MA Man Arrested After Officer-Involved Shooting In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, RI — An officer-involved shooting happened in Middletown after a Massachusetts man struck a police officer with his car in an attempt to escape arrest, according to police.

Middletown police said DEA agents tried to arrest Justin Deprospo, 39, of Rochester, Massachusetts, in a parking lot on West Main Road on Thursday afternoon. In an attempt to escape, Deprospo sped off and struck an officer, police said. Police then shot at his car, before Deprospo led officers on a high-speed chase, police said.

Police said the chase ended when Deprospo crashed into a police cruiser on Ridgewood Road.

Deprospo was arrested and taken to Newport Hospital. A police officer was also taken to the hospital. Police said neither person's injuries were life-threatening.

Per state law, Rhode Island State Police and Attorney General Peter Neronha's office are investigating the officer-involved shooting.

Deprospo was charged with the following crimes:

• Felony assault (3 counts)
• Manufacturing, delivering, possessing with intent to distribute schedule I-V narcotics
• Conspiracy of manufacturing, delivering, possessing with intent to distribute schedule I-V
• Resisting arrest
• Reckless driving
• Obstructing an officer in the execution of duty
• Duty to stop in accident resulting in injury
• Throwing articles at moving vehicles.

Deprospo was scheduled to be arraigned at Second Division District Court in Newport on Friday morning.

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