Suspect accused of stealing R.I. state police cruiser arrested

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The man accused of stealing a Rhode Island State Police cruiser Thursday morning has been arrested, Boston 25 News has learned.

Wednesday night, police arrested Donald Morgan after he was involved in a car crash. Thursday morning he allegedly jumped into the driver seat of a state police cruiser and took off.

MORE: Police: Search for stolen cruiser suspect continues after highway shooting

Police received a tip that Morgan had attempted to carjack a white pickup truck, and several vehicles matching that description were stopped by police.

One white pickup truck that officers attempted to stop continued traveling and got onto I-95 in Providence. Eventually the vehicle got boxed in and the driver rammed into several cars.

State police fired multiple shots into the truck killing the driver, 32-year-old Joseph Santos, and injuring a passenger, 37-year-old Christine Demers.

“This vehicle is now being used as a weapon, in an attempt to flee and it is hitting other cars, it is ramming at least one other car,” Police Chief Hugh Clements said. “We believe that footage shows the acts of the officers as doing exactly what we would want them to do in stopping an imminent and significant threat at that moment”

MORE: Man shot, killed by Providence police during search for cruiser theft suspect

On Friday, police released footage of the shooting from highway and body cameras.

Morgan was arrested in Cumberland, Rhode Island Friday night.

Cox Media Group