RI State Police Arrests Suspect for Cruelty/Neglect of a Child

Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Commissioner of Public Safety, announces the arrest of a suspect for Cruelty/Neglect of a Child after Troopers discovered a one-month-old infant left alone in a residence on Marietta Street in Providence.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at approximately 12:32 a.m., Troopers conducted a motor vehicle stop on Charles Street in the City of Providence. The operator was positively identified as Dean Thompson, age 23, of 33 Marietta Street, Providence, RI. A check of Mr. Thompson in NCIC/RILETS Files revealed four active Superior Court Bench warrants and one active District Court Bench warrant. Mr. Thompson was subsequently placed into custody without incident and transported to the Lincoln Woods barracks for processing.

Upon arrival at the barracks, Mr. Thompson advised the arresting Troopers that prior to being stopped; he had left his residence and was traveling to a convenience store on Branch Avenue. Mr. Thompson further advised Troopers that he had left his infant son home alone at his Marietta Street apartment while he traveled to the store.

Troopers immediately responded to 33 Marietta Street, entered Mr. Thompson’s apartment, and located a male infant, approximately one and a half months old, asleep in a car seat in one of the apartment’s bedrooms. The child was found to be in good health.

The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families Child Protective Service Unit was contacted and responded, subsequently taking custody of the infant.

Mr. Thompson was held overnight pending a morning arraignment at Sixth District Court on a charge of Driving Without a License and will then appear in Family Court later this afternoon on a charge of Cruelty or Neglect of a Child.