The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Providence, targets a collection of defendants and accuses Providence police of “excessive force and physical brutality” in their interactions with Jhamal Gonsalves.
The complaint says Gonsalves was riding a moped on Elmwood Avenue in “a safe manner” and “using due care” when Providence police followed him on Oct. 18.
The pursuit of two police cruisers forced Gonsalves to turn onto Bissell Street, says the complaint. The turn, it says, caused him to lose control of his moped, which crossed a sidewalk and hit a wall.
Gonsalves was ejected. At about the same time, says the complaint, Providence police Officer Kyle Endres turned his cruiser “in a negligent and reckless manner” onto the sidewalk, hitting a stop sign and striking Gonsalves.