Police say Tiverton officer activated taser twice at school functions
Officer Jacob Rapoza faces three charges and is suspended with pay
The Tiverton police officer charged earlier this week on assault and disorderly conduct charges pulled out and activated his department-issued taser at least twice during school events over the past …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
Please log in to continue |
Register to post eventsIf you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here. Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content. |
Day pass subscribers
Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.
Police say Tiverton officer activated taser twice at school functions
Officer Jacob Rapoza faces three charges and is suspended with pay
The Tiverton police officer charged earlier this week on assault and disorderly conduct charges pulled out and activated his department-issued taser at least twice during school events over the past six months, according to a criminal complaint brought by Tiverton police on Monday, March 6, and released by Tiverton Police Chief Patrick Jones Thursday evening.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, just before an assembly was set to begin in the Tiverton High School library, police allege that Officer Jacob Rapoza, the school resource officer, removed his taser, "pointed it to the ground and activated it, causing the taser to deploy loud sparks."
Investigators took statements from multiple witnesses who confirmed his actions, police wrote in the complaint. One of them, a student, said she was seated about 10 feet away from Rapoza and was "startled and afraid" when he deployed the taser.
About a month later, during a home football game on Friday, Oct., 21, police said he deployed the taser again. A guidance counselor told police that he walked toward her, pulled out the taser and pointed it directly at her, activating it within feet of her. Police confirmed that the taser was deployed by downloading data from the unit.
As a result of the two incidents, police charged Officer Barboza with two counts of disorderly conduct and one of simple assault.
The former school officer was removed from his post at the school just before Christmas, after he posted comments on Instagram that some parents and students said were threatening and inappropriate. They were reportedly posted in response to a series of pranks pulled off at the school by seniors just before Christmas beak, including tagging doors and hallways with streamers, balloons, wrapped presents and inflatable decorations. The door to Rapoza's office was one of several targeted.
“Looks like vandalism to me,” he wrote. “But should you be really messing with someone who can deck your driving record with citations?”
Officer Rapoza was arraigned in Second Division District Court in Newport and released on personal recognizance bail on the three charges.
