Policeman Charged With Choking Girl At His Home

According to a Woonsocket Police report, a 9-year-old girl has accused WPD Officer Patrick Cahill, 23, of 25 Newport St., of chasing her out of his home, dragging her back inside by the hair and choking her, leaving her with labored breath on Monday. 

The report, which was made Aug. 20 at 5 p.m., was released this morning. arrested Cahill that day, charging him with felony assault. He was arraigned in District Court and released on $5,000 personal recognizance, and has been suspended from the police department without pay.

According to the report, the girl, who was at her father's home, where Cahill also lives, went downstairs to Cahill's room with her sister and began talking with him and watching television. Then, she and her sister went upstairs to watch television, returning to Cahill's room shortly after to ask if she could go outside.

The girl said Cahill began yelling at her, and she ran upstairs and outside the home, with Cahill chasing her. She tried to avoid Cahill by getting into a car parked in the driveway, but said he grabbed her by the hair, pulling her back inside the home.

Once inside, she said, Cahill threw her on the couch, put his hand around her chin and squeezed hard. Then he put his hands around her throat and began to strangle her, saying "You're not going to tell me what to do, you're not the boss."

The girl said by this point she was crying, and when Cahill let her go she had trouble breathing.

Public Information Officer Jamie L. Paone said the girl and her mother reported the incident at the Woonsocket Police Department. She said the girl received medical treatment as a result of the incident, but was not able to provide details on the girl's injuries.

Cahill will appear in Superior Court Oct. 23 for a pre-arraignment conference.