News

BPD officer on leave after strippers charged with stealing his gun while at motel

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Two exotic dancers in Rhode Island are charged with stealing a Boston Police officer's gun while he was "hanging out" with them in his Rhode Island hotel room, police say.

Boston Police Sgt. John Boyle confirmed an officer is on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation. In a Pawtucket, Rhode Island police report, Boston 25 News learned the officer involved is 36-year-old Emanuel Brandao.

Update: Third person charged with stealing gun from off-duty BPD officer

Brandao told Boston 25 News Friday he is a military veteran who just got back from serving and this should have never happened.

Police confirm officers in Pawtucket arrested 22-year-old Providence native Melissa Dacier and 25-year-old Pawtucket native Neish Rivera, and recovered the weapon Saturday, hours after it was reported missing. Providence Police say they were notified by the fire department that the gun was left there. Providence Police responded along with Pawtucket and the gun was turned over to them.

Brandao called police just before 3 a.m., and said the night began with a plan to meet "Natalia," a woman he met on Instagram who was actually Rivera, at the hotel bar, and they would then meet her friend "Melissa," who was actually Dacier, before heading to the Cadillac Lounge.

The officer said he had locked the weapon with a cable lock inside his glove box before going to the club, and the three "spent some time" there before going back to the Hampton Inn.

The police report said the officer allegedly had to break up a fight between the two women and a man at the hotel who had accused the women of stealing.

The report said the officer and the women "hung out" and then "Melissa" said she needed a phone charger before the officer gave her the keys to get the charger from his car.

The police report says the woman returned and allegedly said she had to "step out to use the phone," before "Natalia" said she had to go find her friend before allegedly leaving the hotel.

When both didn't return, the officer allegedly went to look for the women and checked his car, where his glove box was open and his gun had been taken.

One of the dancers, Rivera, was charged with prostitution at the Foxy Lady in December and pleaded not guilty last month to the charges.

Dacier and Rivera were arraigned in court Monday and both ordered held without bail as violators on previous charges.

Brandao tells Boston 25 News he has a lawyer and is trying to figure out the next step. He told us he just came back from overseas and loves his job, which is to protect and serve. He remains on administrative leave.

>> Board revokes licenses of well-known Providence strip club