Police Log

STOLEN WHEELS

On March 16 around 12:40 p.m., Officer Charles Austin was dispatched to the Hilton Garden Inn on Thurber Street for a report of a larceny of tires and rims from a vehicle.

At the scene, he observed a silver Lexus with all four of its rims and tires taken off of it. Officer Austin then contacted the car’s owner, who was staying at the hotel. He stated that he had parked the vehicle around 8 p.m. and secured it.

Nineteen lug nuts were recovered near the car, which were placed into evidence. The report was forwarded to detectives for investigation.

FRAUD

Officer Daniel O’Connell was dispatched to the Matthew 25 Apartments just after noon on March 16 for a fraud report.

There he met with the complainant, who advised that on March 15, she was contacted by her credit card company and informed of suspicious charges on her account. Based on those charges, the company closed the account and asked that the customer have a member of the police contact their agency.

Officer O’Connell then called the company and spoke with a representative, who indicated that attempts to use the card were made at 10 stores at the Providence Place Mall. A report was then filed with a witness statement, which was then forwarded to department detectives for review.

STOLEN DIRT BIKE

On March 17 at 3:34 p.m., Officer Sokphannareth Chea reported to a Hermit Drive residence for a report that a dirt bike had been stolen from a yard.

There, the victim informed him that her son had been riding his dirt bike in the yard before securing it in the shed around 10 a.m., without locking it. They then left for an appointment, and when they returned around 3 p.m. they noticed that the dirt bike was missing.

The dirt bike was entered as stolen in the police database, and a statement was taken. A check with neighbors proved negative for a lead on a suspect. The case is currently pending for further investigation.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Officers Derek Mourato and Sokphannareth Chea were dispatched to West Shore Road in the area of Burger King on March 17 around 10:15 p.m. for a report of a DUI in progress. The vehicle was described as a red mini van.

According to the report, Officer Mourato positioned himself in the Benny’s parking lot, and eventually observed the car traveling west at a very slow rate of speed. Several vehicles were stuck behind the van and were trying to drive around the car due to its speed. The officer saw the vehicle swerving and proceeded to follow it to the intersection of West Shore and Sandy Lane.

The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, and the car took a substantial amount of time to pull over and almost struck another vehicle due to its continuous swerving. The car finally stopped in front of Dave’s Market, striking and then climbing over the curb.

The driver was identified as Abby Maccarone, 19, of 25 Sweet Meadow Drive in Warwick. While standing by her door, the officer smelled the odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from the vehicle. Maccarone admitted to the officer that she had been drinking that evening, and had the appearance of being intoxicated. She agreed to partake in a series of standardized sobriety tests.

Based upon the officer’s experience and training, Maccarone was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Her car was turned over to her sober passenger, and she was transported to police headquarters where she was processed. There she refused to submit to a chemical breathalyzer test.

At the station and in a cell, Maccarone began vomiting and was unable to sign any paperwork. She then passed out and was unable to be fingerprinted or photographed, and then continued to vomit. At that time, it was determined that Maccarone be transferred by rescue to the hospital due to the fact that she was breathing but unresponsive.

At the hospital Maccarone was issued a court summons for driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a chemical breathalyzer test, and laned roadway violations. At the time, Maccarone’s hands were covered in vomit and she said she couldn’t sign the forms. She was advised that she would need to report to police headquarters at a later time to be processed.

IDENTITY THEFT

Officer Gregory Johnson was sent to Fair Street on March 16 around 5:45 to take a report from a complainant who was the victim of identity theft.

At the residence, the officer met with a woman who explained that during the latter part of January, she received a credit card from creditor JD Williams. Having never applied for the credit card, she discarded it and didn’t think about it again until February 8, when she received a notice from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation.

The notice advised that a possible fraudulent return had been filed with the state. Since the woman had yet to file her tax returns for the year, she notified the division that there was indeed a fraudulent return.

On February 23, the woman received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service reporting that they suspected that a fictitious federal income tax form had also been filed in her name.

The victim has since received several additional correspondences from JD William, where she learned that charges had been made in her name. She alerted the company that the transactions were not authorized by her and that the account was opened fraudulently.

An identity theft packet was left with the victim, which provided information on what steps she should take to protect herself further. She indicated that she had contacted her financial institutions to have a fraud alert placed on her accounts.

While there are currently no suspects, the woman indicated that she wished to press charges if one is found. The case was then forwarded to detectives for review.