PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Embattled state Rep. John Carnevale asked a police officer to intentionally write him parking tickets at his Barbara Street home in recent days, Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare confirmed Tuesday.

Pare said it’s unclear why Carnevale, a Providence Democrat, would make such a request, but indicated the matter has been referred to the Rhode Island State Police and the Providence Board of Canvassers.

Reached by phone, Carnevale’s attorney, state Rep. Robert Jacquard, said: “I don’t know anything about these accusations.”

“Obviously Colonel Pare and Chief [Hugh] Clements are two very credible people,” Jacquard told Target 12.

Jacquard later called back to say he spoke with Carnevale and “he has no comment other than to say he did nothing wrong.”

Carnevale’s request for parking tickets at the Barbara Street property comes one month after a Target 12 investigation raised questions about whether he actually lives there. Undercover Target 12 surveillance showed him spending much of his time at a different property he owns in Johnston, outside his legislative district.

The Board of Canvassers is now reviewing the validity of Carnevale’s residency. He testified under oath before the board last week and insisted he lives at Barbara Street, though his testimony conflicted with years of election filings. State police leaders have previously confirmed an investigation into Carnevale was already underway in the wake of Target 12’s report.

State Police Col. Stephen O’Donnell declined to comment Tuesday, citing the ongoing investigation. Carnevale did not respond to a request for comment.

While it’s not illegal to ask to receive a parking ticket, Pare acknowledged that “it’s highly unusual.”

“We never get people calling to provide us with information that they are going to be breaking a parking law or a criminal law,” Pare told Target 12.

Pare said the requests from Carnevale to a city police lieutenant were “verbal and text messages as well.” Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh Clements separately said the lieutenant “clearly feels uncomfortable with the request.”

“They did the right thing in kicking the request up to the colonel’s office,” Pare said. “We will review any tickets issued on Barbara Street.”

Carnevale, a 54-year-old former Providence police officer, was first elected to represent House District 13 in 2008, a year after he retired from the force with an accidental disability pension. He was unopposed for re-election in 2014 and 2012.

Carnevale has filed the required number of signatures to qualify for the ballot in his re-election race to continue representing House District 13, according to the secretary of state’s office. Five other Democrats — Joshua Beeman, Anthony Defilippo, David Marshall, Ramon Perez and Lisa Scorpio — have filed to challenge him in the Sept. 13 Democratic primary.

The winner of the primary will be unopposed in the November election.

It’s unclear when the Providence Board of Canvassers will issue its final decision in the Carnevale case. The complaint was brought by the Rhode Island Republican Party, whose lawyer has said the GOP will likely appeal any decision in Carnevale’s favor to the Rhode Island Board of Elections.Dan McGowan ( dmcgowan@wpri.com ) covers politics, education and the city of Providence for WPRI.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @danmcgowan Tim White( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter and on FacebookTed Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) covers politics and the economy for WPRI.com. He writes The Saturday Morning Post and hosts Executive Suite. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram