Former state representative Brian Coogan proclaims his innocence after being charged with stealing political signs of Bruce Rogers, who is running against Anna Sousa in the East Providence city council race.

Coogan did not want to get into details of his relationship with Sousa saying “it’s private” but did admit that they both live together on Summit Street.

“It is a witch hunt. It’s a $5 political sign that I allegedly took from my neighbor who knows my face who knows my motorcycle who knows my license plate,” Coogan said to a group of reporters Wednesday. “I fired Tim Chapman and he ordered the police to charge me and I talked to numerous police officers and they are upset they are being used a political pawn.”

Coogan alleges that he fired Chapman, who is the acting East Providence City Manager, while they were once both sitting on the city council. He believes because of this, Chapman influenced police to press charges.

Chapman told the Providence Journal that it’s “absolutely not true.”

“I did not try or attempt to try to pull any political sign, that’s what I’m telling you here today,” Coogan said.

He explained that he put out a leaflet about Bruce Rogers’ alleged criminal past and because of that, these charged are being filed.

“I fired [Chapman] who is the acting city manager who right now is the acting police commissioner who ordered the department heads of the police department to charge me when they felt there was nothing really there on Monday, and they called me on Tuesday and said ‘we have to charge you’” he said.

Coogan was charged with attempted larceny, receiving stolen goods and conspiracy.

The Providence Journal reports a witness identified Coogan in a photo lineup saying they say Coogan and a passenger on his motorcycle attempted to steal a sign off of a fence in the same neighborhood he lives in.

Coogan is launching a write-in campaign for House District 64.

“I’m due back in court in November,” he said.
Anita Baffoni
News Reporter
WPRO News Radio