Police Log

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

STOLEN MANHOLE COVERS

While on patrol on Sept. 28 around 9:30 a.m., Patrolman Matthew Leveillee along with several patrol units responded to Dyerville Avenue for a report of a larceny of manhole covers which was in progress. The reporting party contacted police stating je observed two men and a woman removing the covers and placed them in the rear of a grey pickup truck. A similar larceny was reported on Sept. 22.

As Officer Leveillee approached the area, he observed the suspect vehicle turn left onto Merino Avenue, but then lost sight of the truck. A passerby waved him down and pointed out a female who was walking on Hedley Avenue in the area of Cedar Street, whom he stated just ran through a few back yards. She was then detained and later identified as Kerry Raso, 48, of 19 Lexington Road in North Kingstown.

While continuing to search the area, Officer Leveillee observed two white males run out of a back yard and across the road in the area of Cedar Street. Both men were ordered to stop and then detained by officers. They were later identified as Jared Smith, 31, of 72 Farm Street in Providence and Kenneth Pawson, 51, of 382 South Street, Apt. 2R in West Wrentham, Mass.

Officers later found the suspect vehicle parked in a driveway on Hedley Avenue. Five manhole covers were discovered in the cargo area of the truck. A witness to the incident confirmed that the suspects in custody were involved in taking the manhole covers. All three suspects were taken to police headquarters, where they were processed. At the station, both Smith and Pawson are reported to have admitted to detectives that they were involved in the theft. DPW workers were contacted about the incident, and responded to replace the covers.

Smith was charged with misdemeanor larceny under $1,500, and conspiracy, as was Pawson. Raso was found to have an outstanding Superior Court warrant, and was held for arraignment.

WARRANT

Lieutenant Troy Maddox was on patrol when observed a car travelling south on Greenville Avenue on Sept. 27 around 9 p.m. He observed a male operating the vehicle, which he believed was Richard Baccaire, 39, of 35 Union Ave. in Johnston, who the officer had previous contacts with. A background check on Baccaire revealed that he had an active Superior Court full bench warrant for failure to appear stemming from a disorderly conduct charge by the Cranston Police Department.

Lt. Maddox then conducted a traffic stop and positively identified Baccaire, who was placed under arrest without incident. A background check on a passenger, Jose F. Diaz III, 41, of 415 Friendship St. in Providence, revealed that he too had an outstanding Superior Court warrant stemming from a domestic vandalism charge by the Providence Police Department. Both were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and later transported to the ACI.