‘I’m going to kill you’: Man assaults girlfriend on highway, injures officers during N.S. arrest

NORTH SMITHFIELD – A man who reportedly threatened to kill himself and his girlfriend while driving erratically on Route 146 later assaulted police during his arrest last month, leading to a long list of charges.

Adoniz Gracia-Baez, 23, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance; domestic assault; domestic disorderly conduct; and refusal to relinquish a telephone; along with disorderly conduct and two counts of simple assault following the incident in February.

According to his arrest report, Gracia-Baez was in an argument with his girlfriend at their Woonsocket apartment and took off with her in the vehicle, getting onto the highway while yelling and driving at a high rate of speed. The victim said she asked him to slow down and attempted to call 911, but Gracia-Baez began swerving the vehicle, saying he would kill them both. The woman said Gracia-Baez grabbed her by her hair and neck, and shook her to stop her from making the call for help.

The suspect took an exit in North Smithfield and briefly stopped the vehicle, telling the victim, “It’s nice and wooded around here. I’m going to kill you,” according to her statement. She said she became scared and jumped out of the car, running back towards the highway.

A passerby saw the victim running and gave her a ride to the Woonsocket Police Department.

The following day, an officer spotted Gracia-Baez asleep inside the running car in the Citizen’s Bank parking lot in Park Square. Several, “small glassine bags in a bundle,” were reportedly found inside the vehicle containing a white substance, which were later confirmed to be cocaine.

Gracia-Baez yelled at and insulted officers throughout the arrest according to reports, banging on the window of the cruiser. Police said he was initially calm as he entered the booking room at police headquarters, and they removed his handcuffs, but he refused to comply with instructions and pushed an officer.

In the physical struggle the followed, Gracia-Baez punched at police, attempting to choke one officer and knocking a computer, keyboard, phone and printer to the floor. Two officers reported minor injuries.