WARWICK, R.I. – A former Providence firefighter has pleaded nolo contendere to charges after he allegedly hit two police officers who tried to apprehend him at a Johnston, R.I., bar in January, court filings show.
Patrick Brearley, 43, entered the pleas on Friday for a charge of simple assault and/or battery, and for a charge of obstructing an officer in execution of duty, according to records in Kent County District Court in Warwick. A third charge for disorderly conduct was dismissed.
A plea of nolo contendere means the defendant neither accepts nor denies responsibility for the charges, but agrees to accept punishment.
Brearley was ordered to complete substance abuse counseling and pay court fees, and was given a one-year filing, records show.
An attorney listed for Brearley did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.
Johnston police said Brearley hit two officers during an encounter at The Ave Bar and Grill on Hartford Avenue on Jan. 4.
Officers responded to the restaurant around 11:50 p.m. for a request from staff to remove a man who was “being disruptive to other customers,” police said.
The man, identified as Brearley, was “extremely intoxicated and disoriented” and failed to comply with numerous requests made by the officers to leave the establishment and be taken to a hospital for detoxification, authorities said.
“When officers attempted to escort Brearley outside, he attempted to pull away and clenched his fists prompting officers to take him to the ground. Brearley then struck an officer in the face with a closed fist and continued to be combative and resist arrest,” police said at the time.
“While officers were in the process of attempting to place Brearley into hand restraints, a second officer was struck in the face by Brearley,” police said. “Officers were then able to gain control of Brearley and he was taken into custody.”
Neither of the officers allegedly struck by Brearley suffered significant injuries, according to police.
Brearley appeared in court on Jan. 10 and pleaded not guilty. He was released on personal recognizance.
Following Brearley’s arrest, Josh Estrella, a spokesman for Mayor Brett Smiley, said in January that Brearley was no longer employed by the Providence Fire Department.
Court records show a Patrick Brearley – with the same listed date of birth, address in Hope, R.I., and attorney as the former firefighter – was arrested in March in an alleged domestic violence incident in February.
The charges filed in that case include felony assault and/or battery and three domestic violence charges, including disorderly conduct, records show. The case is due back in court on June 23 for a pre-arraignment conference.
Material from a previous Globe story was used in this report.
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