Strip-club romance led to assault charge against Providence police lieutenant

WARWICK — A Providence police lieutenant pleaded not guilty Thursday to assaulting his girlfriend after working a detail at a Providence strip club where the girlfriend also works as a bartender.

Lt. Joseph Donnelly, 53, of Warwick, declined to comment after his arraignment in Kent County District Court. He was released on his personal recognizance.

“Mr. Donnelly is a 27-year veteran of the Providence Police Department, and he has an unblemished record,” his attorney, William J. Murphy, said. “This is an unfortunate incident, and we’re looking forward to having it play out in court.”

According to a police report, Donnelly’s girlfriend, 29-year-old Anika Johnson of Providence reported the assault to police at about 7:30 Saturday morning at the police station, a few hours after she said it occurred.

She reported that she got to Donnelly's house on Blade Street in Warwick at about 3:45 a.m. after Donnelly had finished working a police detail at the Wild Zebra Gentleman’s Club on Allens Avenue. Johnson at some point got hold of his phone, where she saw a text from another woman, the report said.

An “irate” Donnelly grabbed her phone and ran into the bathroom with it, then later came out, shoving her and refusing to give her phone back, Johnson told police.

He insulted her, and struck her on the left side of her face several times and on both of her cheekbones, the report said. Johnson told Warwick police that he later grabbed her by the neck and shoved her into the wall, hitting the back of her head. She told police she fought back to get him off, and that he tried blocking her from leaving, she said.

The Warwick officer who wrote the report said he saw cuts on her upper and lower lip. She also had head pain, she told police.

Police got a warrant for Donnelly's arrest on domestic simple assault and domestic disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors, and he turned himself in later Saturday at the station. Police said they took pictures of scratches on his face and neck.

Mike Dambra, a manager at the Wild Zebra, said Johnson is a bartender there but was not working there that night.

Police details at Providence strip clubs have been an issue of contention: Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré said last month the department would stop doing them after prostitution arrests at the Foxy Lady strip club, arguing they were not in the city’s best interest, but later reversed course.

Donnelly was placed on administrative leave, Col. Hugh T. Clements Jr., chief of the Providence police, said Sunday. He has been the commanding officer of Districts 8 and 9, covering the city’s East Side.