Police Log

BENCH WARRANT

While on patrol in the area of 1025 Plainfield Street on September 30 around 9:41 p.m., Lieutenant Joseph Salvadore observed a car traveling westbound with a damaged driver’s side tail light. After conducting a traffic stop the driver was identified as Jose Louis Cortez, , 25, of 152 Norwood Avenue, Apt. 2 in Cranston. Background checks revealed that Cortez had an active Superior Court bench warrant for failure to appear from a possession of narcotics charge.

Cortez was arrested without incident and transported to police headquarters. While at the station he was processed and then taken to the ACI Intake Center. He was issued a verbal warning for the motor vehicle violation and his vehicle was driven away by a licensed operator.

DISORIENTED CUSTOMER

Patrolman Joseph Scotti was dispatched to the CVS at 1400 Hartford Avenue on October 1 around 6:12 p.m. for a report of a disoriented female at the pharmacy counter. While on scene the officer spoke with staff who spoke with him about their concerns regarding the customer. The woman was later identified as Christina Golden, 37, of 351 Simmonsville Avenue Apt. 313 in Johnston, who appeared to be in good health.

Background checks on Golden revealed a full Superior Court Full Bench Warrant for failure to appear. The warrants did not show up initially while the officer was on scene with Golden. Once she had left the scene confirmation of the warrants was obtained. Officer Scotti was then able to locate Christina a short distance away in the area of Atwood Avenue and Stone Hill Drive. She was subsequently placed under arrest without incident and transported to police headquarters and later transported to the Womens Intake Center at the ACI.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On October 1 at approximately 11:15 p.m., Officer Andrew Broccoli responded to the area of 1538 Atwood Avenue to assist other officers with a male suspect, later identified as Ryan Peck, 19, of 135 Steere Farm Road in Burrillville, who was suspected of leaving the scene of an accident after striking an attended vehicle.

Officer Broccoli approached peck and according to his report could immediately smell a strong odor of alcohol and detected signs of intoxication. Peck denied that he had consumed any alcohol earlier that evening. He then agreed to partake in a series of standardized field sobriety tests.

Based upon the officer’s experience and training, and Peck’s performance during testing, it was determined that he would be arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. He was then taken into custody and transported to police headquarters. At the station, Peck refused to take a chemical breathalyzer test.

Peck was charged with driving under the influence first offence, duty to stop at an accident, refusal to submit to a chemical test, operating a motor vehicle without proof of insurance, and obedience to traffic control devices. He was later released with a Third District Court summons.

FELONY ASSAULT

Sergeant Joe Scichilone and Patrolman David Galligan responded to Capital City Auto Salvage at 77 Armento Street for a report of an assault with a knife. While en route, communications personnel advised that the suspect was described as a bald white male wearing a red shirt and was still in possession of a knife.

Upon arrival of Officer Galligan to the scene, Sgt. Scichilone had the suspect, later identified as Francisco “Frank” Garcia, 60, of 50 Narragansett Avenue in East Providence, detained. A witness to the incident told officers that Garcia has had past issues with employees at the business. Garcia began yelling at an employee, who momentarily turned away and went about his business.

Moments later Garcia approached the employee again and was chest to chest with him. Garcia then held a yellow and black Dewalt utility knife to the employee’s neck and stated that he was going to make him bleed. Others at the scene then intervened and separated the parties. Another witness to the event later corroborated the events, and added that Garcia initially threw the knife to the ground. He then came back to retrieve the knife and placed it on a counter in the yard.

The officers located the knife at the scene, photographed it and then secured it as evidence. Harcia was placed under arrest without incident for assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and transported to the Third District Court. He was arraigned before Judge McCaffrey and presented as a bail violator. Surety bail was set at $2,500, and a no contact order was issued for the victim.

POSSESSION

While in the area of Hartford Avenue and Borden Avenue on October 2 around 2:48 p.m., Officer David Galligan observed a driver turn west onto Hartford Avenue without utilizing a turn signal. A traffic stop was then initiated in the area of 1300 Hartford Avenue, and contact was made with Steven Baccaire, 23, of 165 Federal Way, Apt. 304 in Johnston.

As the officer approached the vehicle, he reported that he detected the smell of marijuana emanating from the passenger side if the vehicle. Baccaire was found to have a suspended license and a background check revealed that he had an active Third District Court bench warrant. A search of Baccaire revealed a small bag in his right front pocket containing what the officer believed was marijuana.

Baccaire was transported to headquarters where he was positive. According to the police report the suspected marijuana tested positive for the substance. Baccaire was issued a summons for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, and a District Court notice for driving with a suspended license.