DARE disputes FBI findings about Carpio's treatment

04:30 PM EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2005

projo.com staff

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence community group unhappy with the FBI's investigation into police treatment of the man accused of killing a city detective is calling for an independent investigation.

The group, called Direct Action for Rights and Equality, or DARE, says it does not accept the results of the FBI investigation, which last month cleared police of using excessive force in arresting and detaining Esteban Carpio.

"There needs to be an independent investigation," Sara Mersha, executive director of DARE, said at an afternoon press conference also attended by Carpio's girlfriend, Samein Phin.

DARE officials complained that the FBI was incapable of conducting an unbiased investigation because one of its agents was involved in Carpio's arrest.

<snip>

DARE also contends there's a lack of strict guidelines on the treatment and handling by law enforcement personnel of the mentally ill.

The group has also complained about Carpio's treatment at the Adult Correctional Institutions, where he is being held.

DARE contends that mentally ill inmates do not get the specialized health care they need in prison. They claim it is often because of mental illness and the prison's inability to address those issues that inmates incur disciplinary infractions.

Last week, correctional officials said Carpio would spend more than 1,000 days in "disciplinary confinement" -- unable to receive visits or calls from family and friends -- because of unruly and violent behavior since arriving at the ACI in Cranston.

<snip>

Jeannine Lyles, a youth organizer for DARE, said her organization and the community it works with "mourns" Allen's death, but "we are deeply troubled that emotions surrounding this loss have blinded many people from seeing the many tragedies that this community experiences on a daily basis."

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Cathleen Crowley