Three arrested after video surfaces of suspects allegedly throwing Molotov cocktail at vehicle

Police have announced the arrest of three individuals for assault and an attempted arson after an incident last week.

According to Chief of Police Colonel Michael Winquist, the incident occurred on April 27, at just before 1:45 a.m. at 252 Greenwood Street in Cranston.

Officers responded to a report of a “Molotov cocktail” being thrown from a moving vehicle at a van that was parked and occupied at the time. The driver followed the suspect vehicle before disengaging near Doric Avenue and calling the Cranston Police. The incident was captured on privately owned surveillance cameras. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

A joint investigation by the Cranston Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Cranston Fire Prevention Unit, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office was immediately launched. Investigators located the suspect vehicle the following day using various tools, including the FLOCK Safety license plate reader system. Evidence of the incendiary device was collected from the scene matched materials inside the suspect vehicle.

The victims were interviewed, and investigators subsequently identified two adult females and a juvenile male as the responsible parties for the arson and assault. Arrest warrants were issued, and on May 3, the Cranston Police Department arrested 20-year-old Brianna Wischnowsky of Warwick, RI, 19-year-old Drew Rappoport of Coventry, RI, and a juvenile male. All three individuals have been charged with 5th-Degree Arson, Felony Assault with a Dangerous Weapon or Substance (3 counts), and Conspiracy.