Police Log

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

POSSESSION

While in the area of Serrel Sweet Road and Taunton Street on January 11 around 2:16 p.m., Officer David Galligan observed a man on a purple bicycle traveling north on Serrel Sweet Road who he recognized from previous contacts as Michael Desousa, 41, of 107 George Street, first floor in Johnston. Background checks on Desousa revealed that he had an active Superior Court warrant for failure to appear on a narcotics charge from the Pawtucket Police Department.

Desousa was detained and placed under arrest. A search revealed that he had a silver screw top capsule in his sweatshirt pocket. Inside was a baggy which contained a substance that the officer believed was heroin. The substance was seized and Desousa was transported to police headquarters. He was arraigned before Judge McCaffrey on a felony charge of possession of heroin, and surety bail was set at $3,000.

WARRANT

On January 13 around 11 a.m., Officer Derek Parascandolo was in the area of Dawes Street and George Waterman Road when he observed a vehicle make a left turn onto Dawes Street without utilizing a turn signal. A traffic stop was initiated in the area of Railroad and Allendale Avenues.

Contact was made with the driver, identified as Joseph Bennett, 27, of 38 Dean Avenue in Johnston. Background checks showed that Bennett had an active warrant from the Johnston Police Department for vandalism, simple assault and disorderly conduct. Bennett was placed under arrest without incident and transported to police headquarters where he was processed.

Bennett was arraigned and released on $1,000 personal recognizance by Justice of the Peace Solomon with a summons for the Third District Court. He was also issued a summons for failure to use a turn signal.

FELONY ASSAULT

December 26 at approximately 4:40 p.m., Officer Merrick Cook responded to the CVS Pharmacy at 26 Putnam Avenue for a report of a stabbing. At the scene he met with the complainant who stated that he was walking on Putnam Avenue minutes earlier and was approached by an acquaintance of his identified as “Joe.”

He stated that Joe began arguing and pulled out a box cutter and swung it at him, causing a small tear in his sweater. The man pointed out the tear and told Officer Cook that he did not want Joe arrested, however he wanted the officer to tell Joe to leave the man alone. Joe was pointed out and eventually identified as Joseph Cedroni, 59, of 170 Waterman Avenue in North Providence. Cedroni admitted arguing with the complainant according to the report, but stated that he never assaulted the man with a box cutter.

No injuries were reported, and no outstanding warrants were found for Cedroni following a background check.

On December 27, the reporting party responded to police headquarters and stated that he wished to pursue a criminal complaint against Cedroni. A written statement from the victim was obtained, and the man provided no new information or possible witnesses regarding the allegations. The matter was then forwarded to detectives. An arrest warrant for Cedroni was later prepared for the charge of felony assault with a dangerous weapon.

Cedroni was arrested on January 13 and taken to police headquarters. He was arraigned and released on $3,000 personal recognizance by Justice of the Peace Solomon with a April pre-arraignment conference date at the Sixth District Court.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Officer Kevin Brady responded to the area of 55 Lafazia Drive on January 13 around 9 p.m. for a report of a motor vehicle hit and run accident. At the scene he observed vehicle one parked facing south with damage to it rear passenger side bumper and front bumper. Vehicle 2 was parked directly in front of vehicle one with a flat front passenger tire and damage to its rear bumper and front passenger side quarter.

The reporting party stated that he was backing out when the suspect vehicle veered to the right lane and struck the rear passenger side of his vehicle. The suspect vehicle then continued on Central Avenue, eventually turning right on Atwood Avenue and into the parking lot of 1180 Atwood Avenue. The man then parked behind the suspect vehicle and told the woman driver, who was later identified as Stephanie Haley, 22, of 10 York Road in Johnston, that she had just struck his car and that she needed to wait for the police to arrive.

According to the report, Haley then put the car in reverse and backed into the front of the man’s vehicle and then again left the scene. The man followed as Haley continued south on Atwood Avenue and then took a left turn on Morgan Avenue. Haley then turned onto Lafazia Drive, eventually stopping in front of 55 Lafazia Drive.

Officer Brady then spoke with Haley, who the officer reported had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from her breath and showed signs of intoxication. When asked if she had been drinking, Haley allegedly responded that she had three mixed drinks. She then agreed to partake in a series of standardized sobriety tests. Based upon the officer’s observations, along with his training and experience, it was determined that Haley was unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely. She was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters.

At the station, Haley consented to a chemical breathalyzer test which yielded a blood alcohol content of .159 and .156 percent. Haley was issued a District Court summons for driving under the influence and duty on collision with an attended vehicle.