14 guns seized; suspect arrested after jumping from bridge on Route 195

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – On February 16, 2022 at approximately 7 p.m., members of the East Providence Special Investigations Unit were conducting surveillance when they observed a male enter the passenger side door of a white Honda with heavily tinted windows. The male, who was involved in an ongoing firearms investigation, was followed by SIU investigators to the area of Interstate 195 West. SIU investigators initiated a traffic stop on the Honda with it coming to a stop on the Washington Bridge section of Interstate195 West.

According to police, as soon as the Honda came to a stop, the male jumped out of the rear passenger seat. SIU investigators ordered the male back into the vehicle, but he disobeyed their commands. The male ran to the rail of the bridge where he proceeded to jump over it and into the Seekonk River. SIU investigators were able to see the male surface in the water, but lost sight of him shortly thereafter.

Immediate assistance from East Providence Fire Department and other law enforcement agencies was requested in order to locate the male. After approximately a 55-minute search of the Seekonk River and surrounding shoreline, the male was located in a marsh area along the shoreline in East Providence. The male was taken into custody by officers and immediately transported by rescue to Rhode Island Hospital for evaluation.

Further investigation revealed that the Honda the male was a passenger in was a LYFT vehicle and that the operator had no association with the male. A suitcase was located in the trunk of the Honda and seized by officers. A search warrant was obtained for to search the contents of the suitcase. A subsequent search of the suitcase revealed 13 handguns and one rifle. Four of the handguns are actively reported as stolen and one has an obliterated serial number.

The male has been identified as Joseph Darosa of Modesto, CA. He is facing 14 counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence, 13 counts of license required to carry a pistol, four counts of possession of a stolen firearm, one count of alteration of marks if identification on firearms one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of obstruction of an officer in the execution of their duty.