Rhode Island police officer on leave after allegedly assaulting political opponent at abortion rally

A Rhode Island A police officer who is also running for office has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly assaulting a political opponent at a pro-abortion rally.

The Providence Police Department confirmed that Officer Jeann Lugo, who is running as a Republican for the state Senate, was placed on administrative leave Saturday morning after an altercation that occurred Friday night, WPRI-TV reported.

“PPD is criminally investigating the behavior of an off-duty officer last night during a protest in which a woman was assaulted,” Providence Police tweeted. « The officer served for 3 years and was placed on administrative leave with pay this morning pending a criminal investigation and administrative review.

On Saturday, Providence police confirmed that Lugo, who was off duty at the time, was the officer in question.

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Lugo was not arrested Friday night, but police told Fox News Digital in a statement Saturday night that he was charged with common assault and disorderly conduct.

Jennifer Rourke, one of Lugo’s political opponents, alleges he attacked her during a fight as hundreds of people gathered at the Rhode Island State House to protest the Supreme Court’s decision to quash Roe v. Wade.

(Jennifer Rourke campaign website)

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« That’s what it’s like to be a black woman running for office, » Rourke said posted on Twitter as well as a video of the altercation originally posted by journalist Bill Bartholomew. « I won’t give up. »

Lugo told WPRI-TV he was « in a situation no individual should see themselves in » and « stepped in to protect someone who was being attacked by a group of agitators. »

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The Rhode Island State House in Providence, RI is pictured April 25, 2019.
(Photo by Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Providence Police Department did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

Lugo tweeted on Saturday that he was no longer running for the state Senate, then deactivated his Twitter account.