This story was updated after police clarified what time the incident took place.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Providence police are looking for a group of ATV and dirt bike riders who are accused of beating up a female driver late Tuesday night.
According to the police report obtained by 12 News, the woman said had stopped at a red light around 11 p.m. at the intersection of Smith and Orms streets behind a group of about 10 ATVs and dirt bikes.
The group disregarded two full cycles of traffic lights, prompting the woman to beep her horn in hopes of getting them to move, the report said.
After turning onto Orms Street, the woman claimed she was surrounded by the off-road vehicles before the riders opened her car door, dragged her out and beat her up while her 8-year-old child and puppy were inside, the report continued.
The group then fled before police arrived.
Several members of the group were said to be riding blue dirt bikes. One suspect was described as having light skin with braided hair and wearing white sneakers, black pants and a black sweatshirt.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Providence police at (401) 272-3121.
In the meantime, members of the City Council are calling for a clear plan to address the recent uptick in violence.
“I was horrified to learn about what happened this morning in the Smith Hill neighborhood. That should never happen to any family,” Councilman David Salvatore said Wednesday.
“I want to know what the corrective action plan moving forward is, and if that means having the state police come in and provide additional bodies and reinforcement to engage with the community, then that is something I’ll be asking for as well,” he continued.
City Council President John Igliozzi said he supports Gov. Dan McKee’s offer to have state police come in to bolster law enforcement in the city, adding that a special session of the council will be scheduled for next week to discuss the issue.
“The report of a mother being ripped from her car and attacked by a mob of ATV and dirt bike riders, while her young child was in the car, is deeply disturbing, and yet another example of the completely unacceptable wave of violent crime we have seen in our city in recent weeks,” Igliozzi said in a statement.
“We must get our Providence Police force back to the 500 full-time officers needed to fully reimplement community policing,” he added.
Elorza released a statement saying the city will “continue to dedicate all our available resources to getting these illegal ATVs off our streets and to bring those responsible to justice.”
“Our police department has seized and destroyed over 200 bikes and we will continue to pull over and arrest people who are using these bikes illegally,” Elorza said.
