Partnership with faith based community helps Providence Police bring wanted suspect to justice

Partnership with faith based community helps Providence Police bring wanted suspect to justice

Providence, RI- Julius Ryan Thomas (age 20) of Riverdale, Georgia turned himself in to the Providence Police last night after reaching out to Pastor Sherrod Jones of the Victory Outreach Center in Providence. Pastor Jones, who has built a strong relationship with the PPD over a number of years, contacted the PPD for advice in the matter. Thomas had an outstanding warrant out of Clayton County, GA for a January shooting death of cab driver Rosendo Casarrubias. On January 25 police were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle in Riverdale, GA. When they arrived they found Casarrubias dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Thomas faces charges of felony murder, false statements and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Another subject wanted in this shooting, Desmond Brandon Nixon, was arrested yesterday in Clayton County, GA.

Yesterday afternoon Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. received a phone call from Pastor Sherrod Jones stating that Thomas and his family reached out to him in order to help him turn himself in. Pastor Jones assured the family of the faith and confidence he had in the PPD and Colonel Clements to deal with the matter fairly and professionally. A continuing goal of the Providence Police Department is to work closely with religious leaders throughout the City to build better relationships and promote safety in the community.

"This is what happens when we focus on the community model of policing. We have an open and honest relationship with many people in the community, and the phone call I received from Pastor Jones was very rewarding. He is an important member of the community who felt as though he trusted us with this information and to bring this individual to justice," said Colonel Clements.

Yesterday at 7:00pm Detective Teddy Michael, Detective Steve Sullivan, and Detective Captain Michael Correia met Pastor Jones and Julius Ryan Thomas at the Providence Public Safety Complex where Thomas turned himself in for the charges out of Georgia. Thomas was taken into custody and will be arraigned today in 6th District Court.