EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police are looking for assistance in identifying a suspect that broke into the Express Gas, 1345 Wampanoag Trail on December 31, 2013.
The suspect broke the glass on the front door with a cement block, entered the store and exited with several cartons of cigarettes.
Anyone with information as to the identity of the suspect may contact the East Providence Police Detective Division at 401-435-7600 ext. 20020.
A Providence man who worked part-time for RiteAid Pharmacies across the region is facing charges after he allegedly stole prescription medication.
Barrington police charged 24-year-old Matthew J. Ponnequin with larceny of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Mr. Ponnequin had been employed as a part-time pill-counter for RiteAid, but had drawn the attention of store officials after medication at some of the pharmacy locations had gone missing. Store officials checked video surveillance, which allegedly showed Mr. Ponnequin stealing Oxycodone pills.
Officials shared this information with Barrington police, who arrested Mr. Ponnequin. Police said Mr. Ponnequin later admitted to taking 100 Oxycodone pills.
PORTSMOUTH — Here are some highlights from the Portsmouth police log from over the past week.
Saturday, Jan. 11
Justin R. Albano, 27, of 1 South Drive, was charged with driving while intoxicated after the vehicle he was driving hit a guard rail on West Main Road at the Route 24 off-ramp around 3 a.m.
Police received a report around 3:10 p.m. that a car had nearly struck a man on Oliver Hazard Perry Road after he had been arguing with a female driver. A witness told police two cars were operating on the road at a high rate of speed, with the first being operated by a young female with a male in the front passenger seat. The male exited the vehicle and began arguing with the female still in the vehicle, the witness said. As the male walked toward Fairview Lane, according to the witness, the female driver turned the vehicle around and swerved at the male. She then swerved her car toward the other vehicle, making contact, the witness said. Police did not locate the vehicles.
Sunday, Jan. 12
Ryan Smart, 21, of 3 Veterans Circle, Apt. 3, Newport, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense), after the vehicle he was driving was pulled over for speeding on East Main Road in front of Clements’ Marketplace shortly after 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 13
Neda B. Perry, 57, of 31 Inkberry Trail, Narragansett, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense), after the Grand Cherokee she was driving hit a telephone pole on West Main Road near Hedley Street shortly before 7:30 p.m., police said. Ms. Perry was transported to Newport Hospital after complaining of breathing issues and pain to her sides and chest, according to police.
A surveillance image shows the alleged pork thief leaving Shaw’s Supermarket on Dec. 31.
Following the Dec. 31 theft, Barrington police shared information about the incident with the media and received two tips. One person had posted a news story about the shoplifter to her Facebook page; another person read that post and reportedly recognized the suspect from the surveillance image. Another person read about the incident in the newspaper and told a manager at Shaw’s she knew who the suspect was.
Both tips led to Jose Edward Tavares, a 42-year-old Warren resident.
Barrington police met with Warren officers and discussed the case. They then stopped by Mr. Tavares’ apartment on Union Street and interviewed the suspect, who had allegedly tried to steal a number of steaks and one pork tenderloin from the Shaw’s in the Barrington Shopping Center. After he was confronted at the store’s exit, Mr. Tavares reportedly dropped the steaks and ran off with the tenderloin.
During the interview with police, Mr. Tavares was reportedly wearing a jacket that matched the one he was wearing in the surveillance image. Officers also said Mr. Tavares admitted to shaving his mustache shortly after the New Year’s Eve incident.
Police charged Mr. Tavares with shoplifting.
Several residents in the neighborhood north of the Bristol Fire Department headquarters awoke Sunday morning to their mailboxes damaged, the result of an overnight vandalism spree allegedly by two area teens.
Police charged a 14-year-old male from Rehoboth, Mass., and a 17-year-old male from Bristol with vandalism/malicious destruction of property, a misdemeanor.
While on patrol Jan. 12, Officer Russel Wood noticed several people standing around an address near Wing-N-It Bar and Grille on Metacom Avenue shortly after 8:30 a.m. There was also a car nearby with its hazard lights on.
