Cranston man and his mother arrested after altercaton, stabbing with police

Posted 12/6/17

Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, announces the arrest of Luis Anthony Silva, age 37, of 97 Caporal Street (first floor), Cranston, RI, and Brenda J. Silva, age 57, of the same address, after police were summoned to

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Cranston man and his mother arrested after altercaton, stabbing with police

Posted

Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, announces the arrest of Luis Anthony Silva, age 37, of 97 Caporal Street (first floor), Cranston, RI, and Brenda J. Silva, age 57, of the same address, after police were summoned to their residence for a report of a domestic disturbance.

On Dec. 4, 2017, at approximately 4:17 p.m., the Cranston Police Department received a call from a subject who indicated that Mr. Silva was outside of 97 Caporal St., yelling and swearing, as well as kicking a vehicle. He then entered the residence and allegedly threatened to assault his former girlfriend who was present.

Cranston police officers arrived at the home, at which time Mr. Silva fled. Officers immediately began a search of the area in an attempt to locate him. Mr. Silva’s mother, identified as Brenda Silva, arrived at the residence and began swearing and yelling at the female victim, as well as the officers on scene.

A short time later, Mr. Silva returned to the residence and began walking towards both Officers with his hands concealed in his jacket and in a threatening tone stated, “let’s do this.” Mr. Silva ignored verbal commands given by Officers for him to show his hands, at which time he took a fighting stance. Mr. Silva was advised he was under arrest. While Officers attempted to place Mr. Silva in custody, he violently resisted causing Mr. Silva and the Officers to lose their balance and fall to the ground. 

While Officers continued to attempt to handcuff Silva, Silva retrieved a knife he had in his possession and proceeded to forcefully stab one of the Officers in his lower back at least three times, while Ms. Silva attempted to physically intervene in the arrest of her son. The officer being stabbed was able to unholster his firearm and pointed it at Silva who refused to drop the knife and continued to resist arrest. 

Fearing for his life and the life of his fellow Officer, the second Officer was forced to employ a high degree of physical force upon Silva, which eventually allowed him to dislodge the knife from Mr. Silva’s grasp and place Mr. Silva in custody. It was determined that the knife caused only a superficial puncture wound to the Officer’s back, due to his ballistic vest preventing full penetration of the blade of the knife. The high impact of the blows of the knife caused the tip of the blade to break off.

Mr. Silva was transported to RI Hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained while resisting arrest and refusal to relinquish the knife. Following his arrest, Silva allegedly made a comment that he wished he had stabbed the Officer in the “jugular” and made repeated threats that when he was released he would acquire a gun and kill the Officer he had stabbed. After being treated for facial injuries, Silva was transported to Cranston Police Headquarters where he was held overnight and arraigned in the Third District Court in Warwick this morning on the following charges:

Assault with intent to commit a specified felony

Assault of police officers and other officials

Resisting legal or illegal arrest

Threats to public officials

Domestic vandalism/malicious injury to property

Domestic disorderly conduct

He was held overnight and arraigned this morning before Judge McCaffrey at Third District Court. Bail was set at $50,000 with surety and he was ordered not to have contact with the female victim.

Brenda Silva was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace at Cranston Police Headquarters and released on $1000 personal recognizance on the following charges:

Disorderly Conduct

Obstruction of Officer in Execution of Duty

Simple Assault (two counts)

Colonel Winquist stated: “This incident demonstrates the dangers police officers face on a daily basis and how rapidly Officers must be prepared to engage in a physical struggle to protect the lives of others, and in this situation their own lives. I commend the Officers for their heroic actions and their great restraint in using lethal force, which in my opinion in this situation would have been justified. This violent encounter could have had a tragic outcome if it was for the quick actions and high level of training of these Officers. I am thankful that the Officer’s ballistic vest prevented the penetration of the blade of the knife and he was able to go home safely to his family at the end of his shift.”

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