East Providence man arrested on drug and weapon charges after police disarm him displaying what appeared to be an assault-style rifle

EAST PROVIDENCE — An East Providence Police officer safely disarmed a man openly displaying what appeared to be an assault-style rifle Tuesday morning, avoiding gunfire during a tense encounter.

At approximately 8:43 a.m., East Providence Police Patrol Officer Josemar Silva responded to a Waterman Avenue address following reports of a man entering a gray Mustang while carrying what appeared to be a firearm.

As Officer Silva arrived, a vehicle matching the description approached him and stopped with the driver’s door just a few feet away.

Officer Silva made contact with the driver, later identified as 53-year-old Edmund J. Ciccone of East Providence, and immediately saw a black assault rifle-style weapon on the front passenger seat with a magazine inserted.

Officer Silva ordered Ciccone to place the vehicle in park, keep his hands visible and exit the vehicle. Instead, Ciccone reached toward the weapon, prompting Officer Silva to draw his department-issued firearm.

Three additional officers — Officers T. Correia, Dasilva, and Quinn — rushed in to assist Officer Silva.

With the driver’s door open, Officer Silva reached into the vehicle and secured the weapon before handing it to another officer. Silva then holstered his firearm, removed Ciccone‘s seatbelt and assisted other officers in taking him into custody.

During an ensuing investigation, officers determined the weapon was an Umarex Steel Strike air gun.

While searching Ciccone, officers recovered a clear plastic container holding a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine from his right front pants pocket. Officers also recovered a pocketknife. A spring-loaded baton was located inside the vehicle’s driver-side door.

Ciccone was arrested and charged with Possession of Schedule I-V Controlled Substance (Cocaine) and Weapons Other Than Firearms Prohibited.

Ciccone was transported to 6th District Court and transferred to the custody of the Rhode Island Sheriffs.

“Our officers showed tremendous restraint during this incident,” said East Providence Police Chief Michael J. Rapoza. “The peaceful resolution of this situation highlights the high level of professionalism displayed by our officers on a daily basis. Our officers acted in accordance with their training, and thanks to their split-second decision-making, the situation ended peacefully and no shots were fired.”

The suspect’s weapon, bottom, closely resembles the East Providence Police Department’s patrol rifles, top. Officers later determined the weapon, which was seized during a traffic stop Tuesday, was actually an Umarex Steel Strike air gun. Thanks to the officers’ professionalism, no shots were fired when the suspect reached for the rifle. (Photo Courtesy East Providence Police Department)

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.