According to Officer Wood’s report, when he asked the group if everything was “ok,” they told him that their mailboxes had ben vandalized, and knocked to the ground. A passerby, noticing the commotion, stopped and informed Officer Wood that several mailboxes along Annawamscutt Drive were also damaged.
Mailboxes on Rosedale, Robin, Primrose, and Fernwood drives were also vandalized, adding up to 17 mailboxes and $2,500 in damage.
“I observed every mailbox to be open,” Officer Wood stated in his report. “It is believed that whoever vandalized the mailboxes on Metacom Ave. also went through these mailboxes.”
A Robin Drive resident did catch the teens in the act — on home surveillance.
The homeowner showed Officer Wood a timestamped video from 1:53 a.m. that morning of two young men wearing hooded sweatshirts, both pulled over their heads. One was wearing a darker color sweatshirt, while the other was wearing one lighter in color.
The video footage wasn’t clearly visible because of the weather conditions, Officer Wood stated, and the night time lighting.
The two might have eluded police had one of their friend’s not turned them in.
According to Officer Wood’s report, one of the teen’s had called a friend, bragging about the damage he did in Bristol overnight.
The teens’ parents were contacted, and they were subsequently interviewed and charged.
The following items are among those in the Bristol Police log Jan. 6 – 13, 2014:
Monday, Jan. 6
Police and firefighters responded to an area of Metacom Avenue at 10:48 a.m. for a report that a utility pole was sparking and on fire.
A Constitution Street resident reported that her boyfriend refused to return her car keys and that he left the area.
Christopher J. Machado, 28, of 34 Michael Drive, Bristol, was arrested on charges of domestic simple assault/battery.
Police responded to Bristol Sports Club at 11:12 p.m. for a report of a possible prank. The bartender told police that an unknown person ran into the bar, pulled the fire alarm and ran off.
Tuesday, Jan. 7
A caller reported seeing a suspicious device attached to a CCTV camera at an ATM kiosk on Metacom Avenue.
Police were called to a home on Bradford Street for an animal complaint.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
David F. Archambault, 31, of 47 Wall St., Bristol, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.
A Hope Street resident reported that the first floor tenant of her building blocked her car in and would not move it.
Jeffrey D. Brown, 40, of 10 Patricia Ann Drive, Bristol, was arrested on charges of vandalism/malicious destruction to property
Thursday, Jan. 9
A caller reported seeing people on the ice near Hope and Washington streets.
Another caller reported seeing a suspicious car parking in the area of Birchwood Road and Sandy Lane, with a Middle Eastern driver. There were no issues. The man worked for a construction company and was waiting for the crew to arrive to start work.
Friday, Jan. 10
Police received two calls, at 1:17 a.m. and another at 5:23 a.m., about the bay door to the Dreadnaught Fire Station being open. Each time there were no issues, and the door was closed.
Police were called to a home on Court Street for a report of a verbal argument between siblings.
Police responded to a home on Easterbooks Avenue for a noise complaint at 10:18 p.m. Officers spoke to all parties. There was no problem, just horsing around.
Saturday, Jan. 11
Police responded to an area of Easterbrooks Avenue for a report of a man and woman arguing in the middle of the road at 12:50 a.m.
A Byfield Street resident asked to speak with an animal control officer about a dog pooping on her property.
A caller reported seeing a man removing rocks from the preservation area of Narrows Road, and lining his property with them.
Sunday, Jan. 12
Fausto Luiz Araujo, 45, of East Providence, was arrested on charges of DUI first offense, .15 or greater.
Jason D. Salinger, 39, of 15 Burton St., Bristol, was arrested on charges of violating a protective order.
A Greenway Drive caller reported that he gave an engagement ring to his girlfriend, and she initially refused it. He then told police that she took possession of it and now won’t return it.
April D. Andrade, 42, of Warren, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and simple assault/battery.
Emanuel L. DaPonte, 66, of 141 Fales Road, Bristol, was arrested on charges of DUI first offense, and refusal to submit to a chemical test.
