Police Log

The Police Log is a digest of reports filed by the Johnston Police. Chief Richard S. Tamburini or Deputy Chief Daniel Parrillo has reviewed all reports.

NO PIZZA

A Johnston man was arrested and charged with domestic assault after his girlfriend told police he attacked her for not ordering a pizza for him on Feb. 20. The woman told Patrolman Michael Protano she was changing her child’s diaper when he asked her to order the pizza and then came up behind her, grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to the floor. She said he then stood over her and said, “I will smash your throat in with my foot.” She told Protano she then got away from him and called police. She said he then grabbed some of his things and left. Protano said she didn’t display any injuries and did not want medical attention. A warrant was drafted for the arrest of Richard S. Roderick, 31, of 22 Miller Circle. Patrolman Matthew Rado was dispatched to Union Avenue in Providence around 2 a.m. Feb. 21 and found Roderick in a first-floor apartment. He was charged with simple domestic assault and domestic disorderly conduct and later released on surety bail.

FUGITIVE

Patrolman Ryan Lemieux reported he was dispatched to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office on Atwood Avenue on Feb. 27 for a report of someone there who was wanted in Brockton, Mass., for burglary. Lemieux said he arrested the suspect without incident and then transported Philip Melero, 38, of 687 Chalkstone Ave., to be arraigned as a fugitive from justice and await extradition.

HOW THEY GET CAUGHT

Patrolman Derrick Palazzo reported he was on Atwood Avenue when he saw a car turn into Commerce Way without using a turn signal. He said he followed the car into the lot of Jackie’s Galaxy. He said he asked the driver why he didn’t use a signal, and the man replied that he attempted to but the signal “must be broken.” Palazzo said a routine check revealed the driver’s license was suspended. Russell E. Blanchard, 49, of 158B Danielson Pike in North Scituate, was charged with driving on a suspended license and then allowed to arrange for someone with a valid license to come get the car.

Patrolman Arthur Petteruti reported he was on patrol on City View Parkway around 5:55 p.m. Feb. 25 when he stopped a car for traveling in the wrong lane. He said the driver apologized for being in the wrong lane and explained that he was test-driving the car for possible problems. He said he did a DMV check on the driver and learned his license was suspended. The man’s car was released to his friend, who had an active license. Khun Phommatheth, 25, of 52 Harrison Ave. in Johnston was processed at headquarters and released with a summons.

LONG WAY HOME

Detective Joshua Heywood reported processing a recovered stolen SUV on July 29 of last year. He said he was able to develop a grouping of fingerprints and a partial palm print that were sent to the Rhode Island Crime Lab for analysis. He said he got a report on Feb. 3 of this year indicating that the prints belonged to Kevin L. Wulff, 18, of 418 Carpenter Road in Hope.

Detective Anthony Sasso reported that he called Wulff on Feb. 11 and requested he contact him. He said Wulff called on Feb. 13 and said he could not come in then due to his work and counseling schedule that day and promised to call the next day. Sasso said he then spoke with Wulff’s lawyer who promised that he would bring him to headquarters on Feb. 18.

On Feb. 23, Sasso reported he got a voice message from Wulff saying he could not come in because of a scheduling conflict. Sasso said he attempted to reschedule the meeting, but Wulff’s voicemail was not accepting messages.

On Feb. 24, an arrest warrant was issued for Wulff, and on Feb. 25, he turned himself in to Sasso.

Sasso reported that Wulff admitted stealing the SUV in July of last year and was transported to District Court for arraignment. He was later released on $10,000 personal recognizance.