Wild ride suspect arraigned on charges

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- An armed robbery suspect is charged with stealing a police cruiser and crashing it into three other cruisers.

Justin Thomas, 25, was arraigned in court Monday on 14 different charges and is currently held without bail.

According to East Providence police, Thomas held up a Dominos Pizza on Pawtucket Avenue around 11 p.m. Saturday night.

Police said when they arrived on scene, Thomas ran out of the back of the building and on to Charles Street.

“The suspect made his way into one of the police cruisers that belonged to the officer that was chasing him on foot. He then operated the police cruiser, striking three other police cruisers,” said Lt. Michael David of East Providence Police.

An eyewitness described the chaotic scene.

"I just heard a bunch of noise and i looked out my window and I heard the cars smash and then I saw the cops running. They just had a bunch of cops in the street all night. It was pretty crazy," said Brent Alves.

Police arrested Thomas at the scene, now they have to determine how much damage was done to their cruisers.

“A couple of the cruisers sustained heavy damage; a couple others have some more minor damage. But, that’s something, after we finish our investigation we’re going to sit down and figure out what kind of shape they’re in,” said Lt. David.

Nobody was injured during the robbery or the chase.

Thomas is due back in court in December for a bail hearing.