Providence Woman Allegedly Strikes Officer in Stomach While Getting Cuffed

A Providence woman was charged with striking an officer in the stomach as police handcuffed her in the Seekonk Police Station on Wednesday, June 22, according to a police report.

At approximately 1:12 a.m., Patrol Officer David Enos was traveling north on Arcade Avenue when he saw a gray pick-up truck; the engine was running but the vehicle was unoccupied, according to the report. When the officer went to check on the vehicle, he was met by a 37-year-old man located on the passenger side of the truck; the man said he was trying to help someone. The officer then saw a woman crying next to the vehicle.

As Officer Enos approached the woman, later identified as Samantha Farago, 44, of Providence, R.I., she appeared unsteady in her footing and slurred her speech, reads the report. The officer then called for police officers Sean Dowd and Sgt. Gerard Lafleur to assist.

The 37-year-old man told officers that Farago was intoxicated. He said her husband was a client of his; he was called in to look for Farago, who went missing. According to the report, accounts from Farago and the man did not make sense.
Farago was then handcuffed and placed in the cruiser for her protection, reads the report. While at the scene, Farago's husband called and said he would meet his wife at the police station.

At the station, Farago allegedly refused to have her picture taken. She was reassured by officers she was not under arrest. She allegedly then said she didn't want her husband to take her home and would rather be taken to the Bristol House of Corrections. Farago refused a breathalyzer test, allegedly saying she only had three glasses of wine. 

Then, at the booking station, officers attempted to handcuff her to a bar, a routine procedure, according to the report. Farago pulled her arm away from officers. Sgt. Lafleur then attempted to guide her arm to the cuffing bar; she allegedly pulled away from him. Officers then placed her in handcuffs, which is when Farago allegedly struck Sgt. Lafleur in the stomach. She was put through the booking process again and charged with assault and battery on a police officer.

Farago said she did not want to post bail. She was taken to the Bristol House of Corrections.