North Providence man faces domestic-assault charge

Published April 30, 2010 at 8:29 p.m.

CRANSTON, R.I. -- With his girlfriend complaining that he wouldn't take no for an answer, Joseph A. Sullivan, 28, of 115 Lyman Ave., North Providence, turned himself in to police Tuesday morning to face misdemeanor charges of simple domestic assault, vandalism and preventing the girlfriend from using a telephone.

Police were called to an apartment at 825 Pontiac Ave. by the girlfriend, Christina Araujo, 32, who said the problem started when he started grabbing her in hopes of having sex. When she refused, she said, he punched her on the side of the face and knocked a phone out of her hands as she tried to call 911.

When she tried to escape by locking herself in the bedroom, she said, he kicked holes in the door. Sullivan, who sports a "Tina" tattoo on his right shoulder, then fled in a commercial van, according to police.

After surrendering to police, he was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court May 12.

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