Runaway Girl Charged with Assaulting Police Officer

NEWPORT, RI—A 17-year-old Newport girl is facing felony charges of assaulting a police officer and threatening public officials after she bit and struggled with an officer who was trying to arrest her on Sunday night.

Police said the girl was seen walking by the sewage plant by an officer on patrol on Connell Highway at around 7:12 p.m. The officer, in his report, indicated that he recognized her from prior contacts and knew that she was previously reported as a missing juvenile.

The officer stopped his cruiser, got out and the girl reportedly “did not say a word and walked right past me.”

The girl refused repeated commands to stop, police said, and swore at the officer before the struggle ensued.

According to a police report, the girl bit the officer several times on the hands and arms but the officer was eventualyl able to get her in handcuffs.

The officer responded to Newport Hosptial where his he was treated for bite wounds and later released. He reportedly suffered several cuts on both hands and wrists.

Along with the two felony charges, the girl was charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.

She was transported to the state training school and the matter will be adjudicated in family court.