Robert K. Assad (Westport Police photo)
After Robert K. Assad, 37, of 25 Borden St., Westport, missed an agreed-upon Wednesday morning appointment with police at his parents’ house, the search began.
He didn’t prove difficult to find, said Westport Detective-Sergeant Tony Cestodio, thanks to the court-ordered GPS device strapped to his ankle.
Fall River District Court Probation Officer Mark Costa was able to pinpoint the location of the GPS device to the Shangri-La Motel in Seekonk. Officers arrived within minutes but Mr. Assad had just left.
This time, GPS tracked him moving at about 3 mph not far away. Officers spotted him walking behind the Sam’s Club store about 500 yards from the motel, took him into custody and then drive him to Westport for booking.
Level 3 is the most serious of the sex offender designations, given to those deemed most likely to be a threat for repeat offenses, Det. Cestodio said.
Mr. Assad earned that status for a number of sex-related offenses, including cases involving children in Tiverton and in Bristol County, Mass.
Det. Cestodio confirmed that this latest case involves “a 5-year-old child who is known to the family.” He was charged in this instance with indecent assault on a child under age 14 (subsequent offense).
According to information disclosed at his Wednesday arraignment in Fall River and reported by the Fall River Herald, the 5-year-old girl told investigators that Mr. Assad had exposed himself to her last year and asked her to touch him. Mr. Assad has denied the accusations.
Judge Robert Welsh III ordered that Mr. Assad be held on $100,000 cash bail, an amount he said was justified by Mr. Assad’s lengthy criminal record. He is also being held on possible probation violation matters linked to past convictions.
These include a 2013 Taunton conviction for indecent assault on a child under 14 for which he was sentenced to serve 14 months of a 2 1/2 year sentence.
He is also on seven years supervised probation for a Tiverton case in which he was charged with indecent assault on a child — fondling a 12-year-old girl.
The Herald also reported that he had been convicted of child rape and abuse in 1993 and had also served five years in state prison on a Bristol County (Mass.) arson conviction.
At Wednesday’s bail hearing, Mr. Assad’s attorney, Nicholas Athanassiou requested $25,000 bail, the Herald reported, citing his strong ties to the Westport community — he graduated from Westport High School in 1995, worked there as a mechanic, is the father of a teenage boy and has family in he area.
Det. Cestodio said that Mr. Assad, who has worked as a small engine mechanic, is not permitted to be in unsupervised contact with minors, according to terms of his sex offender status.
The investigation involved the Fall River Police Major Crimes Division, the Mass. Department of Children Families, Seekonk Police and Westport Police.
Photos by Rich Dionne
Representatives from the East Providence Police and Fire Departments, the Rhode Island State Police and Department of Environmental Management participated in the search for Mr. Larue, whose whereabouts have been unknown since Thursday, Jan. 2.
It’s the second time in the last two weeks that a combined effort of local law enforcement and public safety personnel extended the investigation into the disappearance of the 20-year-old Rumford resident by scouring the Seekonk River.
Saturday, Jan 4
Vandalism was reported on Robert Street at 2:47 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 5
Firefighters were called by 911 to a report of a fire on Brayton Point Road at 11:03 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 6
After a 4:42 pm. motor vehicle stop on Tickle Road, police arrested Matthew M. Bernier, 26, of 18 Oak Ave., Westport, on a warrant for assault with a dangerous weapon (weapon not specified).
Tuesday, Jan.7
After a 2:19 p.m. motor vehicle stop on State Road, police arrested Jacob A. Kearney, 18, of Freetown, on a charge of possession of a Class D Drug with intent to distribute. Police said Mr. Kearney’s car was pulled over for having a loud exhaust — a can-type amplifier. The officer reported a strong smell of unburned marijuana in the car. A cardboard box in the back seat was later found to contain three pounds of high-grade marijuana with estimated street value of $6,000.
