Massachusetts man facing list of charges after allegedly striking officer in Rhode Island Home Depot parking lot which led to officer-involved shooting

MIDDLETOWN, R.I.-A Massachusetts man is facing a list of charges after an officer-involved shooting in Rhode Island.

According to Major Cliff McGregor, on Thursday, at approximately 12:30 p.m., members of the Drug Enforcement Agency were conducting an operation in the parking lot of the Home Depot, located at 878 West Main Road in Middletown, RI. While attempting to take 39-year-old Justin Deprospo of Rochester Massachusetts into custody, the suspect struck an officer with his vehicle, causing officers to fire their weapons. The suspect fled in his vehicle, resulting in a pursuit.

The pursuit came to a conclusion when the suspect’s vehicle collided with a pursuing officer’s vehicle at the end of Ridgewood Road.

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to Newport Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The injured officer was also transported to Newport Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Per protocol, the Attorney General’s Office was notified along with the Rhode Island State Police.

The incident is being investigated by the Middletown Police Department, the Rhode Island State Police, the Attorney General’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Deprospo has been charged with 3 counts of felonious assault, 1 count of manufacturing, delivering, possessing with intent to distribute Schedule I-V, 1 count of conspiracy of manufacturing, delivering, possessing with intent to distribute Schedule I-V, 1 count of resisting legal arrest, 1 count of reckless driving, 1 count of obstructing an officer in the execution of their duties, 1 count of duty to sop in accident resulting in injury and 1 count of throwing article at moving vehicles.

Deprospo will be arraigned at Second Division District Court in Newport this morning.