Off-duty officer injured in possible case of mistaken identity

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – State and Providence police are investigating whether several of their own officers injured an off-duty Providence patrolman during a fight in a possible case of mistaken identity.

The alleged brawl happened after a wild pursuit of a suspect driving a tow truck that started in North Providence and ended on Edgemere Ave. in Providence last Wednesday.

Off-duty Providence patrolman Christopher Owens tackled the suspect in the chase after the driver crashed his tow truck and fled, according to police.

State and local police are now investigating whether confusion at the intense scene on Edgemere Ave. caused Owens’ brothers-in-blue to not realize he was one of them. Owens, who is African American, was in plain clothes at the time and was scuffling with the suspect when others arrived. He lives near the scene where the chase ended.

Owens is now on “injured-on-duty” status after getting hurt in the incident, the Target 12 Investigators have learned. That means Owens is collecting his full base salary while he recovers.

Sources tell Target 12 that Owens sustained “serious” leg injuries in the incident.

Providence Police Col. Hugh Clements and State Police Col. Steven O'Donnell confirmed they are compiling reports from the incident to try and unravel what happened.

State Police Col. Steven O’Donnell credited Owens at a news conference that day for apprehending the suspect in the chase, putting an end to a wild pursuit that blew through two communities.

The alleged driver of the tow truck, 30 year-old Sean Sparfven, was arraigned last week on 18 charges – 14 counts for the chase and 4 stolen car charges – and is being held without bail for a probation violation in a separate breaking and entering case.

The state police High Intensity Drug Area Task force was watching Sparfven based on a tip that he was involved in a stolen car ring.

Police said the incident began in North Providence when Sparfven punched a detective who tried to question him. He then rammed a police cruiser with his tow truck and fled the scene, according to police.

State police opened fire on the truck and one of the bullets struck the suspect’s sister, Rene Sparfven who was in the passenger seat. She sustained minor injuries.

Sparfven then led police on a high-speed chase through North Providence and Providence as schools were letting out.

The pursuit ended at 31 Edgemere Ave. when Sparfven allegedly crashed the tow truck into a house and fled, that’s when Owens tackled him, according to police.

In all five police officers were injured in the incident.

Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @white_tim