PORTSMOUTH — Imagine filing your tax return only to be told by the Internal Revenue Service that someone had already done so in your name — using your Social Security number.

Police received four separate complaints last week from residents who learned their identities had been stolen after they tried to file their tax returns.

On April 13, a local couple said their accounting firm informed them they were unable to file a tax return due to possible identity theft. When the firm attempted to e-file the tax return, police said, it was red-flagged because one using the couple’s names had already been filed.

The same thing happened on April 14, when a woman said the joint return she had filed with her husband was rejected. Someone had already filed a return with her husband’s Social Security number, she said.

The police received two more complaints last week involving similar ruses. In each case, the residents had been advised to file a police report so the matter could be reported to the IRS.

PORTSMOUTH — Here are some highlights from the police report from over the past week.

Friday, April 17

Christen P. Weaver, 47, of 139 Preservation Way, Tiverton, was charged at midnight with driving while intoxicated (first offense) and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Her car was stopped on Turnpike Avenue because it had left the lane of travel, police said.

Saturday, April 18

Wayne B. Barnes, 54, of 1 Michigan Ave., Providence, was charged with driving while intoxicated and refusal to submit to a chemical test shortly after 1:30 a.m. Police stopped Mr. Barnes’ car on West Main Road near Russo Road because it was speeding and weaving over the white fog line.

Madelyn O. Calderson, 44, of 92 Hamlet St., Apt. 3W, Fall River, was charged with driving after her license had been denied, suspended or revoked. Her car was stopped on West Main Road near Stringham Road around 4:30 p.m. because it had crossed over the center dividing line, according to police.

Shortly before 5 p.m., police were dispatched to a report of a large college drinking party at 498 Park Ave. When a patrolman arrived, he said he found about 200 men and women in the front and rear yards of the residence. Partygoers began to leave the area upon seeing police. A 22-year-old man was charged with consuming or possessing alcohol on a street or sidewalk in violation of a town ordinance, and was issued a summons to appear in Municipal Court.

Sunday, April 19

Badr M. Elessawi, 22, of 2121 West Main Road, Apt. 608, was charged at about 12:30 a.m. with driving after his license had been denied, suspended or revoked. Mr. Elessawi’s car was stopped on West Main Road near Donna Drive because it drifted over the double lane marker, police said.

Sean P. Sullivan, 19, of 35 Forsyth Ave., Somerset, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense), underage possession of alcohol and refusal to submit to a chemical test. A patrol officer responded to Route 24 northbound near Freeborn Street around 2:20 a.m. to assist a Middletown police officer, who said he observed the driver commit several traffic violations before pulling the vehicle over.

Jason Aguiar, 28, of 216 Broadway, Apt. 5, Providence, was arrested at 9:45 p.m. on a bench warrant that had been issued from Sixth District Court. Mr. Aguiar was a passenger in a car stopped on West Main Road because its rear plate lights weren’t working.

Nayatt Road resident Priscilla Pascale, the owner and operator of St. Jude Home Care, allegedly placed unlicensed certified nursing assistants in patients’ homes and fraudulently billed Medicaid for CNA services in the amount of approximately $785,000.

On Tuesday morning, April 21, Ms. Pascale, 54, was arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on five counts of Medicaid fraud and five counts of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud. She was released on $10,000 personal recognizance. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for June 29.

“The investigation was referred to the Office of Attorney General by the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Program Integrity Unit after it was discovered through a routine audit that St. Jude was submitting billing forms with what is alleged to be altered dates that fraudulently reported in-home nursing surveys had been conducted on high-acuity patients,” stated a press release from the attorney general’s office.

The Program Integrity Unit then allegedly discovered time sheets for billing that had been submitted by people who were not licensed CNAs. The EOHHS then referred the case to the AG’s office, which conducted a formal investigation.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, the US Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revoked St. Jude Home Care’s certification on July 15, 2014 “as a result of a deficient compliance inspection, thereby terminating the company’s ability to receive payments from Medicare.” Five days later, St. Jude Home Care, which is based in Cranston, was suspended from participating in the RI Medical Assistance Program.

In addition, Orfa Lemaire, 37, of East Greenwich, the director of clinical services for St. Jude Home Care, was charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on April 28.

The driver and passenger of this vehicle were transported to the hospital for minor injuries following an accident on Monday, April 21.

The accident occurred as the pickup tried to turn left across the opposite lane of traffic and collided with a vehicle heading south on County. The accident left two individuals — the passenger and the driver in the red pickup truck — suffering from minor injuries. According to police, the two people escaped with “minor broken bones, leg and hip.”

Following the crash, traffic quickly backed up along County Road in both directions. Police rerouted traffic around the accident until the damaged vehicles were cleared.

A Barrington woman told police on Tuesday, April 14, that her young daughter was the victim of bullying.

The woman, who stopped by the police station at about 9:25 a.m., told an officer that the alleged bullying was taking place at a local public school and in her neighborhood.

Police reportedly told the woman that there was no specific law for bullying, but that laws for harassment and threats can be used at times. Police can also conduct interventions in an effort to thwart bullying incidents.

Officers also told the woman they needed to speak with her daughter regarding the situation; the woman said she would not be able to bring her daughter to the station.

Officers asked the woman to fill out a statement and drop it off, but have not heard from her since.

Above: Police Chief Thomas Lee points to a plaque marking the year when the current police station was built: 1975. The department has long since outgrown the current building, he says.

