The severed head of an unidentified man was found yesterday outside of Via Via IV on Meeting Street. Police and witnesses say no foul play is suspected in the incident.
"There is absolutely no reason to suspect any foul play here," said Providence Police Department chief Colonel Dean Esserman, in a statement made in front of the restaurant. "And no, there is absolutely no 'mob' or 'mafia' involvement," Esserman said, using "air quotes" to play down the role of organized crime in the killing, or any killings in general.
The head, which police say most likely belonged to a middle-aged man, was found by an unidentified Brown student early yesterday morning. The student has since refused to talk to police about the incident, and has reportedly left the state for an undisclosed period of time, sources close to the student said.
"He told me to tell everyone that he is taking a much-needed vacation," said Vinny "The Shark" Romano, a spokesman for Via Via IV who said he briefly talked to the student when the head was found. "He specifically told me to not tell anyone where he has gone, so I am going to respect his wishes."
When asked if the restaurant was involved in the killing, Romano shrugged off the location of the head's dumping as "coincidence."
"You can ask any Thayer Street businessman; it could have happened to any of us," Romano said. "It's absurd to think that Via Via had anything to do with it."
Via Via IV owner Mario Competi echoed Romano in blaming random chance for the incident.
"There is absolutely no way were we involved," Competi said. "Capisce?"
