Police: Man arrested after fight on Narragansett Beach

Joshua Adams (Courtesy of Narragansett Police Department)

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) — Officers arrested an 18-year-old North Kingstown man following a fight on a Narragansett beach Wednesday night, authorities said.

Joshua Adams was charged with carrying a weapon under the influence of alcohol or drugs and disorderly conduct.

Narragansett Police Chief Sean Corrigan said officers were called to Narragansett Town Beach after security guards alerted them to an argument between teenagers that escalated into a fight.

Corrigan said that as security guards tried to break up the fight, Adams took off running.

Beach security guards warned officers that Adams might be armed, Corrigan said, and that they should be careful in pursuing him.

Corrigan said a witness also claimed Adams yelled and brandished a gun throughout the fight.

Adams was taken into custody after a brief chase, and the weapon he was carrying turned out to be a pellet gun, Corrigan said.

“Displaying a weapon, whether real or not, is an extremely dangerous act,” Corrigan said. “Responding officers often have only a split second to decide whether they are facing a deadly threat.”

Corrigan commended the officers for exercising restraint and handling the situation appropriately. He also stressed that “alcohol and firearms do not mix” and that no person with impaired judgment should handle a firearm, whether real or replica, licensed or not.

Narragansett held its July 4 celebration on the town's beach Wednesday night, though it's unclear whether a fight broke out during the festivities.