Driver eludes police before crashing into 2 cars in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Here are some highlights from the Portsmouth Police reports from over the past week.

Monday, Oct. 3

Just before 6 p.m., police investigated a report of an accident involving a bicycle and a pickup truck at the corner of East Main Road and Sprague Street. The operator of the bike, Scott DeCastro, was not injured. He told police he was riding his bicycle south on East Main Road when a passing pickup truck struck his left arm and continued south. Police were unable to locate the driver of the truck.

Tuesday, Oct. 4

Michael J. Ellis, 41, of 96 Jo Anne Ave., was charged at 6:28 p.m. on a bench warrant issued from 2nd District Court. A police officer with knowledge of the warrant spotted Mr. Ellis in the rear passenger seat of a car being operated on Hedly Street, according to police. The car was stopped shortly afterwards.

An 18-year-old female student from Fall River who attends the Bradley School at 2820 East Main Road was charged with disorderly conduct after acting up in class around 8 a.m. Police said the student had yelled sexually explicit profanities and thrown a white board across the room before being physically removed to the “quiet room.” When police arrived, the student was calm and agreed to behave, and she was escorted her back to the classroom.

Wednesday, Oct. 5

At about 9 a.m., police investigated an anonymous report of trash that had been illegally dumped onto the side of Westshore Road. Police observed two large trash bags and two mattresses near the road, but no identifying items could be found.

Thursday, Oct. 6

Kelli A. Ritch, 49, of 35 Island Ave., was charged at 1:34 a.m. with driving without a license and refusal to submit to a preliminary breath test. Her car was stopped for speeding in the area of West Main Road and King Charles Drive. 

Nuno M. Rodrigues, 33, of 170 Lawton St., Apt. 2, Fall River, was charged with driving to endanger resulting in personal injury, a felony, as well as reckless driving (eluding police), failing to stop after an accident that caused damage to another vehicle, and driving without a license (second offense). An officer on a traffic post said he saw Mr. Rodrigues run a stop sign at the off-ramp from Route 24 South to Boyds Lane around 5:20 p.m., then cut off another vehicle that was traveling east. The car was followed on Chase Road and onto East Main Road and Sprague Street, but it refused to stop, according to police. The vehicle was clocked at a speed of 85 mph after it turned onto Bristol Ferry Road and continued north. Police said they observed the car run a red light at the intersection of Bristol Ferry Road and Boyds Lane before struck two vehicles and finally came to a stop. Mr. Rodrigues tried to walk away from the scene with a cell phone, police said, but he was apprehended. Police said the driver and passenger in one of the other vehicles complained of pain and were transported to Newport Hospital by firefighters. All three vehicles had to be towed from the scene. While being processed at the police station, Mr. Rodrigues remarked to an officer, “I should have just stopped, huh?” according to police.

Sunday, Oct. 9

Horace Simmons Jr., 54, of 20 Fillmore St., Newport, was charged at 8:50 p.m. with domestic assault. A woman told police Mr. Simmons threw a cell phone at her, striking her face, in the parking lot of the Mobile Mart on West Main Road.

Monday, Oct. 10

Kevin M. Baker, 35, of 44 Weetamoe St., Fall River, was charged just before 5 p.m. with possession of a controlled substance, a felony, as well as obstructing an officer in execution of duty. Mr. Baker was a passenger in a car that was stopped on Route 24 North near Boyds Lane because another passenger wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. During a search of the vehicle, police said they found five partially opened blue glassine bags commonly association with the use of heroin, as well as trace amounts of the drug; a silver spoon with burn marks; and two syringes, with one containing heroin. Police said Mr. Baker gave a false name and date of birth when asked to identify himself.

Joseph F. Tracy, 49, of 991 Anthony Road, was charged at 6:47 p.m. with driving while intoxicated (first offense) and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Police said they stopped his car on Point Road for speeding and leaving the lane of travel.