Charges against man arrested during abortion rally dismissed

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a man arrested during an abortion protest in Rhode Island last summer, according to court records and the man’s lawyer.

Nicholas Morrell, 31, of Warwick, was arrested during a protest at the State House on June 25 held in response to the decision released the same day by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which had provided a constitutional right to abortion since 1973 .

Charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and having a weapon other than a gun were dismissed by the prosection on Nov. 7, according to court records.

“The argument we made to the state is that a lot of this was recorded and his conduct was no different than anyone else there,” his attorney, Bryan Owens, said Tuesday. “I think he was unfairly charged.”

His client is neither abortion rights nor anti-abortion, Owens said.

A message was left with the state attorney general’s office.

An off-duty Providence police officer was charged with punching a political rival during the protest, but was acquitted of misdemeanor simple assault in November.