Police Log - 02/14/19

Warwick Beacon ·

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On Feb. 1 at 11:27 p.m., Officer Steven Moretti was in the area of Jefferson Boulevard conducting DUI detail in a marked cruiser when he observed an SUV with Rhode Island registration pull out of the Whethersfield Commons apartment complex heading west.

As the officer followed the vehicle, he observed the car cross over the double yellow line while traveling at a high rate of speed, estimated at about 55-60 miles per hour. After the vehicle crossed onto Post Road, it once again crossed the double yellow lines, at which point the officer conducted a traffic stop.

Upon making contact with the operator, identified as Jodi Gilardi, 45, of 100 Williamsburg Circle, Apt. #4 in Warwick, Officer Moretti detected a strong odor of alcohol on Gilardi’s breath, and noticed she had bloodshot, watery eyes and a flushed face. The driver said she had “a few Tito’s and soda,” and that she was picking up a friend down the street and then said “I don’t feel drunk I feel fine.”

Upon conducting field sobriety tests, the officer determined she was not in a condition to operate a motor vehicle and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving while drunk. Back at the Warwick police station, Gilardi agreed to take a breathalyzer, which read .182 at 12:28 a.m. An additional test at 12:52 a.m. read .170. She was issued a summons for Third District Court and charged with DUI, liquor and/or drugs and laned roadway violations.

SHOPLIFTING

On Feb. 9 at approximately 12:31 p.m., Officers Frank Montanaro, Nicholas DiNardo and David Waddington were dispatched to Target at the Warwick Mall for reports of a shoplifting in progress.

Upon his arrival Officer Montanaro met with Officer Waddington and Sergeant Robert Palumbo, who already had a male suspect, identified as David Meyers, 35, of 680 Washington St., Apt. #C in Coventry, in custody outside the mall entrance. In his possession were 13 knit Patriots hats and four miscellaneous toys, worth a total value of $293.83.

Security footage showed the suspect, who was known to loss prevention employees from a prior incident, entering the store with a green jacket, black sweatshirt, a baseball hat and sunglasses. He entered the sports department and began concealing the items described. He then left through the mall entrance while concealing the items, not attempting to pay.

Target loss prevention said they wished to prosecute Meyers for the stolen property. He was charged with one count of shoplifting, misdemeanor.

LARCENY

On Feb. 4 at approximately 5:26 p.m., Officer Ali Jaafar was called to the area of Community Road for a report of larceny from a motor vehicle.

Upon arriving and meeting with the reporting party, Officer Jaafar learned that between 5 and 6 a.m., the reporting party’s vehicle had been rummaged through with numerous items taken, including all of his medication and a Tom Brady jersey. Items were valued at $550 in total.

Officer Jaafar notes that prior to receiving this call, he had responded to a house on the same road where a separate reporting party said she saw a suspect walk up to her vehicle around 6 a.m. and attempt to open the door. The person saw this subject and yelled, causing them to run away. The reporter didn’t get a good look at the suspect, but said it was a tall male who was wearing a puffy, dark blue jacket.

The reports were placed on file.

VEHICLE FIRE

On Feb. 1 at approximately 4:13 a.m., Officer Michael Bailey was dispatched to Burbank Street for the report of a motor vehicle on fire.

Upon arrival, the officer saw a Ford pickup truck on fire, parked to the left of a residence. Warwick Fire Department was on scene and fighting the fire. Officer Bailey made contact with a homeowner who told him that her husband “plugs the truck in every day because it is a diesel truck.” Upon inspection of the engine once the fire was extinguished, it was revealed the fire appeared to have started in the engine, where it was plugged in.

BELLIGERENT HIT AND RUN

On Feb. 1 at approximately 6:11 p.m., Officer Ali Jaafar was dispatched to Town Fair Tire on Bald Hill Road for the report of a hit and run at the intersection of Bald Hill Road and Toll Gate Road.

While en route, Officer Jaafar was alerted that a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle involved in the incident was reported by staff at the Walt’s Roast Beef drive thru. They stated a female driving a sedan matching the description was clearly intoxicated while speaking with staff and nearly struck the building while leaving.

Officer Jaafar was unable to initially locate the vehicle, but received a call from Officer William Castaldi that the vehicle was parked in front of the Warwick Mall food court entrance with two flat tires and an operator who was clearly impaired.

Officer Jaafar approached the operator, identified as Thea Drumheller, 40, of 20 Anthony St., Apt. #A5 of Coventry, and noticed she had a flushed face and severely bloodshot eyes, along with extremely slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from her breath. She was unable to form proper sentences. After refusing to cooperate with field sobriety tests and acting aggressively, Officer Jaafar placed her in cuffs.

Upon arrival at police headquarters, Drumheller continued to refuse to follow instructions, and had to be assisted out of the police cruiser. She swore at officers and urinated on herself. While being read her rights, she swung her arm, narrowly missing the officer’s face. She lunged at another officer and had to be restrained.

Drumheller was charged with DUI, second offense, simple assault, duty to stop – accident resulting, damage to an attended vehicle, and refusal to submit to a chemical test, first offense. She was being held at the time of the report waiting to appear in front of a bail commissioner, as she was currently on bail for domestic charges at the time of her arrest.