North Providence Poisoning Accusation: Report

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI — An employee of North Providence poisoned a co-worker, WPRI said Mayor Charles Lombardi claimed.

"The mayor said the Department of Public Works employee, 29-year-old Alessio Dandrea, allegedly put windshield washer fluid into the other employee’s sports drink, but told Target 12 it was his understanding that the motive wasn’t vindictive," WPRI reported.

The mayor called the supposed poisoning "childish," according to WPRI.

"It was something juvenile that has now created an issue or a problem," the network quoted Lombardi as saying.

Lombardi failed to return a call for comment.

Dandrea poured the windshield wiper fluid into his co-worker's Gatorade, according to GoLocalProv.

"Multiple workers reportedly looked on while the fluid was replaced in the bottle," GoLocalProv reported.

The police have been investigating the matter for a full week, according to WPRI.

While no charges have been filed in connection with the reported poisoning, Dandrea does have a federal firearms case.

In June 2023, "U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a parcel shipped from China addressed to Dandrea that, upon inspection, was found to contain an AR-15 'lightning link' auto sear," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a media release.

"The seized lightning is classified as a machine gun by the ATF and is designed to modify the semi-automatic function/capability of an AR-15, rendering it capable of firing as an automatic weapon," the release said. "The possession or transfer of an unregistered drop-in auto sear is prohibited by the National Firearms Act."