Thursday, Jan. 9
At 10:09, Westport Police served three arrest warrants on Margaret Monteiro, 45, of 97 Main Road, Westport. The warrants were driving with a revoked license, driving with suspended license (subsequent offense), and larceny over $250 — identification fraud.
Friday, Jan. 10
Police served warrants at 5:03 p.m. on Lynn Colvin, 47, of 28 Mt. Pleasant St., Westport for driving with a revoked license.
Tuesday, Jan. 14
Responding to a 2:50 a.m. domestic disturbance call from Cummings Lane, police arrested Marcel R. Fournier, 41, of 3 Cummings Lane, on charges of domestic assault, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, and malicious destruction of property over $250.
At 2:09 p.m., police served an arrest warrant on Mark T. Dube, 46, of 644 Gifford Road, Westport.
Wednesday, Jan. 15
After a 6:02 a.m. motor vehicle stop on State Road, police arrested Donny C. Frizado, 41, of Fall River on larceny warrants.
After an investigation, police arrested Robert K. Assad, 37, of 25 Borden St., Westport, on a charge of indecent assault on a child under age 14. See separate story.
Following a 1:54 p.m. motor vehicle stop on American Legion Highway, police charged David R. Lingard, 38, of Tiverton, on charges of driving with a revoked license, number plate violation to conceal identification, uninsured motor vehicle and unregistered motor vehicle.
Thursday, Jan. 16
Richard D. Letourneau, 60, of 83 American Legion Highway, Westport, was arrested on a warrant after a 6:41 a.m. motor vehicle stop.
Responding to a 4:07 p.m. 911 call for domestic disturbance, police arrested Tasha Lynn Martins, 25, of 33 Ridgeline Drive, Westport, on a warrant.
Barrington police charged an 18-year-old resident with domestic-arson fourth degree and domestic-simple assault after they responded to a 911 hang-up call on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 16.
Police received the call at about noon and could hear screaming in the background before the line went dead. Officers traced the call to 20 Bullock Ave. and responded to the residence.
Once there they discovered that Nicholas Zimmerman, who lives at that address, had allegedly set his bed on fire and injured his mother when he closed his bedroom door in her face.
Police charged the local teenager and rescue workers transported his mother to the hospital for treatment. Police officers used extinguishers from their vehicles to knock down the blaze, and called the fire department which responded a few minutes later.
By 12:45, firefighters were dragging smoldering furniture into the front yard. A window toward the northeast corner of the house had been ripped out and firefighters could be seen inside that section of the house.
At about 12:50, emergency medical technicians wheeled a person on a stretcher into a waiting ambulance.
Barrington firefighters fought an intense blaze less than a week ago in a different Sowams area neighborhood. On Friday, Jan. 10, the home at 41 Colonial Ave. was destroyed by fire. Colonial Avenue runs east off Sowams Road. Bullock Avenue also runs east off Sowams Road, but about a half-mile north.
PORTSMOUTH — Here are some highlights from the Portsmouth police log from over the past week.
Friday, Jan. 17
Jacob R. DeCastro, 23, of 68 Massasoit Ave., was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) after his car was pulled over for speeding around 12:30 a.m. on Hummock Avenue near the Escape Bridge.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Roger L. Wilkins, 56, of 18 Maggie Lane, was arrested on a bench warrant issued by Second Division District Court. Police went to Mr. Wilkins’ home at about 3:45 p.m. to make the arrest.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Police reported to an Indian Avenue home around 9 a.m. for a report that a barking dog was causing a nuisance. An officer arrived to find four yellow Labs on a gated property, and they were barking continuously, police said. A person who was housesitting at the property told police she would bring the dogs inside.
Kyle R. DeMello, 20, of 2870 East Main Road, Portsmouth, was charged with possession of narcotics and driving after his license had been suspended or revoked. Police pulled his car over on West Main Road near Melville School around 7:45 p.m. because of a loud muffler. During a search of the vehicle, police said they found a spoon with burn marks — commonly associated with narcotics use – under the driver’s seat, along with multiple unused syringes on the floor of the back seat. More syringes and three small packets of heroin were found in a backpack, according to police.
