Police Log

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

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On October 10 at approximately 11:18 p.m., Officers Joseph Scotti and Adam Parkinson were dispatched to the area of 1477 Atwood Avenue for a report of a head on collision with injuries. Once at the scene, the officers noted that both operators appeared to be conscious and alert and remained in their vehicles until Johnston Rescue personnel arrived.Officers then made contact with Thomas D. Carroll, 70, of 23 Granite Street in Johnston. According to their report, Carroll exhibited signs of intoxication, had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from him, and appeared to be confused. He was asked to exit his vehicle, and had a difficult time maintaining his balance. Carroll allegedly told the officers that he had two to three beers in Coventry. When asked, he consented to take a series of standardized sobriety tests.

Based upon his performance during testing, the officers observations and training, along with their interactions with Carroll, it was determined that he would be placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. He was taken into custody, transported to police headquarters and processed without incident.

At the station, Carroll refused to take a chemical breathalyzer test. He then began asking questions about why he was at the police station, and was advised he was involved in a motor vehicle accident. He later vomited in the cell and the Johnston Fire Department was contacted to respond.

Carroll was issued a court summons and charged with driving under the influence, first offense, refusal to submit to a chemical test, leaving the lane of travel, and operating left o f center. He was later released.

VANDALISM

Sergeant Joe Scichilone and Officer Ryan Lemieux responded to the Plainfield Pike Speedway on September 20 around 3:52 p.m. in reference to a vandalism complaint. At the scene they spoke with a store manager, who advised that a former employee, Jessenia Escobar, 22, of 16 Unit Street in Providence, came into the store to collect her last paycheck.

The manager advised that he did not have her check and told Escobar to contact the human resources department. Escobar then became irate and began yelling obscenities and threw approximately four or five glass bottles in the direction of the cash register. She also knocked merchandise off of the shelving on her way out of the store and broke a pair of sunglasses. Officer Lemieux also watched a recording of the incident from the store’s video surveillance. Speedway advised that they wished to pursue criminal charges.

Escobar was contacted by Officer Lemieux on September 21 and was asked to respond to police headquarters for questioning, however she refused to do so. She was advised that she was no longer allowed at the Speedway as a no trespass complaint had been lodged against her. According to the report, Escobar was continuously screaming that she was the victim due to her not being paid and that she works all night and was unable to go to police headquarters. An arrest warrant was then prepared on September 22.

On October 6 at approximately 4 p.m., the Rhode Island State Police arrested Escobar on the outstanding warrant, and she was transported directly to Johnston Police Headquarters. She was arraigned before Justice of the Peace McCaffrey on the charges of misdemeanor vandalism and disorderly conduct. She was released on $1,000 personal recognizance and a re-arraignment date of October 23.

EMBEZZLEMENT

Around 9:30 p.m. on September 25, Officer Merrick Cook responded to the Cumberland Farms at 2643 Hartford Avenue for a report of a theft. At the store he met with the complainant who alleged that one of his employees, identified as Christian Tripp, 19, of 36 Old Pocasset Road in Johnston, stole $600 in cash from the front cash register where he was working and walked out of the store prior to the end of his shift.

The reporting party stated that he observed the theft on store surveillance video, which occurred around 7:50 that evening, and that the store wished to press charges. An arrest warrant for Tripp was later drawn, and on October 11 he was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Lazieh on the charges of felony larceny and felony embezzlement. He was released on $10,000 personal recognizance with a Sixth District Court date to appear on January 11, 2018.

WARRANT

Officer Arthur Petteruti was on patrol in the area of Joy Street on October 10 at approximately 5:10 p.m. where he observed a male walking which he knew as Eduard Lopez, 33, of 1508 43rd Street in North Bergen, New Jersey, from having multiple contacts in the past.

Officer Petteruti was aware that Lopez had an active warrant from the Johnston Police Department for vandalism and a Sixth District Court warrant for failure to appear for a pretrial conference. He was then placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters before being transported to the ACI Men’s Intake Center.