Police Log

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The Police Log is a digest of reports provided by the Johnston and Rhode Island State Police Departments.

ROAD RAGE

According to a press release Wednesday from Col. Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, members of the Rhode Island State Police Scituate Barracks and members of the Major Crimes Unit arrested a Woonsocket man in connection with a fatal car crash that occurred on Interstate 295 north in Johnston on March 30, 2017 that was attributed to an alleged act of road rage.

On April 5, 2017, Mitchell Savard, 41, of 398 Park Ave., Apt. 1 in Woonsocket, was arrested at his home on a warrant charging him with driving to endanger, resulting in death, driving to endanger, resulting in personal injury and driving to endanger, resulting in physical injury.

The arrest was the result of an investigation into a three-car motor vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. on Interstate 295 north, just north of the Route 6 on-ramp. 

The investigation showed that just prior to the collision, Savard was traveling north in the high-speed lane of Interstate 295 and made a lane change in front of a tow truck that was traveling in the center lane. As a result of being cut off, the operator of the tow truck sounded his air horn at Savard. Savard then intentionally repeatedly tapped his brakes and then abruptly stopped his vehicle in the center lane in front of the tow truck.  This action caused the tow truck to also come to an abrupt stop. 

However, a box truck, also traveling in the center lane behind the tow truck, was unable to avoid the two stopped vehicles and struck the rear of the tow truck, which then struck the rear of Savard’s vehicle.

As a result of the crash, the operator of the box truck, identified as Erik Salazar, age 23, of Brooklyn, New York, sustained fatal injuries and was later pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital. The front seat passenger of the box truck, identified as Andy Salgado, age 23, also of Brooklyn, New York, sustained serious bodily injuries and remains in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital. The operator of the tow truck, identified as Trevor Armstrong, age 28, of Bristol, Connecticut, sustained minor physical injuries. Savard reported no injuries.   

Savard was scheduled to appear at Third District Court Wednesday morning for an arraignment hearing. 

ASSAULT

On March 25 around 11:09 p.m., Officers Adam Parkinson and Derrick Palazzo along with Sergeant Luca Lancellotti responded to the Bishop Hill Tavern in reference to a report of an assault that had already transpired. When the officers arrived, Johnston Fire Department rescue personnel were on scene administering aid to the victim.

According to the report, the victim advised that she was seated inside the establishment with a male companion when Amanda Macaruso, 31, of 124 Bishop Hill Road in Johnston, entered the business and proceeded to their table. She then stood over the table and said, “Oh, so this is what’s going on?” Macaruso allegedly then grabbed a wine glass off the table and threw it at the woman’s head.

The wine glass struck the left temple area of the victim and broke. A glass shard then cut the woman’s right wrist, leaving an inch-long gash. Macaruso then ran from the restaurant and entered her vehicle in the parking lot. The victim’s male companion followed Macaruso to the lot and removed her keys from the ignition before returning to the bar.

Macaruso then exited her vehicle and was last seen running south on Bishop Hill Road. The victim was unable to complete a written witness statement because of her injury, but advised that she was adamant about pursuing a criminal complaint.

Officer Parkinson then spoke with the male companion, who corroborated the story and advised that he had dated Macaruso however they had recently terminated their relationship. Officer Palazzo then made a check of Macaruso’s residence with negative results. Her vehicle was then towed from the restaurant to police headquarters.

On March 26 around 7:55 p.m., Officer Joseph McGinn received a call at the station from Macaruso inquiring about her towed car. She advised the officer that a “situation” had occurred at the bar, which resulted in her car being towed.

Macaruso told McGinn that she caught her boyfriend cheating on her with the unidentified female. She said she found out that he was at the Bishop Hill Tavern with the woman and entered the business. At some point she threw a glass at the woman and it “must of” hit her. Macaruso said her boyfriend then got mad and took her keys to prevent her from leaving before police arrived. She said she did not want to get into trouble so she fled the scene.

Officer McGinn checked the call logs and determined Macaruso was a suspect in an investigation regarding an assault with a dangerous weapons charge. According to McGinn’s narrative, it was “evident” Macaruso had implicated herself.