Stephen G. Botelho, 24, of 7 Hickory Circle, Swansea, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) after his car was pulled over at about 2:30 a.m. on West Main Road at Hedley Street. Police said they pulled the car over because its front driver’s side headlamp was not working.
Monday, Jan. 20
Carlo D. Ferreira, 33, of 752 Metacom Ave., Bristol, was charged with disorderly conduct, willful trespass and driving with an expired license. Police responded to a Cottage Avenue home around 2:45 a.m. for a report of an unwanted party. When officers arrived, Mr. Ferreira had left the home but his vehicle was later stopped on Boyd’s Lane at Bristol Ferry Road.
The following are among those listed in the Bristol Police log Jan. 13 – 21, 2014:
Monday, Jan. 13
A Wood Street caller reported suspicious activity at their neighbor’s house. The windows on the second floor were covered in tinfoil.
A woman reported seeing a man verbally abuse a child in the area of Wood Street. However, the man was just disciplining his son, police said.
A Franklin Street resident called police because his 17-year-old son was acting out.
Tuesday, Jan. 14
It was reported that someone stole parts to an excavator on King Phillip Avenue.
A caller reported hearing an alarm going off in the area of Washington and High streets. Police later found a smoke detector in a nearby dumpster and pulled out the batteries.
Wednesday, Jan. 15
A Wood Street resident asked to speak to police about her landlord entering her apartment without permission.
A Herzig Court caller also wanted to speak to police about a disagreement he had with his handicapped son and mother.
Thursday, Jan. 16
A Sherry Ave resident called police at 9:47 p.m. because someone was knocking on her breezeway door.
Police were called to a home at the Francis Street apartments because someone heard screaming and yelling, followed by a loud crash sound.
Friday, Jan. 17
DEM and Animal Control were called to Blithewold Gardens to remove a dead deer on the side of the road.
Jeffrey Powell, 36, of 10 Francis St., Bristol, was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant charge.
A Sousa Street resident called police to report that a truck was revving its engine every time it drove by their home.
Saturday, Jan. 18
A caller asked police to check out a home on Tobin Lane, which is owned by her parents but is currently vacant. When visiting the home, she heard a flushing sound, like that of a toilet.
Peter Steven Eklund, 25, of Barrington, was arrested on charges of DUI second offense, and refusal to submit to a chemical test.
Police responded to a Hope Street home for an accidental misdial by a child.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Charity A. Cabral, 38, of 18 Goulart Ave., Bristol, was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant charge.
Firefighters responded to a home on Hope Street for a reported oven fire.
Monday, Jan. 20
Police responded to Ammouri’s Gas and Food Mart on Hope Street for a report that there were two lost puppies in the woods. They were unable to find the dogs.
Justin J. Milhomens, 28, of 25 Franca Drive, Bristol, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony. He was allegedly threatening another driver on Gooding Avenue, punching the other driver’s car windows with a screwdriver.
Shawn Vargas
Lauren Gaglio
Kenneth Anthony Coelho
Eric Pires
Cody James Cabral
Bethanie DaSilva
Arrested were Cody James Cabral, 21, of 15 Monroe Ave., on felony charges of delivering heroin, and two schedule I-V drug possessions; Kenneth Anthony Coelho, III, 24, of 322 Wood St., on felony charges of delivering heroin, and a schedule I-V drug possession; Eric A. Pires, 22, of 725 Metacom Ave., on a felony charge of delivering heroin; Shawn J. Vargas, 24, of 21 Magnolia St., on a delivery of a schedule I-V charge; Lauren E. Gaglio, 25, of 50 River St., on felony charges of conspiracy to deliver heroin, and two schedule I-V drug possessions; and Bethanie P. DaSilva, 21, of 22 Casey Drive, on a felony conspiracy to deliver heroin charge.
The arrests were part of an ongoing drug investigation into the distribution and sale of heroin in and around the Town of Bristol.
