Duo Stopped Carrying Rubber Band Rifle, One Charged For Assaulting Officer

Officer Timothy Greene responded to the area of 85 Fairmount St. April 23 at 9:43 p.m. for a report of two men, one of them with what seeme to be a rifle, walking on the street.

Greene found the men, saw that one was carrying what appeared to be a black shotgun with extra shells along the barrel, stopped his cruiser, got out and ordered the men to drop any weapons.

The man furthest away from Greene, later identified as Nicholas Drainville, 18, dropped the rifle-shaped object and an orange crowbar. The man closest to him, later identified as Hilari Gonzalez, 37, of 107 Bourdon Boulevard, Woonsocket, dropped a hammer. Officer Enrique Sousa arrived on the scene and handcuffed Drainville without incident.

When Greene approached Gonzalez, and asked him his name, which Gonzalez refused to disclose, suggesting the officer peform an anatomically improbable act. He also told the officer he wouldn't tell him anything.

Greene asked for Gonzalez's name again, and he refused to tell him again. Greene said he would charge him with obstructing an officer if he didn't give his name, but Gonzalez didn't tell him.  

Close inspection of the rifle-shaped object revealed it to be a black rifle that fires rubber band projectiles.

At the station, Gonzalez's fingerprints revealed his identity, as well as a Sixth District Court Warrant for failing to appear. 

Drainville said he had just met Gonzalez that day, and that he had asked him to help carry some items, which he had done. 

Officer Linden Karsner transported Gonzalez to Landmark Medical Center for treatment to scrapes on his knees. Within the officer's hearing, Gonzalez taunted and threatened officers. The man continued this behavior during the trip to the hospital, and then at the hospital, using foul language and threatening Karsner's children, nieces and nephews. He also refused to relent his tirade when an nurse informed him an 80-year-old woman with chest pains and young children were within hearing.

Karsner handcuffed Gonzalez to the railing of his hospital bed briefly so the nurse could treat him, leaving one arm free. Gonzalez began thrashing violently, knocking over  and Karsner and another officer struggled with him to keep him still. Karsner, the other officer and about six hospital staff members were able to restrain Gonzalez. During the struggle, Karsner's left thumb was injured.

Gonzalez was later transported back to Woonsocket Police Headquarters, where he was charged with obstructing an officer in the course of their duties, a misdemeanor, and assault of an officer, a felony.