Macaruso responded to police headquarters on March 28 and was charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. She was processed and arraigned by Justice of the Peace Connors before being released on $25,000 personal recognizance with a May 30 Sixth District Court date.

FALSE REPRESENTATION

Patrolman Edward Gonzalez, along with other members of the police department, responded to the Hartford Avenue CVS Pharmacy on April 1 at 12:44 p.m. for a report of a subject attempting to have a false prescription filled.

At the store the officers were met by the pharmacist and the suspect, later identified as Alexandria Esposito, 20, of 5049 Surfside Drive in San Diego, California. The pharmacist advised that earlier in the evening Esposito asked to have two prescriptions filled, one for Codeine and the other for Zofran, which were not in her name and said she would return later. The prescription was from Roger Williams Medical Center.

The pharmacist was suspicious of the prescriptions due to the quantity of Codeine, which is a schedule V controlled substance. He contacted Roger Williams, which indicated that they did not authorize the prescription. When Esposito returned to the store, police were contacted.

Esposito indicated that she was filling the prescription as a favor for a friend she met over the Internet. She refused to cooperate as to the whereabouts of that person. She was then taken into custody and transported to police headquarters, where she was charged with one count of false representation to obtain a controlled substance. She was then arraigned before Justice of the Peace Connors and released on $10,000 personal recognizance with a June 2 District Court date.

EXPIRED STICKER

While on a fixed post at 957 Plainfield Street on April 1 around 7:23 p.m., Officer Derick Ofori observed a car with an expired inspection sticker and initiated a traffic stop.

Upon speaking with the passenger, Nicholas Ferrazzano, 22, of 201 Simmonsville Avenue in Johnston, he advised that he believed he had an active bench warrant. Background checks confirmed that he did have an active Third District Court bench warrant for failure to appear for a pre-trial conference stemming from a driving with a suspended license charge from the Cranston Police Department.

Ferrazzano was transported to police headquarters where he was processed. He was later remanded to the ACI.

OUTSTANDING WARRANTS

On March 30 around 6:09 p.m., Officer Michael Protano and other members of the department responded to 41 Union Ave. in reference to possible town ordinance violations. An anonymous caller stated that vehicles were being worked on at the residence.

Officer Protano was familiar with the residence, occupied by Steven Sarchione Sr., 61, and Steven Sarchione Jr., 31, who lived there and that they were both wanted on active bench warrants.

At the scene, officers observed a red Honda Accord coupe in the driveway with no registration plates. They could also hear loud banging noises coming a nearby shed. Sarchione Jr. soon exited from the shed, and was advised about the outstanding warrant for failure to appear for a suspended license charge and he was taken into custody without incident.

After knocking on the door, Sarchione Sr. answered and was informed that he was wanted by the Third District Court for failure to appear on a stolen goods charge. He too was taken into custody without incident.

Both were transported to police headquarters and processed. As the Honda had no active registration, Sarachione, Sr. was cited for a violation of town ordinances for an unregistered vehicle on the property and given a court date of May 3.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Scott Normandin, 49, of 31 King St., Johnston, is being charged with driving under the influence of liquor or drugs; chemical test refusal; two counts of duty to stop in an accident resulting in damage to attended vehicle; and duty in accident resulting in damage to highway fixtures. Normandin’s arrest is the result of an incident that began on the property of Twin River Casino in Lincoln.

At approximately 9:05 a.m. on March 30, Twin River Casino security was advised that a vehicle, later determined to be operated by Normandin, had struck a guardrail near the intersection of Ring Road and Twin River Road. Twin River security observed this vehicle continue east on Twin River Road, and provided members of the Rhode Island State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit with a description and a registration plate of the vehicle. The vehicle truck two occupied vehicles near the on-ramp to Route 146 south and Twin River Road, before continuing to travel south on Route 146. Near the Branch Avenue exit ramp, Normandin struck a third occupied vehicle, which immobilized his car. Normandin was then taken into custody by members of the Gaming Enforcement Unit on scene.

Normandin was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained as a result of the incident.

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