Providence connections
Police allegedly were able to purchase heroin from Mr. Cabral on Dec. 18-19, 2013, and again on Jan. 6, 2014. According to police, Ms. Gaglio helped Mr. Cabral sell the heroin on the December dates. She later told police that she would buy about two-to-three grams of heroin in Providence for Mr. Cabral “when Cody can’t get it from his connection, he uses my connection.”
When police searched Ms. Gaglio’s home, they found cocaine, suboxone, a glass smoke pipe, two burnt spoons and four syringes.
For my friends
On Jan. 7, Mr. Coelho allegedly sold heroin to undercover Bristol detectives. When police searched his home, they found a digi-weigh scale, a glass smoke pipe, a needle and a spoon in a leather case, three syringes, and 37 clear plastic baggies with the corners cut off.
When he was questioned, Mr. Coelho told police that he traveled outside of Bristol to get the drugs for his friends.
No big deal
Police were allegedly able to buy heroin from Mr. Pires on Dec. 30, 2013. Once he was arrested, he told police that he typically sold 10-to-20 grams of heroin a day, for about $100 a gram. His girlfriend, Ms. DaSilva, allegedly helped Mr. Pires in that sale by driving the car he sold the heroin from.
When she was read her rights, Ms. DaSilva continued speaking, saying that she “didn’t know why she and Eric were being arrested,” and that the police were “making a big deal out of nothing.”
Almost heroin
In early January, police also allegedly bought heroin from Mr. Vargas. However, a toxicology report showed that it was fentynal, an opioid commonly used as a pain reliever. According to WebMD, it’s far more potent than morphine. When police searched his house, they found a black-colored digital scale, a multi-colored smoking pipe, plastic baggies with the corners cut off, and several syringes.
Tiverton’s new plow like this one will arrive in March, but 17 plows are out Wednesday for January’s storm.
“Not bad, not as much snow as predicted,” said Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Stephen Berlucchi Wednesday morning.
DPW crews were out “all day yesterday and all night,” Mr. Berlucchi said. “The guys are tired,” he said.
The town had hired 19 pick-up trucks with plows (three of which broke down), Mr. Berlucchi said. In addition, DPW has eight town trucks (six plow/sanders, a10-wheeler, and a ton-and-a-half truck, all with plows) out on the roads.
“We’ve had no major break downs, and we have plenty of sand and salt,” Mr. Berlucchi said.
“The snow was pretty light,” he said, estimating that about four to six inches of the stuff fell in the Tiverton area.
Mr. Berlucchi said he thought things could be pretty much cleared up by the end of the day Wednesday.
Tiverton Fire Chief Robert Lloyd said that, “all in all, things have been relatively calm.” A lot of home medical calls came in, and after the snow started falling, a number of accidents were reported, he said, but nothing serious developed. All vehicles got chained up, he said.
Tiverton Police Captain Patrick Jones said there were seven accidents reported between 4 p.m. Tuesday and midnight, none of them with very real injuries or with serious damage.
“Route 24 is not bad,” he said Wednesday morning shortly after 9, “but the secondary roads still need work, especially at the intersections.”
“If you don’t need to go anywhere, don’t,” he said. “Stay at home and give the crews a chance to clear the roads.”
Captain Jones said there had been no arrests reported since the storm began Tuesday.
Barrington police responded to the area outside the Shaw’s Supermarket in the Barrington Shopping Center last week for a panhandler on the premises.
The call was received at about 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, and officers arrived at the scene a short time later. They reportedly located the man outside the Shaw’s and could immediately smell a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Police said the man also appeared to be staggering badly.
The 55-year-old East Providence was later transported to an area hospital for evaluation. He was not charged.
EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police Vice Unit announced the arrest of city man on charges of possession and intent to distribute cocaine.
According to the report of EPPD Sergeant Diogo Mello, on Wendnesday, Jan. 22, the Vice Unit executed a court authorized search warrant of a property located at 137 Earle Ave. Its owner Abraham Rahed, 36, has been the target of an ongoing narcotic related investigation for the past several months. According to information received by the Vice Unit, Mr. Rahed was distributing moderate amounts of cocaine and prescription pills within the city.
