An off-duty Rhode Island cop working for state senate has been charged with assault after punching his political rival within the face at an abortion-rights protest, and now his police chief is saying he needs to be fired.
Video from Friday’s rally captured officer Jeann Lugo, 35, and Republican candidate for Rhode Island senate, throwing punches at Jennifer Rourke, the Democrat working in opposition to him. Rourke had been mediating between abortion-rights activists and counterprotesters when a battle broke out between two individuals, the video exhibits. Lugo could be seen hanging Rourke in her face twice within the video, which now has greater than 5 million views.
“That is what it’s to be a Black lady working for workplace,” Rourke tweeted Saturday. “I will not quit.”
In accordance to state police, Lugo turned himself in on Saturday and was charged with assault and disorderly conduct, and positioned on administrative depart. He has since ended his marketing campaign and suspended his Twitter account.
Rourke was handled for a concussion, her spokesperson advised reporters.
On Tuesday, the Windfall police chief stated Lugo is dealing with inner prices, which embody violating its requirements of conduct and guidelines governing courtesy, conduct, and demeanor.
“Your above-described misconduct has been prominently reported within the print and digital media, bringing dishonor, discredit, embarrassment, and reputational hurt to the Windfall Police Division,” police chief Colonel Hugh Clement Jr. said in a five-page report. “Based mostly on the info and circumstances offered to me, I’ve misplaced confidence in your capability and talent to train self-control and to conduct your self in a civil, respectful, {and professional} method.”
Lugo’s legal professional, Daniel Griffin, stated in a press release that he and his consumer are “upset” by the selection to terminate Lugo.
“To make this determination so unexpectedly actually flies within the face of due course of and truthful therapy,” Griffin stated. “Fairly frankly, Officer Lugo anticipated extra from his metropolis. Nonetheless, he stays assured that the info of this example will likely be delivered to gentle and present that he’s harmless of any wrongdoing.”
Griffin declined to remark additional, however told NBC 10 that Lugo didn’t assault Rourke unprovoked and didn’t realize it was her within the first place. Lugo alleges that whereas he was attempting to guard an individual being attacked on the rally.
“[Lugo] is there attempting to drag the inexperienced jacket man off of the individual getting pummeled,” Griffin stated, in reference to a video exhibiting another angle of the moment. “When the individual behind him received’t cease pulling him, stopping him from defending one other citizen, he neutralizes that after which he goes proper again to attempt to defend the individual.”
On this second video, Rourke could be seen briefly holding onto Lugo as he rushes towards the person who punched one other protester.
The Windfall Police Division didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Lugo could have till the top of the week to file a request for a listening to, which his legal professional has signaled his consumer will do.
The incident in Windfall was only one occasion of violence at demonstrations protesting the Supreme Court’s decision to finish the constitutional proper to abortion. Movies captured cops beating journalists and protesters at an abortion-rights rally in Los Angeles and tasing demonstrators in Greenville, North Carolina. In Phoenix, Arizona, protesters have been tear-gassed after small teams started banging on the door of the state senate constructing.