Watch: R.I. Police Officers Run on Interstate After Crash Suspect Punches Detective

Body camera footage shows Providence police chasing a reckless-driving suspect onto Interstate 95 after he allegedly punched a detective following a crash.

Joe Vince

Nov. 13, 2026

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An attempted traffic stop for reckless driving turned into a pursuit when Nelson Pires fled officers and led police from Warwick to Providence.
After crashing into an embankment, Pires allegedly punched a Providence police detective, then ran onto Interstate 95 as officers chased him on foot.
Officers eventually tackled and arrested Pires, who faces 11 charges and had two outstanding bench warrants, including one tied to a 2024 child-endangerment case involving the fatal shooting of his 7-year-old daughter.

A man accused of fleeing an attempted traffic stop and punching a Rhode Island detective ran along an interstate last month before he was apprehended by officers, recently released body camera footage shows.

The incident happened shortly before 1 p.m. Oct. 26 when the suspect, identified as Nelson Pires, fled an attempted traffic stop for reckless driving in Warwick, WJAR-TV reports. A vehicle pursuit ensued that led to Providence, where Pires crashed into an embankment.

Following the crash, Pires punched a Providence police detective in the face and then ran onto Interstate 95. In the body camera footage, police are seen chasing after Pires.

An officer finally tackled Pires, and he was taken into custody.

Pires faces 11 charges from the pursuit, and he remains in custody. He also had two outstanding bench warrants for past incidents, including a child endangerment charge stemming from the fatal shooting of his daughter, 7, in 2024.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.