Abraham Rahed
At approximately 4:15 p.m. Wendesday, Mr. Rahed was observed leaving his residence with an unknown male. Surveillance followed the suspect to Shore Avenue where they executed a motor vehicle stop. Investigators who were assisted by the EPPD Patrol Division, informed Mr. Rahed that we had a search warrant for his residence. Mr. Rahed, according to the officers, dropped his head and began to sob. When asked if he had anything in the vehicle, Rahed stated that he had some “percs and weed.” Investigators seized a small amount of marijuana and several Percocet from the vehicles’ visor.
Mr. Rahed’s passenger, Walter Repoza, 48, was taken into custody on two outstanding superior court warrants (breaking and entering). Mr. Rahed was transported to his residence, where investigators made contact with his wife and children. The house was secured, and a systematic search of the residence was conducted.
While conducting a search of Rahed’s bedroom investigators located and seized the following items:
Mr. Rahed was transported to police headquarters for processing. He was arraigned Thursday, Jan. 23, on counts of manufacturing/possession/delivery of schedule I/II narcotics and manufacturing/possession/delivery of of cocaine-1 ounce/1 kilogram. A total of $37,495 was seized where it will be submitted to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Officer for asset forfeiture consideration.
An 85-year-old Sowams Road resident called police on Thursday, Jan. 23 to report a trespassing problem.
The woman told police that she had hired a Rehoboth-based landscaper to cut down a tree on her property, but suspected one of the company’s employees had returned to her land numerous times to cut down and remove other trees.
Police called the contractor, who said he was not responsible for the actions of one of his employees. He said the man was not doing the work for the landscaping company.
Police told the subject that he was to refrain from visiting the Sowams Road residence. It was not clear how many trees were cut down illegally.
PORTSMOUTH — Here are some highlights from this week’s Portsmouth police log.
Tuesday, Jan. 21
A school bus and car collided at St. Philomena School, Corys Lane, at about 3:30 during student pickup. The bus was empty, however, and no one was injured. The driver of the bus, Brian Fox of Portsmouth, told police he was being directed around a line of vehicles by a school security officer when the bus struck a car driven by Stefanie Polgar of Westport.
Wednesday, Jan. 22
Matthew J. Brown, 20, of no permanent addressed, was charged with larceny of under $1,500 and domestic larceny of under $1,500. A Second Street man told police a piece of jewelry had been stolen from his home and $150 in cash from his bank account. Police took custody of Mr. Brown at about 9:30 p.m. from the Newport Police Department after an arrest warrant had been issued. Police said he had been living with the complainant at the time of the alleged thefts.
Saturday, Jan. 25
Michael L. Millington, 31, of 798 Main Road, Tiverton, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) shortly after midnight after police received a report of an unwanted party at an East Main Road address. Police stopped his car in the 3001 Plaza parking lot.
Monday, Jan. 27
A deer ran out in front of a car driven by Kayla Fagan of Portsmouth on Boyd’s Lane at Viking Drive around 9 p.m. Ms. Fagan said the deer struck the vehicle’s front, driver’s side, which sustained no visible damage. Police said the deer was injured, however, and ran from the scene.
Many residents of Anthony House Apartments, at 51 Middle Road, have complained about what they view as unsafe living conditions at the complex.
The police chief made his comments Tuesday afternoon, shortly after receiving a petition signed by 50 residents of the apartment complex, located across from Town Hall on Middle Road. The nonprofit Church Community Housing Care owns the 70-unit housing development.
In a cover letter accompanying the petition and in three letters written by residents, tenants complain of all-night partying, noise, drug use, obscene behavior and other offenses.
“The quality of our daily lives has been compromised for over a year due to a handful of residents who continually behave with disruptive, disrespectful and totally inappropriate actions, words and deeds,” stated the cover letter. “They have committed so many flagrant and illegal abuses against the lease (that EVERYONE HAS to sign) that we are at our wit’s end as to what we can do to stop it.”
