Police Log

Johnston Sun Rise ·

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

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

The Rhode Island State Police recently announced the arrest of a Massachusetts woman for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol following a motor vehicle stop on Route 295 South.

On March 22 at approximately 4:40 p.m., State Police Headquarters received multiple 911 calls reporting an erratic operator traveling on Route 295. Troopers located the vehicle and conducted a motor vehicle stop near Exit 6. The operator was positively identified by her Massachusetts driver's license as Elizabeth Salah, 23, of 33 Thomas Lane in Canton, Massachusetts. Salah displayed signs of intoxication and failed all field sobriety tests administered at the scene.

Salah was placed into custody without incident and transported to State Police Headquarters where she was advised of her rights and consented to a Breathalyzer test. Salah's first test result displayed a blood alcohol content of .411, while her second result displayed a blood alcohol content of .391.

Salah was processed and later arraigned by Justice of the Peace Michael Robinson on the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, first offense. She was issued a Sixth District Court re-arraignment date of April 6, 2017, and later released to the custody of her parents.

LARCENY

John A. O’Reilly, 50, with a last address of 30 Howard Ave. in Cranston, was arraigned before Justice of the Peace O’Brien on March 24 for a charge of misdemeanor larceny.

According to police reports, on Feb. 2 at approximately 4:45 p.m., Patrolman Arthur Petteruti responded to Simmonsville Village Apartments for a report of a theft. While en route, police received an additional call from the same address reporting that a motor vehicle had also been stolen.

At the scene, the officer spoke with the reporting party who stated that on that day, she had invited a friend inside her apartment. Her friend was accompanied by O’Reilly, whom the complainant had never met before and only knew him as ‘John.’ O’Reilly asked if he could use the restroom, and as he exited the woman noticed her checkbook sticking out of his pocket.

O’Reilly was confronted about the register and it was returned without incident. O’Reilly then re-entered the bathroom and exited after several minutes, during which time the woman noticed that her purse that had been on the coat rack near her front door was missing. As she began to look around the apartment for the purse, O’Reilly said “here it is” and located it on the coat rack then immediately exited her residence.

The victim then opened her purse to find her wallet upside down, and her credit and debit card, along with $12, was missing. Officer Petteruti interviewed the victim and was provided with a physical description of the suspect. She and her friend stated that O’Reilly was homeless and that they only knew him through a mutual friend whom he was dating. They then provided the friend’s phone number, which the officer called and was able to obtain the suspect’s last name.

Officer Petteruti was then met at the complex’s front door by a driver who stated he delivers pizza for Pizza Palace on Plainfield Pike. He told the officer that around 4:40 p.m., he parked his Subaru Outback in front of building No. 341 and entered to make a delivery. He said he left the car keys in the ignition and the motor running while he made his delivery. When he exited, he found that is car was gone.

The woman victim was later provided a photographic lineup of potential suspects, and was able to identify the suspect’s picture.

On February 9, Detective Anthony Sasso visited the apartment complex in hopes of retrieving surveillance video of the incidents. Upon viewing the footage, O’Reilly was observed entering the building and then exiting later. He is then seen fleeing the area by stealing the Subaru. Police later found the Subaru in Providence on February 13, and the owner was provided with information on how to retrieve the car.

After a warrant was issued for O’Reilly’s arrest, on March 24 Johnston Police responded to the Providence Police Department to pick up O’Reilly, who had been arrested there for multiple outstanding warrants. He was transported back to Johnston, and later remanded to the ACI for being a parole violator.

RAN A STOP SIGN

While traveling west on Dyerville Avenue on March 26 around 5:30 p.m., Patrolman Kevin Brady observed a vehicle pass through the intersection of Dyerville and Killingly streets without stopping at a stop sign. The officer then initiated a traffic stop.

The driver, identified as Joseph Cintron, 24, of 79 Woonasquatucket Ave. in North Providence, was found to have a suspended R.I. driver’s license and an active North Providence arrest warrant for domestic vandalism and domestic disorderly conduct. He was then taken into custody without incident.

Cintron was transported to police headquarters, where he was given a District Court citation for driving with a suspended license and another for failing to stop at a stop sign. He was later turned over to the North Providence Police.