News Summary
Alessio D’Andrea, a town employee in North Providence, faces serious allegations after reportedly poisoning a coworker by replacing their Gatorade with windshield washer fluid. The incident, deemed a ‘joke that went bad’ by Mayor Charles Lombardi, led to the hospitalization of the affected employee. Investigations are ongoing as D’Andrea also faces separate federal charges related to firearms. Concerns have arisen about workplace safety and hiring practices within the Department of Public Works.
North Providence, R.I. – A town employee, Alessio D’Andrea, is facing allegations of poisoning a coworker by allegedly replacing their Gatorade beverage with windshield washer fluid, leading to hospitalization. The incident occurred on June 27, and the affected employee has reportedly been hospitalized multiple times since drinking the contaminated beverage.
According to North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, the incident was characterized as a “joke that went bad,” heightening concerns for the health and safety of the affected employee. The windshield washer fluid was discovered in a refrigerator at the Department of Public Works (DPW) garage, which raises questions about workplace safety protocols and the responsibility of employees to uphold them.
Following ingestion, the coworker experienced significant illness within 30 to 45 minutes. Initial symptoms from consuming windshield washer fluid, which contains methanol, may include stomach upset and vomiting. However, delayed symptoms can escalate the situation, leading to severe health risks such as blindness or death. The police chief, Alfredo Ruggiero Jr., confirmed that a sample of the drink has been sent to a state crime lab for analysis, and additional interviews with employees at the DPW are planned.
As investigations continue in coordination with the attorney general’s office, no formal charges have yet been filed against D’Andrea. It has been reported that there was no history of conflict between D’Andrea and the victim, suggesting that this incident may have stemmed from a culture of pranks among coworkers rather than personal animosity.
D’Andrea is also currently facing separate federal charges related to firearms, specifically for illegally importing a machine gun and possession of unregistered firearm silencers. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges. Additionally, federal authorities previously uncovered a cache of 27 firearms at D’Andrea’s residence, including illegal silencers, indicating significant legal troubles beyond the recent poisoning incident.
Concerns regarding D’Andrea’s hiring arose given his pending serious criminal charges. His employment was reportedly backed by his father, who is a respected figure within the town. Council President Dino Autiello voiced significant worry about the decision to hire D’Andrea, citing a possible lapse in communication and oversight during the hiring process. In response to the alarming nature of this incident, Autiello plans to formally request documentation related to D’Andrea’s employment, including background checks. He emphasized the importance of accountability to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The incident was formally brought to the attention of law enforcement when the DPW director reported it on June 30, three days after the poisoning occurred. This delay has raised further questions about the reporting and accountability standards within the department.
While the investigation continues, the implications of this incident have spurred discussions about the workplace environment and the necessary measures to ensure employee safety in North Providence. As more information becomes available, community members are waiting to see how local authorities will respond to this unnerving situation and what future steps will be taken to ensure such acts of seemingly harmless pranks do not escalate into dangerous situations.
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Additional Resources
- GoLocalProv: Exclusive North Providence Employee Allegedly Poisoned Another Worker’s Gatorade
- Wikipedia: Workplace Safety
- Boston Globe: North Providence Employee Poisoning Incident
- Google Search: North Providence poisoning incident
- GoLocalProv: NP Council President Deeply Disturbed by Alleged Poisoning
- Google Scholar: Workplace Pranks and Safety
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Workplace Harassment
- Google News: N Providence Alessio D’Andrea
