NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A “suspected child predator” struck a North Kingstown police officer with his car while fleeing an undercover sting operation, and “several officers” opened fire but did not hit anyone, police said.
The target of the Friday night sting operation, 30-year-old Alec Perry of Pawtucket, was apprehended after crashing his car and making a brief run for it, the Rhode Island State Police said.
Perry had previously “engaged in an extended series of text messages soliciting sex from an undercover police officer who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl,” the state police said in a media release.
On Friday evening, Perry headed to a North Kingstown park and ride to meet with the 13-year-old girl he believed he had been texting, police said, but instead walked into the undercover sting operation.
“While police attempted to place Perry in custody, he accelerated his vehicle, striking a North Kingstown police officer,” the release said.
The officer was stable and still hospitalized Saturday, police said.
In the attempt to apprehend Perry, “several officers discharged their firearms,” police said.
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“Perry attempted to escape custody and led the officers on a short vehicle pursuit before crashing his vehicle,” the release said. “After a brief foot pursuit, he was taken into custody.”
The Rhode Island State Police, North Kingstown Police, the FBI, the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General Special Victims Unit and the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service were all involved in the investigation of Perry, police said.
Perry was charged with the indecent solicitation of a child, electronically disseminating indecent material to minors, felony assault, driving without the consent of the owner, eluding law enforcement, assault of a police officer resisting arrest, obstruction of a police officer, duty to stop in an accident resulting in property damage and driving with a suspended license.
Perry was also on probation for first-degree robbery, felony assault and possession of a stolen vehicle.
“Perry was transported to the Rhode Island State Police Wickford Barracks, processed, and arraigned by a Justice of the Peace,” the release said. “He was then transported to the Adult Correctional Institution, where he will be held as a Probation Violator in addition to his multiple charges.”
