A driver fleeing a discontinued Warwick police pursuit crashed his car near Point Street in Providence, then bolted onto the northbound lanes of I-95 and punched a detective during the foot chase that followed, according to police. Nelson Pires was taken into custody Monday afternoon and now faces a lengthy list of charges stemming from the crash, the pursuit onto the highway, and the alleged assault on an officer.
Providence police responded to 1 Hoppin St. around 12:45 p.m. to investigate a crash involving a 2019 Toyota Camry tied to the Warwick pursuit, which had already been called off by the time officers reached the scene, according to WLNE-TV (ABC6). Police said the Camry exited I-95 North at Point Street at a high rate of speed, failed to negotiate the turn, crossed both lanes of Point Street, and crashed down an embankment into the parking lot of the Coro building, leaving the vehicle with significant front-end damage.
Driver Identified, Then Bolts Toward the Highway
Providence police identified the driver as Nelson Pires, who allegedly abandoned the wrecked Camry and fled into a nearby parking garage before running toward I-95 North and entering the northbound lanes on foot, per the same account. The decision to run directly into highway traffic set off a foot pursuit involving officers from both Providence and Warwick.
During that chase, Pires allegedly punched a Providence detective in the face, police said. The detective did not require medical treatment as a result. A Warwick officer ultimately apprehended Pires with assistance from Providence officers; Pires suffered a minor cut to his forehead during the arrest and was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment, according to police.
Charges Pile Up Across Two Departments
Pires now faces Providence charges of violating a no-contact order involving a female passenger, simple assault on a detective, obstruction, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, the station reported. Warwick police are separately handling the initial reckless-driving and eluding charges tied to the pursuit that began in their jurisdiction, coordinating with Providence on the case. Police also said Pires had an active bench warrant out of Lincoln at the time of his arrest.
Court records detailing Pires's arraignment, bail status, or plea in this case were not available. The Rhode Island Judiciary notes that its Public Portal is the designated entry point for the public to access electronic case information from the state's court database.
A Record That Includes a Fatal Shooting Case
Pires has faced serious legal trouble before. A September 2024 report from The Boston Globe described his criminal record as including nearly a decade of domestic-violence charges, and said he was out on bail in three separate 2023 domestic-violence cases at the time. The same report said Pires was accused by prosecutors and Providence police of pursuing another vehicle after an argument while his two children were in his car, leading to two felony child-endangerment charges and a charge of driving with a suspended license. A judge in that case ordered Pires held on $50,000 with surety on the endangerment charges and without bail as a violator of probation and bail conditions in his other pending cases, the Globe reported.
