Union Official Arrested At Harbourside

Police arrested Louis G. Rainone, 58, of Ausdale Road in Cranston, for assault after an incident Friday afternoon at the Harbourside Restaurant. Rainone is secretary of the Rhode Island National Education Association.

According to the East Greenwich Police report, Rainone approached a customer at the bar at around 2 p.m Friday, June 7, with "an attitude." When the customer told Rainone to go away, Rainone threatened to throw him in the ocean, then punched him in the eye.

Rainone, who was not in the restaurant when police arrived, returned and told police he and the customer had exchanged words and the customer had pushed him. Rainone told police he then pushed back and may have pushed him in the face but couldn't remember.

A Harbourside employee said Rainone punched the other man with his right hand. Another witness said Rainone and the other man had been talking, then the other man pushed Rainone, who then allegedly said, "Oh, yeah?" He said Rainone then punched the man with a closed fist.

The man refused medical treatment but his eye was red and swollen. 

Rainone was taken into custody, charged with simple assault and released on $50 cash bail. He is due in Third District Court in Warwick June 21.