Police Log

ROAD RAGE

On October 15 around 3:45 p.m., Officer Michael Martufi met with a victim at police headquarters for a report of road rage incident in which a woman stated she was assaulted and her car vandalized.
When asked, the victim said she had not sustained any injuries as a result of the assault. She explained to the officer that she had made a left hand turn heading north onto Atwood Avenue after she exited the parking lot of PetSmart. As she reached the area of the Route 6 overpass, she realized that she needed to merge into the right hand lane, and activated her directional signal.
While attempting to merge, the victim stated she accidentally cut off a black Lexus in the process. She continued travelling north to the intersection of Atwood and Hartford and while waiting in the right hand lane to turn, a male in the Lexus threw something at her car.
The victim exited her vehicle to see what was thrown, and at that time a male and female got out of the Lexus and charged at her. According to the police report, the male grabbed her and forced her back into her car, and then punched and kicked her driver’s side door several times, leaving a large dent. Fearing for her safety, the woman drove off in an attempt to get away from the male suspect.
As the victim was unfamiliar with the area, she got on the highway and called the police for help. She explained that she would have drove to the police station immediately, but was unsure of where it was located. The victim stated that the Lexus followed her onto the highway and chased her for approximately seven miles. Her passenger confirmed the story to the officer as well, stating she was in fear for her safety, and confirmed that the item thrown at them was a Dels lemonade.
Both provided Officer Mertufi with a description of the Lexus along with its license plate number.
Officer Martufi then observed the car and the damage it sustained. The victim stated that she would be able to identify the assailant if she saw him again, and described him as a white male in his early twenties, approximately 5’10” tall with an average build, dark hair and a beard. The female driver was white with light colored hair, and that she also had punched and kicked the victim’s car. The case was then forwarded to detectives for review.
Around 7:20 that same day, Officer Martufi conducted a follow up investigation based on the information he was provided, and went to 65 Archer Avenue, Johnston. Upon arrival he located the suspect vehicle in the driveway, occupied by a female who matched the victim’s description. The officer explained what he was investigating, and the woman stated she had been home all day.
The woman then conceded that she and Brian D. Cooper had run errands a few hours earlier, and while they were driving home they were cut off by a silver car. She stated that while at the intersection of Hartford and Atwood, the other driver got out of the car and dumped a soda on the Lexus for no apparent reason, but that she had washed the soda off when they got home.
She stated that they followed the silver car onto the highway by coincidence, but gave contradicting information throughout questioning and appeared extremely nervous, which led Officer Martufi to believe she was leaving out important details.
Mr. Cooper then walked outside, and was a white male with a beard as described, but with lighter hair than described. He claimed he had been the driver of the Lexus and asked what the problem was. The officer informed him of the investigation, and advised both of their Miranda Rights. Cooper told the officer he had been cut off by a silver car and that they were “acting stupid” but did not elaborate.
At first, Mr. Cooper stated he would complete a written statement documenting his account of the incident, then changed his mind. He then stated he would speak with detectives if it was deemed necessary.
A warrant was eventually issued of Mr. Cooper for simple assault, vandalism, and disorderly conduct. On October 28, Patrolman Michael Protano identified Mr. Cooper’s vehicle on Cherry Hill Road based on its license plate and made a traffic stop. Mr. Cooper was informed of the warrant, and taken into custody. He was arraigned on October 28 and released on $1,000 personal recognizance with a November court date.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

While on routine patrol in the area of 1500 Atwood Avenue on October 8 around 9:47 a.m., Officer Adam Parkinson conducted a registry check on the commercial vehicle  traveling in front of him. He then discovered that the registered owner had an active warrant through the Johnston Police Department for disorderly conduct.
After initiating a traffic stop he met with the operator, Robert Handfield, 46, of 1408 Atwood Avenue Apt. #2 in Providence, who was not the owner of the vehicle. A check reviled that Handfield had a suspended Rhode Island License and an active District Court warrant stemming from a misdemeanor larceny arrest.
Handfield was taken into custody and transported to headquarters where he was processed, advised of his rights, allowed to make a phone call and secured in a cell pending arraignment. He was also issued a summons fro driving on a suspended license.

MOTOR VEHICLE
ACCIDENT

Patrolman Joseph Anderson responded to the area of 59 Putnam Avenue on October 29 around 9:20 a.m. for a report of a motor vehicle accident.
Arriving on scene, Officer Anderson ran a background check through registry files and discovered that the operator of one of the vehicles, Ronaldo Sandoval Lopez, 40, of 861 Atwood Avenue in Cranston, did not possess a valid driver’s license.
A background check revealed that this was Mr. Lopez’s second offense for operating without a license. He was issued a court summons and then released from the scene.

INSPECTION STICKER

While in the area of Plainfield and School streets on October 24 a approximately 10:20 a.m., Patrolman David Galligan observed a car travelling east with a faded and illegible inspection sticker. He initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Ana Villot, 32, of 610 Killingly Street in Johnston.
While the officer found that the inspection sticker was valid until March 2018 upon a closer look, background checks revealed that Villot had a suspended license and an active outstanding warrant for fraudulent checks. She was placed under arrest for the warrant without incident, and her vehicle was towed. She was taken to headquarters, processed and held. She was also issued a violation for operating on a suspended license.

LARCENY

On October 25 around 11 p.m., Officer Michael Edwards observed a male, later identified as David A. Velazquez, 18, of 27 Higgins Avenue, Apt. 1 in Providence, near a Honda Accord who quickly walked away upon the officer’s approach.
Officer Edwards saw that the vehicle was filled with assorted copper piping and other metal items, and then heard what sounded like metal objects being dropped on the paved parking lot. According to his report, the officer exited his vehicle and headed in Velazquez’s direction when he observed a second male, later identified as Damonte M. Johnson White, 20, of 222 River Avenue, Apt. 1 in Providence.
Both men began to quickly walk away from the officer until he requested that they stop. The officer then requested additional assistance.
While speaking with the pair, White stated that his dog had run away and that they were both looking for him. The officer walked back to the Honda and noticed a bag full of assorted copper fittings nearby, and that one of the storage compartments of the vehicle to be open. Both men were separated in different police cruisers, and eventually White admitted that both men had taken metal items out of two storage trucks nearby.
The vehicle owner was notified of the incident and responded to the scene, and advised that he wished to file a criminal complaint. Velazquez and White were taken into custody and advised that they would be charged with felony larceny and felony conspiracy.

DISORDERLY
CONDUCT

Patrolman Adam Parkinson responded to 2128 Hartford Avenue on October 13 around 11 p.m. in reference to delivering a copy of a no contact order from an earlier domestic incident involving Harley Cote, 18, of the same address.
Upon arrival the officer met with Cote, who assumed he was there to deliver the order. Officer Parkinson attempted to explain that if the complainant is home or returns that he would be in violstion of the no contact order. According to the report, Harley was reluctant to understand and assured the officer that he could stay at the residence because it was listed on his license and that he pays rent.
The officer attempted to explain again, when Cote became agitated, took his shirt off, and began yelling expletives and racial slurs at the patrolman. Backup was called and additional officers arrived on scene.
Once backup was available, Harley was advised that his demeanor had risen to the level of disorderly conduct and was told he was under arrest. He continued swearing and attempted to evade arrest by running back into the residence. A significant struggle ensued until Harley was handcuffed and secured in a cruiser, where his obscene language continued. Two patrolmen suffered minor injuries as a result of the scuffle, which were photographed and documented.
Harley was transported to police headquarters where he was secured in a cell due to his continued combativeness. He was issued violations for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.