Woonsocket Police Arrest Driver After Road Rage Assault at Stadium Theatre Crosswalk

A driver enraged at a fellow motorist stopping for pedestrians in a crosswalk hit him in the head with a pipe, turning a brief interruption in his travels to a more lengthy detour to jail.

Officer Gabrien Koneczny was called to the crosswalk in front of Stadium Theatre April 13 at about 6:55 p.m. for a report of an assault in progress. When he arrived, he saw two vehicles stopped in the middle of the road, one in front of the other, with one driver standing nearby, and the other seated in his car, according to his report.

The man standing, Robert Bartlett, 60, of Millville, MA, was holding his hand to his head, nursing a small laceration.

As Officer Jason Berthelette approached the man seated in the rear car, Johnelin Torres, 20, of 168 South Main St., Apt. 3B, Wooonsocket, the man opened the door of his car to speak with him, revealing a small metal pipe in the car, according to Koneczny's report.  Berthelette seized the pipe.

Two women standing nearby, later identified as the reporting parties, told officers, "He hit him with the pipe." Bartlett confirmed the assault, saying he had stopped to let the women cross the street, causing Torres to begin honking his horn. The women said as they and and a few youths began crossing the street, Torres began honking, flipping him off and swearing.

Bartlett said Torres got out of his car, so he did, too. The two argued, Bartlett said, and he kicked the door of his car shut. Torres then came at him with a pipe, Bartelett said. Bartlett said he was able to duck a blow but then was struck on the left side of his head.

At this point, said the two women, they called police.

Torres was arrested and charged with felony assault.