Cranston Suspect Shot After Injuring Police Officer

CRANSTON, RI—Police shot out the windows of a red Audi on Bain Street on Wednesday morning after the driver allegedly struck a Cranston officer and a bystander. According to Chief Michael Winquist, the incident happened when police were attempting to arrest Hazael Deleon, 25, of Cranston. Deleon was suspected of selling fentanyl. Detectives were investigating him for two weeks in connection with drug overdoses and got a tip he would be at 19 Bain St. on Wednesday. Around 9:30 a.m., he pulled up in a 2006 Audi.

When he realized he was being arrested, he drove at the officers and almost hit them, police allege. Then he allegedly cranked the gear into reverse and rammed an unmarked cruiser. Still trying to escape, he allegedly hit a bystander and an officer, partly trapped inside the car, and dragged him. That's when a different Cranston police officer opened fire and winged Deleon in the shoulder. He allegedly continued to fight but was eventually arrested, then taken to Rhode Island Hospital where he was treated and released. He is being held at Cranston Police Headquarters and will be arraigned this evening by a Justice of the Peace on the following charges.

• Delivery of a Schedule I Controlled Substance (fentanyl)
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon (five counts)
• Resisting Arrest

Police also say he has a record and will also be presented as a probation violator at the time of his arraignment. Last month, he was convicted of Manufacturing and Delivery of a Controlled Substance and given a five-year suspended sentence with probation.

"As it is protocol with all Officer involved shootings, the incident is under investigation by a multi-agency investigative team comprised of members of the Cranston Police Department, Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office," Winquist said.