Tenants at Anthony House are mostly senior citizens and some handicapped individuals, according to the cover letter. “We are law-abiding people. Most have worked their whole lives, paid their taxes and due to circumstances beyond their control are here. The hope of these citizens is to live a safe and peaceful existence,” the letter states.
In a separate letter, tenant Richard Marzialo said he has a heart condition and is “directly affected by the egregious behavior of four or five tenants” who constantly violate the lease. He accuses them of partying all night long, buzzing in strangers at all hours, “drinking and drugging” and more.
Mr. Marzialo said he has two pre-teen nieces who like to visit him, but now he makes up excuses because he refuses to expose them to obscene behavior. “I feel I’m being robbed of my time with them!” he stated in his letter.
Margaret McKenna, another tenant, said she and others are afraid for the safety of the building and all the people who live there.
“When others’ physical and mental health are put at risk, something in the system has to change. Bullies should not be allowed even in housing for the elderly and handicapped,” she wrote.
Chief vows criminal proceedings
On Tuesday, Chief Lee said his officers have had to respond to Anthony House on a number of occasions.
“I think it’s a problem. It’s mainly quality of life issues, primarily related to noise and allegations of drug use,” said the chief, adding that after speaking with his detectives he’s decided to seek “common nuisance” charges against any offenders. “We’ll bring it the court and let the judge decide.”
Police arrested two homeless people at about 2 a.m. on Dec. 8 at Anthony House after receiving a report of a disturbance inside an apartment. Police said a highly intoxicated 24-year-old female, who falsely identified herself due to multiple warrants for her arrest, got into an argument with a 44-year-old man over crack cocaine. According to the police report, the man also struck the women in the face.
Chief Lee said he’s more than willing to visit Anthony House to speak with the tenants. He agreed that the offenses detailed in the petition appear to be in violation of the lease.
“I don’t know if there’s an eviction process already in place,” he said.
Messages left for the Anthony House property manager and Steven Ostiguy, president of Church Community Housing Corporation, were not immediately returned.
A Bristol man is being held on $50,000 surety bond at the Adult Correctional Institutions after allegedly beating up his girlfriend last Saturday.
Robert V. August, 40, of 40 Duffield Road, was arrested on two felony charges of domestic assault by strangulation and domestic assault with a blunt object on Jan. 25, in what police classified as a ‘lover’s quarrel.’
According to the police report, August’s girlfriend of six months filed a report on Sunday, alleging that Mr. August had physically assaulted her the night before. She told police that he had punched her several times in the face, bit her and put his fingers in her mouth and stretched it open, causing her lips to bleed.
She told police she was afraid to leave, “fearing that that would only cause August to get angry again.”
The two then fell asleep, the report states.
The following morning, Jan. 26, as Mr. August’s girlfriend got up to leave, he allegedly attacked her again, punching her in the face and back. As a result, she told police that she fell to the floor.
She told police that Mr. August allegedly put a choke hold on her, and then put a white braided rope around her neck and tried to strangle her.
“I thought he was going to snap my neck at one point,” she told police.
She also told police that Mr. August had allegedly told her in the past that “he would kill me before he would let me leave him.”
After that assault, she later fell asleep, the report states. When she awoke, Mr. August allegedly apologized to her profusely, telling her that he did not deserve to live.
According to the report, Mr. August’s girlfriend told police that he took an unknown amount of her medication, only to vomit later as a result. He agreed to go to a hospital in Providence, and she drove him there.
After dropping him off, she filed a domestic violence report with the Bristol Police Department. Police searched the crime scene and allegedly found blood on the bed sheets and a sweatshirt, which Mr. August’s girlfriend said she was wearing at the time. According to the report, she also showed signs of abuse: She had two black eyes and numerous marks on her face and neck.
This is not the first time Mr. August has been charged with domestic violence-related crimes. He was sentenced to a total of seven-and-a-half months in jail between 2002 and 2005 for domestic disorderly conduct and violating a protective order.
