RI medical examiner: Man handcuffed by Providence police died due to 'toxic' drug effects

Providence Journal - 8/19/2021

PROVIDENCE — As all eyes fix on body cam footage from a recent incident involving three teenagers who led Providence police on a wild pursuit, the state Medical Examiner's office has released the cause of death of a 34-year-old Warwick man who died in May after being handcuffed.

The medical examiner concluded that Joseph L. Ventre Jr., died May 7 due to the combined toxic effects of methamphetamine and methadone while being restrained, according to Joseph Wendelken, spokesman for the state Department of Health. The office released its findings in response to an inquiry from the Journal.

Ventre, whose obituary listed him as a laborer and beloved son of Joseph L. Ventre Sr. and Charlene A. Ventre, died after an encounter captured on body cameras worn by Providence police officers that appeared to show Ventre in medical distress.

The police responded to 18 Collyer St. at 12:32 a.m., May 7, to a report a man screaming in the street and possibly under the influence of narcotics, the police said in a news release at the time.

The footage captured Ventre loudly groaning and calling out as he tosses and turns on the ground as officers approach. The officers urge him to relax and tell him rescue is on the way as he rolls, kicks out, and grabs a fence.

Ventre goes motionless after being handcuffed and is taken away by rescue crews.

"He's breathing, right?" one officer asks. "I don't know," another responds as the rescue doors close.

Ventre was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:41 a.m., according to the Providence police news release.

Officers handcuffed Ventre to prevent injuries and protect rescue workers as Ventre failed to answer questions or obey commands, the police said in a news release.

The attorney general's office and the Rhode Island State Police are investigating the matter in conjunction with Providence police, in keeping with the protocol involving use of force.

"Consistent with that policy, our office, as part of the investigatory team, is reviewing the circumstances of the death of Mr. Ventre. Our review is not yet finished, and we will release the results of the review at its conclusion," Blake Collins, spokesman for Attorney General Peter F. Neronha's office, said in an email.

The medical examiner's office has also released findings in the deaths of two men at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

The medical examiner's office concluded that 49-year-old Timothy McQuesten died due to asphyxia Jan. 18, while he was being held without bail on on two counts of murder in the beating deaths of Kimberly and Mark Dupre.

McQuesten was found unresponsive in his single cell at the prison's Intake Service Center, where he had been placed on crisis status, according to corrections officials.

Prisoners found to be at risk of harming themselves are isolated from other inmates, with their socks and shoes removed.

They are provided a smock to ensure they can't injure themselves, according to Richard Ferruccio, president of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers. They receive increased supervision, with checks sometimes as often as every 10 minutes.

According to sources, McQuesten choked on his mask.

J.R. Ventura, spokesman for the state Department of Corrections, confirmed at the time of McQuesten's death that an officer had been placed on leave.

Ventura said this week that he could not discuss the officer's status because it is a human resources matter.

The investigation into McQuesten's death remains ongoing by the Rhode Island State Police with no records available to share at this time, Major Laurie Ludovici said in an email.

In addition, the medical examiner's officer has determined that 46-year-old Jose Franco died due to dilated cardiomyopathy due to chronic alcoholism, Wendelken said in an email.

Franco was found dead in his single cell in the medium security unit on Feb. 9. He had returned to the ACI in July as a violator of the terms of his release.

A lawyer for Franco's family could not be reached immediately for comment Thursday.