Man Accused Of Shooting At Woonsocket Police To Plead Insanity

WOONSOCKET—A Portsmouth man who is charged with shooting at Woonsocket police and injuring one officer during a 2018 incident will argue that he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Tyler Chandler, 25, who joined the the hearing on Monday virtually from Eleanor Slater Hospital, pleaded not guilty to five counts each of assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence and one count of and carrying a firearm without a license.

Prosecutors said Chandler's attorney Collin Geiselman requested an in-person trial for Chandler due to technical difficulties during the proceedings. However, Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause denied the request.

According to court records, Chandler was indicted by a statewide grand jury in October 2018, but his arraignment was delayed due to findings that he was incompetent to stand trial. If convicted, he could face a mandatory life sentence.

Chandler, who had no previous criminal record, is charged with shooting at police in a July 2018 confrontation and hitting Officer Travis Young in the leg, said prosecutors. In addition to Young, Detective Sgt. Matthew Richardson and Officers Zachary Bienkiewicz, Brandon Macedo and Daniel Wild also fired their weapons.

An investigation by Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin's office completed in August 2018 found the police officers' actions to be in full compliance with the law.