By Carol Kozma
The Providence Journal
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Pawtucket man was held without bail after he allegedly shot a firearm at police officers before leading them on a car chase through the city early Friday morning and crashing on Route 10.
No officers were injured.
Larenta Draper, 24, was charged with felony assault, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, possession of a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime of violence, possession of firearm without a license, drive-by shooting, reckless and eluding police, and resisting arrest at his arraignment in District Court Providence, according to court records.
According to Journal records, Draper has been involved in other violent incidents in Providence. In 2007 he was shot in the leg outside a pizza shop in South Providence. In 2011 he was shot again, while pumping gas in South Providence. He has served time at the Adult Correctional Institutions on charges of felony assault, shooting a gun, and carrying a firearm without a license.
Officers were on patrol in the area of Broad Street and Adelaide Avenue just after midnight Friday when they saw about 40 people running from the Aqua Lounge at 963 Broad St., and into the parking lot of a nearby CVS Pharmacy, Lt. George Smith said.
Officers saw two people fighting and intervened, dispersing the crowd. Shortly after, police heard several shots fired, a pause, and then more shots. Officers saw the muzzle flashes coming from the area of Broad and Colfax Streets, just a block away from the Aqua Lounge, Smith said.
The shots were fired in the direction of officers, from a black sedan that sped off, he said. Police pursued the driver through the city on to Broad Street and Westminster Street, then southbound on Route 10, Smith said.
The chase lasted about 10 minutes until the driver lost control and crashed into the center grass area, Maj. Thomas Verdi said. Several police officers were involved in the pursuit itself, and more responded, he added.
The only man in the car ran across the northbound lane “and tried to jump a fence,” but police were able to stop him, Smith said. Detectives who responded to the crash found a firearm, he said.
Draper was taken to the Rhode Island Hospital because of facial lacerations.
As of 3:40 p.m., the Providence Board of Licenses was still in a meeting discussing the fate of the Aqua Lounge.
Copyright 2016 The Providence Journal