Police Log - 02/21/19

Johnston Sun Rise ·

ARMED ROBBERY

The Johnston Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in regards to an armed robbery.

On January 27 at approximately 3:18 p.m. the Shop N Go convenience store located 1569 Plainfield Pike was robbed by a white male wearing a black zip up jacket, blue jeans, black sneakers and carrying a black back pack. The suspect carried what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun, had concealed his face with a black and red ski mask and a black toque hat.

The Johnston Police Department is reaching out to the residents of the neighborhood in the area of Shop N Go that may have has video surveillance, or any witnesses that may have captured or seen the masked robbery suspect running through the neighborhood as he fled the scene. Please review surveillance from 3:00 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. from January 27.

Those with information are asked to contact Detective Thomas Dwyer at 757-3158. As always, callers may wish to remain anonymous.

CAR ACCIDENT

Officer Michael Schiappa responded to the area of 9 Putnam Pike near the North Providence line on Jan. 27 at approximately 1:30 a.m. for a report of a vehicle accident involving an overturned car.

At the scene, the officer observed a Toyota 4Runner at rest in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was on its roof and unoccupied.

Communications personnel confirmed the vehicle was actively registered to Robert Zosa, 32, of 33 Salina Ave. in Johnston. The officer also reported that he observed a white Ford van, which had sustained moderate damage, parked in a nearby parking lot.

Additional officers who were on scene, as well as North Providence Police, searched the area for the driver of the overturned vehicle. Schiappa was informed by a pedestrian that they had heard the collision and observed the Toyota sliding on its roof down the roadway. When the vehicle stopped, the pedestrian ran to the car and saw a man wearing one shoe and a gray sweatshirt bleeding heavily from his face inside the car. The man then exited the vehicle and began to run south down a walking trail toward Johnston.

The witness also reported that he followed the driver to the edge of the river and attempted to stop him from jumping in the water. He said he was unsuccessful in his efforts and the driver jumped into the river and crossed into Johnston. While searching the banks of the river, Schiappa located a white Apple iPhone, which was later determined to belong to Zosa. A search of the scene continued, however it produced negative results.

At approximately 3 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of Greenville and Progress avenues for a report of a man standing in wet clothing and covered in blood walking on the roadway. Upon arrival, the man was located hiding between parked vehicles in a driveway and identified as Zosa. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters.

Zosa was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in damage to an attended vehicle. He was later arraigned,. and was also held without bail as a bail violator and transported to the ACI intake facility.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

On Jan. 23 at approximately 11:21 a.m., Officer Vanessa Wilcox was on a fixed post in the area of Putnam Pike and Angell Street when she observed a car traveling eastbound with tinted windows. A registration check of the vehicle revealed that the car was not actively registered and the license plates did not match the vehicle.

A traffic stop was conducted in contact was made with Gentry Wright, 29, of 175 Althea St., Apt. 3, in Providence. His license was discovered to be suspended, and as a result he was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters.

Wright was later released with a Third District Court notice to appear, and issued a summons for unlawful installation of a windshield or window covering, operation of an unregistered vehicle, and improper use of registration.

FUGITIVE

At approximately 4:40 p.m. on Jan. 23, Officer Arthur Petteruti was on patrol in the area of 1357 Hartford Ave. when he observed a car traveling east with an expired inspection sticker. A traffic stop was then conducted.

The driver, Armando Hernandez, 28, of 103 Wesleyan St., Apt. 1L, Providence, provided the officer with his license. A DMV check revealed that the car’s registration was suspended. Hernandez was also found to have an active extraditable warrant from Plainville, Massachusetts, for larceny from a building.

Hernandez was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters for processing while his vehicle was towed from the scene. Petteruti also seized the car’s registration plates. At headquarters, Hernandez was processed and charged as a fugitive from justice and the probation violator. He was then held for arraignment. Hernandez was also cited for operation of a vehicle when its registration was suspended and for violation of inspection laws.

WARRANT

On Jan. 26 at approximately 8:14 a.m., Officer Nicholas Manocchio and other officers responded to Greenville Avenue for request of a dispersal of a subject. At the scene, the officer spoke with the reporting party, who requested that Carrie Dilorenzo, 45, of Johnston be disbursed from the property.

Background checks on Dilorenzo revealed an active Third District Court bench warrant for failure to appear for arraignment. She was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters where she was photographed and held.