Police Log

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On June 2 at approximately 4:16 p.m. Officer Thomas Greene was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with injuries reported. When he arrived on scene, he observed a Toyota Tacoma blocking the two westbound lanes on Main Avenue in the area of Gertrude Avenue. Another vehicle was observed on the right side of the road up against a fence.

Car horns from both vehicles were blaring due to air bag deployments, and both vehicles were observed to still have occupants inside. Officer Green first checked the car in the middle of the road, which had heavy, disabling damage on its driver’s side, and the occupants wished to seek medical treatment but did not appear to be in imminent danger. Warwick Fire arrived on scene and began attending to those individuals, and other units were called to the scene to help alleviate traffic.

Officer Green then checked the second car and met with the driver, later identified as Saul Hernandez, 38, of 111 Beacon Street, Apt. 6R in Worcester, Mass. While walking to Hernandez, numerous individuals stated that they had seen Hernandez throw a Heineken beer can out of the passenger window of the car.

Damage to the vehicle was heavy. Witnesses at the scene said that Hernandez had been traveling at a high rate of speed, then crashed into the Toyota before going off the road and into the fence. Hernandez immediately told the officer that his light was green at the time of the accident. Officer Green reported that there was a significant language barrier as Hernandez spoke Spanish. While speaking with Hernandez, the officer reported that he detected the odor of alcohol emanating from him, and detected signs of intoxication.

Officer Green reported that Hernandez said that he had been coming from the beach and had approximately four Heinekens that day. Officer Luis Collado then also arrived at the scene to assist with translation. Hernandez then agreed to take a field sobriety test.

Based upon his performance during testing and the officers’ experience, it was determined that Hernandez was unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely. He was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters.

Airport Police were also eventually called to the scene due to the fence surrounding airport property being damaged, and Warwick DOT also arrived due to a crosswalk indicator being damaged and ripped from the ground.

At the station, Hernandez agreed to take a chemical breathalyzer test, which produced blood alcohol content readings of .255 and .252 percent. He was charged with driving under the influence, first offense, presence of alcoholic beverages while operating a motor vehicle, and laned roadway violations. He was held in custody awaiting the bail commissioner.

SHOPLIFTING

At approximately 10:19 a.m. on June 2, Officer Michael Walker responded to the Bald Hill Road Target for a report of a shoplifting in progress. While heading towards the store, dispatch advised the officer that a Loss Prevention officer at the store was observing a man known to them as someone who had previously stolen items from that store. They also advised that the suspect was using a cutting device to remove tags off of merchandise and then placing the items in a backpack.

The suspect, Richard Morrison, was apprehended as he was exiting the store. He was then escorted back inside where $541.20 worth of merchandise was recovered. Morrison was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters where he was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and issued a no trespass order to Target.

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Officer Quentin Tavares was dispatched to the Universal Boulevard Best Buy on June 9 at approximately 4:30 p.m. for a report of a shoplifting. Dispatch had advised the officer that a white SUV with California plates was involved in the incident.

At the store the officer met with a Loss Prevention officer, who stated that on that day he was approached by a man stating he was about to get a phone and was waiting for his wife. The man then went out towards the front doors and exited the store. When the man walked out, the security sensor began to beep. A female also left the store with an oversized purse, which appeared to contain concealed items.

The Loss Prevention officer then reviewed video surveillance and observed that while he was speaking with the man, the woman and another man were in the electronics department. He then observed them moving Apple TVs and Nest thermostats, which were then stuffed into the purse. A total of five TVs and one thermostat were taken, with a combined value of $1,204.94.

The vehicle was described as a white Chrysler Pacifica van, however a license plate number was unable to be obtained. The store wishes to press charges should a suspect be found. POSSESSION

On June 11 at approximately 11:22 p.m., Officer Jeremy Smith along with several members of the department were dispatched to the Greenwich Avenue Stop & Shop for a check condition emergency call. The reporting party stated that there was a male passed out at the wheel in a gray Toyota.

Officer Smith pulled into the parking lot and met with the reporting party, who had flagged the officer down. She said she had been there for several minutes attempting to wake the subject up without success.

Officer Smith approached the vehicle and found the man slouched forward in the driver’s seat with his head on the steering wheel. The officer was unsure if the man was breathing, and banged his flashlight against the window several times but received no response. Officers then made the determination to break the passenger side window to gain entry.

The man, later identified as James Lopardo, 24, of 115 Salem Ave. in Cranston, then awoke and was reportedly confused and disoriented. He attempted to start the vehicle, however officers then removed the keys. Lopardo was then helped from the vehicle.

Lopardo was reportedly unsteady on his feet, and officers observed what appeared to be fresh damage along the entire passenger side of the car. Lopardo could not explain the damage, and said he may have hit a pole coming out of his residence the day before.

Officers observed a plastic Ziploc bag in plain view, which contained half of a pill later identified as Xanax. Lopardo allegedly confirmed the pill was Xanax and that he did not have a prescription for it.

It was determined that Lopardo would be arrested and charged with one count of possession of a schedule I-V drug. He was transported to police headquarters and held as a probation violator.