Shelter worker talks about director’s resignation

PROVIDENCE—NBC 10 has a follow up to an I-Team story about a former Providence city official.

The I-Team learned that Animal Control Director Peter Brown stepped down on Monday following accusations of sexual harassment by a shelter employee.

A shelter volunteer, who has not filed a complaint, told NBC 10’s Dan Jaehnig about her experience. Volunteer Sarah Marsh describes Peter Brown, as a “little bit overfriendly toward females.”

The I-Team reported Brown was accused a number of times of sexually harassing female employees.
A female employee told the I-Team that she was the victim of sexual harassment.  According to the female employee, Brown allegedly “Went to a refrigerator at the shelter late last week, pulled a banana out of it, held it to his groin area and made a sexually explicit gesture with it, aiming the banana directly at her.“

Marsh says, “He likes to give hugs and pats on the back for doing a good job.”  Marsh claims it was common knowledge at the shelter.

Marsh claims last summer after she was attacked by a dog at the shelter, and EMTs removed her shorts during transport, when she returned to the shelter weeks later she says Brown told her,  “On the bright side, at least you have good taste in underwear.”

Marsh says Brown is great with dogs, but comments like that were very inappropriate.

I-Team Reporter Jim Taricani showed up at the shelter on Wednesday to get answers and bumped into Supervisor Richard Sousa who says it was his first day back after being out a year with an injury, and had no comment.

When the I-Team went to Brown’s home in Tiverton, a man who identified himself as his Brown’s brother in law said he was aware of the allegations, but knew Brown to be a gentleman.

Volunteer Sarah Marsh says she is not happy with Brown’s resignation. “He was probably one of the strongest advocates for animals.”

A woman identifying herself as Browns wife answered the phone Thursday night and said the allegations are completely false.  She said her husband was a dedicated employee who often worked on weekends to help the animals.