A DEA operation in Middletown took an unexpected turn Thursday, resulting in a shooting and car chase.
The incident unfolded around 12:30 p.m. in the Home Depot parking lot at 878 West Main Road. DEA agents were trying to arrest a suspect when things went sideways.
As officers moved in, the suspect hit an agent with their vehicle. This prompted law enforcement to fire their weapons. The suspect then sped off, leading to a pursuit.
The chase ended when the suspect’s car crashed into a police cruiser at the end of Ridgewood Road. Both the suspect and the injured officer were taken to Newport Hospital with injuries that aren’t life-threatening.
Middletown Police Chief Jason M. Ryan says they’ve notified the Attorney General’s Office and Rhode Island State Police, as is standard procedure.
Several agencies are now investigating the incident, including Middletown Police, Rhode Island State Police, the Attorney General’s Office, and the DEA.
Middletown Police provided the following update on Friday, February 28: Justin Deprospo, 39, of Rochester, Massachusetts, was the individual involved in the incident.
Incident at Home Depot 878 West Main Road
MIDDLETOWN, R.I., On February 27, 2025, 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.
While attempting to take the suspect Justin Deprospo, Age 39, of 17 Wordell St Rochester Massachusetts, into custody, the suspect struck an officer with their vehicle, causing officers to fire their weapons. The suspect fled in their 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.
The suspect 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.The suspect will be arraigned at Second Division District Court in Newport, the morning of February 28th, 2025.
