Man alleging brutality sent back to ACI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - As his attorney likened the case to "Rodney King all over again," the man who has accused a Providence police detective of brutality is going back to prison on assault charges.

Police arrested Luis Mendonca, 20, on a breaking and entering charge on Oct. 20. They later charged him with assault on two RISD campus police officers.

During court Friday, the judge found Mendonca guilty on the two charges he faced and sentenced him to 90 days in prison as a probation violator and a year suspended sentence for the new assault charges.

The judge did give Mendonca credit for 30 days already served, meaning he has to serve an additional 60 days at the ACI.

Surveillance video captured during Mendonca's arrest showed an officer, identified as Det. Robert DeCarlo, kicking Mendonca and striking him with a flashlight. Mendonca's attorney claimed his client was in a coma for two days following the incident.

"He's suffering from a lot of headaches. He's throwing up. His vision is still not there and he's having a difficult time seeing," said attorney Alberto Aponte Cordona. "A guy is beaten by police, brought into the hospital, his family can't get in to see him for several days. They put him under a pseudo name. It's not that difficult to add one and one.

During Friday's hearing, Cordona tried to submit the video as evidence. However, the judge declined, saying the two matters were separate from each other.

Det. DeCarlo is still on the job pending the Providence Police Department's investigation. The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office is also looking into the brutality allegations.

Cordona said he is working on a civil suit. He said DeCarlo should be fired from the force and sentenced to prison.

"Obviously from the video tape, he needs to go. Not only fired from his position, he needs to be be prosecuted. He's the one who should be in front of a judge, not my client," Cordona said. "This is Rodney King all over again, is what it is.  It's our opinion he was harassed by these cops simply and solely because he was a black man who fit the description."