firearm of some kind.

While trying to “maintain positive control over the satchel,” police said they struggled to take Placencio into custody as the large crowd “began to close in behind officers.” The portion of the report where police explained how they were able to regain control over Placencio was redacted.

However, video quickly began circulating on social media. An officer, later identified as Sgt. Peter Salmons, can be seen punching Placencio in the stomach and head while people in the crowd yell and try to get him to stop.

Police later determined a firearm was in Placencio’s satchel and identified it as a Smith & Wesson 9 mm. The incident report stated there were 13 live cartridges in the magazine and no live cartridges in the weapon’s chamber. Suspected narcotics were also found, according to police.

Perez said the specific use of force that the 14-year veteran of the department used were “hard, empty, hand-controlled” punches.

“This incident was reviewed and documented properly,” Perez said. “It was reviewed by supervisors, it was reviewed by internal affairs and it was just a use of force that needed to be applied to compel the compliance from this individual.”

Perez called the incident “a hectic, chaotic situation.”

While placing Placencio under arrest, police said a man identified as 40-year-old Edward Mclean began to throw alcoholic beverages at officers. Officers placed Mclean under arrest and charged him with simple assault and disorderly conduct.

“I want to commend the restraint and professionalism of our Providence Police officers,” Perez added.

Placencio was charged with two felonies related to possessing illegal firearms, plus disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He did not enter a plea in court and was later presented as a violator, stemming from a 2021 felony firearms charge.

Court records show Mclean pleaded no contest in court on Tuesday, but would be presented as a violator related to a 2010 second-degree robbery case out of Lincoln.

Police say two other men, Denzel Rodriguez, 25, and Damian Reyes, 19, were also arrested for acting disorderly on Sunday.

Court records show Rodriguez pleaded no contest to simple assault and resisting arrest. Reyes is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.

As Rodriguez and Reyes were being taken into custody, police say a woman identified as Melissa Reynoso, 24, of Providence tried to keep officers from arresting the two men, but was then arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer in execution of duty.

Court records show Reynoso was released on personal recognizance, but is scheduled to be formally arraigned on Wednesday.

Another man, Frank Villagran, 40, was also arrested for simple assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing an officer in the execution of duty. Villagran is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Police said a body-worn camera was activated during the incident.

Alexandra Leslie ( aleslie@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook .

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