Warren police arrest aggressive panhandler

Panhandling incidents have been up in Warren recently, and police early last Thursday arrested a particularly aggressive man who allegedly would not take ‘No’ for an answer.

Robert Ivey, 46, of Newport, faces two counts of disorderly conduct after police said he obstructed a driver on Metacom Avenue who had rebuffed his requests for a ride and money.

The driver called police from his car just before 12:15 a.m. and told officers that Mr. Ivey approached him and asked for money and a ride while he was stopped at a red light. When the man told him he couldn’t help, Mr. Ivey “refused to move away from the vehicle,” Deputy Warren Police Chief Joseph Loiselle said.

Mr. Ivey was so close to the car at one point that when the light turned green, the man was afraid to drive off for fear of hitting him.

Police officers called to the intersection spotted Mr. Ivey running south on Metacom Avenue, near Rosa Boulevard, and arrested him.

This isn’t the first time police have dealt with Mr. Ivey, Deputy Chief Loiselle added, noting that several businesses have filed ‘No Trespass’ letters against him.

“We’ve tried to talk to him, tried to refer him to agencies that might be able to help him out,” he said. “We can only do so much.”

While panhandling complaints have been up recently, Deputy Chief Loiselle said there are really just a few well-known subjects responsible for most of them. In responding to calls, he said, “we have to weigh the constitutional rights” of the accused when deciding whether to bring charges.

In the case of Mr. Ivey, he said, “this wasn’t your typical panhandling call. It bordered on obstruction and disorderly conduct.”