Rhode Island’s Dark Weekend: The Shocking Al Pacino Scandal That Had Everyone Talking
Did Al Pacino Really Get Arrested in Rhode Island?
It has the air of an urban legend. So, it’s easy to see why a What and Why RI reader wrote to ask, “Did Al Pacino really get arrested in Rhode Island?” But, it’s true.
A few years before his film debut, Pacino was briefly incarcerated in Adult Correctional Facility #48634, which listed his occupation as “unemployed.” In the early morning hours of January 7, 1961, he was arrested by the Woonsocket Police Department and charged with possession of a concealed weapon.
Arrest records up for auction in 2014 show Pacino spent four nights in jail before being released on bail. A brief article in the Providence Journal referred to “20-year-old Manhattan Alfred Pacino” — who would go on to become one of the most famous actors of all time — as “a young man from New York City.”
“We are actors from New York”
William J. O’Coin Jr., one of the Woonsocket police officers who arrested Pacino, told the story decades later to The Wall Street Journal. He recalled that he and his partner, William Angell, were parked outside the Mezza Luna restaurant on Park Avenue around 2 a.m. when they noticed a suspicious car circling.
The driver was Vincent J. Calcagni, 24, of North Smithfield. Pacino was in the passenger seat. Bruce Cohen, a friend from the Bronx, sat in the back. The police shined their flashlights into the car. Inside, they found “Lone Ranger-like” black gloves and a mask.
The police shined their flashlights into the car. Inside, they found “Lone Ranger-like” black gloves and a mask. O’Coin recalled that Pacino was cooperative. In the trunk of the car, Angel found a loaded.38 caliber revolver stuffed in a box. The three men were searched, handcuffed and taken to the police station for questioning.
Grand jury lets Pacino off the hook, but key details remain unclear
All three men were charged with felonies and were being held on $2,000 bail, according to Wall Street Journal files. They pleaded not guilty in Woonsocket District Court and the case was referred to a Providence County grand jury, which ultimately declined to indict them.
Pacino has never told his story publicly, so it’s unclear why he wasn’t convicted — although it might help that he didn’t own the car. In O’Coin’s recollection, Pacino said he and Cohen arrived in Providence by bus earlier that evening and Calcagni picked them up. Confusingly, the former police officer recalled that Pacino knew Calcagni because of “military service” — but Pacino’s ACI identification form lists his military service as “none.”
FAQs:
1. Where was Al Pacino arrested in Rhode Island?
Answer: Pacino was arrested by the Woonsocket Police Department in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
2. What was Pacino charged with?
Answer: Pacino was charged with possession of a concealed weapon.
3. How long did Pacino spend in jail?
Answer: Pacino spent four nights in jail before being released on bail.
4. Why was Pacino arrested?
Answer: Pacino was arrested because the police found a loaded.38 caliber revolver in the trunk of the car he was in, and he was also wearing “Lone Ranger-like” black gloves and a mask.
5. Did Pacino own the car?
Answer: No, Pacino did not own the car.
Conclusion:
Al Pacino’s arrest in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is a fascinating story that highlights the complexities of celebrity and the power of police discretion. While the exact circumstances of the arrest remain unclear, it is clear that Pacino was arrested and charged with a felony, and ultimately released due to a lack of evidence. The story serves as a reminder that even the most famous actors can find themselves in unexpected situations.
