Bristol Police: 'Suspicious' men, campaign theft, more clown hysteria

The Bristol Police Department responded to the following calls between Oct. 3 and Oct. 9:

Monday, Oct. 3

A suspicious man was reportedly peering into vehicles at Hope and Constitution streets just before 3 p.m. No arrest was made, and police requested rescue personnel for unspecified medical reasons.

A car was broken into and rummaged through on Windward Lane in the middle of the afternoon. The only thing that appeared to be missing was the car’s registration and insurance information.

Officers responded to reports of domestic disturbances on Sowams Drive at 6 p.m. and on Alma Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. Police filed reports, but no arrests were made.

Find out who wore the cuffs in Bristol this week

Tuesday, Oct. 4

Police dispersed a man panhandling in Gooding Plaza just after 9 a.m. He reportedly took a bus out of town.

Someone driving a new Ford pickup truck reportedly dumped trash at Bristol Auto Salvage on Broadcommon Road.

A campaign sign was reportedly stolen from a yard on High Street. There was no word which candidate was victimized.

Police assisted with a small fire in a home on Barnum Street just after noon. The blaze was contained to the stove.

A resident on Smith Street reported items were missing from a home that were supposed to be left behind per a divorce agreement. The resident was compiling a full list of all missing items before police took any action.

A resident on Hawthorne Avenue reported smoke coming from the microwave around 3 p.m., but no fire showing. The resident did not know where the smoke was coming from. The Fire Department investigated, finding the smoke was coming from burning food inside the microwave.

A group of juveniles was reportedly vandalizing posts along the East Bay Bike Path. Officers caught up with the three kids, and transported them home.

A caller reportedly seeing a clown on a bicycle in the area of Hopeworth Avenue and Violet Court around 6:30 p.m. The “clown” was reportedly wearing a red wig and black and white sweatshirt. Fueled by social media hoaxes, creepy clown hysteria is sweeping the nation, including Bristol (see story on page 5), but there has been no evidence of actual “clown” activity in the area.

A caller reported a man in a black truck driving very slowly on King Philip Avenue just before 8:30 p.m. Police investigated, determining the man was just talking on his phone.

A resident on Union Street complained of a neighbor’s loud party at 9:30 p.m. There was actually no party, just someone working in the garage. Police advised the resident to keep it down.

Wednesday, Oct. 5

A safe was reportedly stolen from a business on Metacom Avenue. The call came in around 6:30 a.m., but the safe was reportedly stolen some time overnight. Police are investigating.

A caller reported two “suspicious” men wearing suits and holding binoculars behind Sip ’N Dip on Hope Street at 8:30 a.m. They were gone when police arrived.

A bicycle was reportedly stolen out of a garage pn Highmeadow Court.

A resident on Tower Street reported a “suspicious” person in the area just before 7 p.m. There was nothing actually suspicious about the person walking a dog.

Thursday, Oct. 6

A resident on High Street reportedly found a suspicious knife on a window ledge of the home around 9:30 a.m. Police filed a report.

A suspicious man was sitting in a dark blue car across from a playground on Washington Street just before noon, according to a caller. He was gone when police arrived.

A package was reportedly stolen from in front of a home on Franklin Street.

Police were called to a fight at Hope Street and Gooding Avenue around 10:30 p.m. that turned out to be just a verbal argument requiring no police action.

A caller reported a suspicious man wearing a hoodie riding a bicycle at State and Wood streets just before midnight. The man was just riding home.

Friday, Oct. 7

Nearby residents complained of noise from workers outside a Thames Street factory buildingat 5:30 a.m. They were gone when police arrived.

A resident on Wood Street reported spotting what appeared to be a sick raccoon at 10:30 a.m. Officers found the raccoon to appear healthy and advised the resident to call pest control. Nocturnal animals appearing during the day is sometimes a sign of rabies. There was no indication that was the case.

A suspicious woman was reportedly looking in windows on Catalpa Road just after 2 p.m. Police found the woman lived on the street and was doing nothing wrong.

A landscaping company was reportedly blowing leaves on cars at Hope and Constitution streets just after 2 p.m. Police advised the workers.

Two men in a white van were reportedly screaming at passing cars on Wood Street just before 4 p.m. Police advised the men to stop.

A caller requested a well-being check on a blond man with a ponytail wearing a black jacket who was walking along Hope Street near Constitution Street at 4:30 p.m. saying he is lost. Police responded and requested rescue personnel to attend to the man who may have been suffering from an allergic reaction to medication or narcotics. He was taken to Newport Hospital.

A group of juvenile girls were reportedly screaming obscenities on Catherine Street at 8:30 p.m. They were gone when officers arrived.

More clown news: An anonymous caller reported two clowns were walking around North Burial Ground. The report turned out to be false.

Saturday, Oct. 8

Police assisted with an elderly woman who fell in her home.

A caller reported an unattended stroller on Town Common around 2:30 p.m. There was no issue; the stroller was carrying dolls.

Someone reportedly threw a water balloon at a passing car near North Burial Ground at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 9

Three juveniles were reportedly riding their bikes and making noise on River Street just before 2 a.m. Officers responded and called their parents to pick them up.