An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr. announced that a Providence Police officer has been charged in Providence County Superior Court with multiple counts of obstruction of justice.
On September 19, 2024, before Superior Court Magistrate Gina Lopes, Providence Police officer Alexander Caraballo (30) was arraigned on two counts of obstruction of fellow Providence Police officers in the execution of duty, two counts of obstruction of justice of the Sixth Division District Court, and one count of obstruction of justice of the Providence County Superior Court. The defendant pled not guilty.
On September 18, 2024, the Statewide Grand Jury returned a secret indictment charging the defendant and today the defendant voluntarily appeared in Providence County Superior Court for arraignment, where the Court unsealed the secret indictment.
As alleged in court documents, the defendant used his status as a police officer to help a friend with known gang affiliations avoid legal trouble. In doing so, the defendant attempted to interfere with a victim’s pursuit of justice against his friend and obstructed fellow officers from bringing his friend into custody.
“When someone commits a crime, whether they are a member of the public or an officer of the law, they must be held accountable,” said Attorney General Neronha. “I want to thank the Internal Affairs Division of the Providence Police Department for their investigative work here and the Providence Police generally for their commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
The Court released the defendant on $20,000 surety bail and he is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on October 28, 2024 in Providence County Superior Court.