5 Big Stories in Rhode Island This Week - October 14, 2023

#5

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Newport Lawyer Sued South Kingstown Police for Assault — See the Body Cam

A Newport woman who was first on the scene after an auto accident between a high school and college student on Route 1 in South Kingstown last February alleged that the South Kingstown Police were abusive -- and assaulted her.

GoLocalProv secured body camera footage of the incident between the woman and two South Kingstown Police officers.

In a 23-page lawsuit filed in Federal District Court in Providence in September on behalf of Claire Hall, it is alleged she was unlawfully arrested and physically injured, she was placed in imminent fear for her well-being, she was emotionally damaged, she was embarrassed, humiliated, and unlawfully and wrongfully charged as a criminal. 

The suit was filed by Hall’s lawyers, Todd White, a partner, and Amanda Tramonte, an associate, at the Providence-based law firm Adler Pollock & Sheehan.

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#4

“Amazon-Bestselling” Rhode Island Doctor Reprimanded for Inappropriate Relationship With Patient

A Rhode Island doctor and author of an “Amazon international bestseller” has been reprimanded by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

The reason, according to RIDOH, is for “failing to maintain professionally appropriate boundaries during the doctor-patient relationship,” as required under state law — for sharing a photo with a patient while away, scheduling appointments at restaurants and recreational sites, and more. 

Achina Stein has produced dozens and dozens of YouTube videos with other "health experts."

On Wednesday, the Medical Licensure and Discipline Board signed a consent order reprimanding Stein, who, at the time of the complaint filing, was employed at Functional Mind, LLC, in East Providence, which is now located on Wickenden Street in Providence. 

Stein is a "D.O." -- a "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine." 

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#3

Bryant Coach Grasso Told Police He Is Victim of Conspiracy—“An Attack Going On”

Jared Grasso, the Head Coach of Bryant University’s men’s basketball team, recently took a leave of absence, and since then, he has been making headlines.

Last Saturday, GoLocal broke the story that Grasso had been arrested.

According to documents secured by GoLocal, the North Smithfield Police Department charged Grasso with “Failure to Stop for Accident Resulting in Damage to Vehicle."

The incident took place on Sunday, October 1 — two days after Grasso went on leave. 

Grasso Claims “An Attack Going On”

The North Smithfield Police report filed by patrolman Justin Switzer paints a picture of an unstable and conspiratorial Grasso.

"Jared began rambling and stated that he would like his attorney there. I told him that's fine and informed him that he was being charged with leaving the scene of an accident to an attended vehicle. Jared continued to ramble and wouldn't allow me to speak. I told him that I was not asking him any questions but simply trying to explain our process and what the next steps would be. Jared stated that there was ‘an attack going on,’” according to the report. 

“[Grasso] seemed to believe that there was a bigger conspiracy going on and indicated that I was involved. I told Jared that I was confused with what he was saying and wasn't familiar with the situation. He asked me several times, ‘Are you sure?’ and didn't seem to believe me. He continued making statements about being attacked and being involved in some type of situation. Eventually, his wife exits the house and asked what was going on. He [Grasso] told her several times to 'get back in the house' which she does,” Switzer’s report states.

Switzer writes in the report, "I listened to Jared speak even though I was not familiar with what he was talking about. He appeared to think I was involved in this situation. I told Jared ‘I’m sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about.’ Jared's behavior was erratic and the conversation was not getting anywhere. His wife came back outside again and told Jared that he had a phone call so that he would go inside the house. I was able to speak with Jared's wife and explain everything to her.”

#2

Juvenile Charged After Bringing Loaded Gun to Providence Middle School - The Providence School Department's Handling of the Incident Drew Heavy Criticism

A juvenile has been charged after bringing a loaded gun to a school in Providence.

GoLocal has learned that the incident occurred on Wednesday at Del Sesto Middle School in Providence, which is located off of Hartford Avenue. 

According to police, a teacher searched a student’s “suspicious-looking backpack” — and found a gun with an extended magazine and bullets.

The Providence Public School Department is under fire for its handling of an incident in which an 8th-grade student brought a loaded gun to Del Sesto Middle School.

School officials confiscated the backpack and police were called. The student was taken to Central Station for questioning and transported to the training school. He is facing charges, including possession of a weapon on school grounds. 

The school was not placed in lockdown. And there are allegations that the PPSD failed to take proper steps.

As a result, parents, a school board member, and the top teacher’s union official are all raising concerns.

Ty’Relle Stephens, a member of the Providence School Board, is deeply concerned about the lack of actions and failure to follow policies.

“This situation has prompted me to reexamine our safety and security protocols, which were a point of concern last school year when we discussed transitioning to ALICE training. According to our current lockdown procedure, in the event of a dangerous situation occurring inside the school building, a lockdown should be enacted. This entails no movement inside or outside the building, with all students and staff remaining sheltered in their locations,” said Stephens in a letter.

Further, Stephens said, “Authorities must be contacted immediately, and parents should be notified as soon as it is safe to do so. No one should be allowed to enter or exit the building until authorities have given clearance.”

Stephens added that “following a thorough review by my legal team, it is clear that, in the presence of a loaded firearm in the building, irrespective of its functionality, the school should have initiated a lockdown. Furthermore, our procedure specifies that due to safety concerns, the school is expected to notify families within 15 minutes via Kinvo text message whenever possible, and a follow-up letter should be sent within 24 hours to provide additional context and details of the school's response.”

“I would like to confirm whether such notifications and procedures were followed in this instance. Also, I would appreciate it if you could confirm whether the Providence Police were contacted, and if so, I kindly request a copy of the police report for our records,” Stephens said. READ MORE

#1

$10.5M Farm in RI is for Sale - Is at Center of Speaker’s Ethics Investigation

A pristine farm in Rhode Island has gone on the market — and the 27-acre-plus "gentleman's estate" has a back story tied to political intrigue and an ongoing Ethics Commission investigation.

The property is “Gerald’s Farm,” owned by developer Gerald Zarella — a man who has been interwoven with Rhode Island’s business and political history.

Zarella, over the past 30 years, has helped bring to Rhode Island both Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump — who were subject of three of the four presidential impeachments — Clinton once and Trump twice.

The farm is the backdrop to a high-profile ethics complaint against Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi which is now being investigated by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission.

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