PORTSMOUTH — The company charged with studying future infrastructure needs for the police and fire departments has recommended the construction of a new 20,0000-square-foot, two-story police station to be built on land behind the current building on East Main Road.

The Town Council will hear the results of the study by the architectural firm Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc. (DRA) at its May 26 meeting, according to Acting Town Administrator James Lathrop.

The plan must first get approval from the council and then voters at the ballot box before any work begins, he said.

“It would go on a voter referendum for November 2016. That’s our timeframe,” said Mr. Lathrop. The town is currently “paying off an awful lot of debt,” he said, but by late 2016 the project should be more fiscally manageable for taxpayers.

Mr. Lathrop did not have any hard cost estimates for the project, noting those will be presented at the May 26 meeting. “I’m hearing all sorts of stuff. I’ve seen these (projects) cost anywhere from $4 to $10 million,” he said.

The current station is under 5,000 square feet in area, compared to the 20,000-square-foot building proposed by the company hired by the town to conduct a feasibility study.

The current building is antiquated and too small for a department that has nearly doubled in size since the station was built in 1975, according to Police Chief Thomas Lee.

“It’s good news and I hope the public is amendable to it,” he said of the DRA report. “We need a new facility and we’ve got to build for the future.”

Chief Lee said the new building, if approved, will be “state of the art” with amenities more suitable for a modern-day police department. “It’s desperately needed,” he said, pointing out that DRA recommended that 20,000 square feet is a building size appropriate for the department.

“We’re got just under 5,000 now, just to give you an idea,” said Chief Lee.

Just for police

The only question about the proposed building was whether it should also house the fire department and perhaps even the Department of Public Works. DRA, however, recommended against building a complex containing two or more departments.

Police Chief Thomas Lee stands in the outdated and cramped booking room at the current police station back in January.

Fire Chief Michael Cranson has previously said that although the fire station also needs improvements, the police department should be given higher priority.

The new police station, however, would feature a dispatch center consolidating those services for both departments. Also, the police station already houses radio equipment for each department, which would play a factor during construction of a new building.

“The (new) building would be where ore parking lot is now,” Chief Lee pointed out. “We support (the fire department) radios also, so the challenge to building on the site is that we have to keep the police and fire departments open for business.”

Under the recommended plan, the new police station would be built behind the current one. Once construction is complete, the current station would be torn down and that area used as a parking lot.

The new police station would also have a community room, where groups such as the Boy Scouts and other local organizations could meet, as well as a bay for the servicing of police vehicles.

EAST PROVIDENCE — Residents of the city were rocked by the news of a second suicide by self-inflicted gun shot Wednesday, April 22.

Earlier in the day, a middle-aged gentleman took his own life in Riverside. A few hours later, multiple local officials confirmed a similarly aged male, approximately 50-years-old, committed suicide by gun in his car in the Kent Heights section of the city.

Almost as disconcerting as a person’s decision to end his or her life in any manner is that people struggling with mental health or depression issues have access to firearms. It’s an oft discussed issue in the gun rights debate.

It’s especially startling, locally, considering Rhode Island has among the nation’s lowest gun ownership rate (47th of 50 states according to a relatively recent Harvard University study) and lowest suicide rate in the country (46th of 50 according to the same study).

The Bristol Police Department made the following arrests last week:

Chancey Nealy, 30, of 242 Douglas Ave., Providence, was charged with vandalism and disorderly conduct after police were called to a Wood Street home just after midnight April 15 for reports of a domestic dispute in progress.

John R. Mason, 28, of 16 Fernwood Road, Bristol, was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant after police were called to the home at 4 p.m. April 16.

Cameron Woods O’Grady, 21, of 36 Hawthorne Road, Norton, Mass., was charged with manufacturing, possessing or delivery of marijuana. He was arrested at 11 p.m. April 16 on the Roger Williams University campus.

Sandra A. Rouleau, 54, of 18 Fernwood Road, Bristol, was arrested on a warrant on April 17.

Manny Teixeira, 33, of 8 Bliven Ave., Bristol, was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant April 17.

Jonathan Couto, 37, of Washington Street, Bristol, was charged with domestic assault on April 17.

Michael Rodrigues, 28, of 4 Siegel St., Apr. 2, Bristol, was charged with domestic larceny under $1,500 April 19.

The Bristol Police Department responded to the following calls between April 13 and April 19:

Monday, April 13

A driver called to report a landscaping company was blowing sand into the road at passing cars at the Shell station on Metacom Avenue around 1 p.m.

Officers assisted with a car crash at Hope Street and Gooding Avenue just before 3 p.m. One driver was brought to Rhode Island Hospital with unspecified injuries.

A RIPTA bus reportedly caught fire at Franklin Street and Metacom Avenue. RIPTA told police the bus had traveled into Warren. There was no further action required from Bristol.

A man was reportedly trying to break into a house on Doran Avenue through the back door at 11:30 p.m. Police fueled a report.

Tuesday, April 14

A blue Ford F150 was reportedly speeding and driving recklessly on Metacom Avenue at 1 a.m. Police caught up with the truck at Metacom Avenue and Sowams Drive and issued the driver a warning.

A caller reported a narcotics violation on Metacom Avenue. There was no violation; just people smoking tobacco from a hookah.

A resident walked into Police headquarters to report harassment via the Internet. Officers filed a report.

Wednesday, April 15

The 911 dispatcher received three consecutive calls and hangups form a home on Howe Street just before 8 a.m. Officers finally spoke to the caller, who requested rescue.

A car was reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road on Asylum Road just before 4 p.m. Police could not find the car.

Another reckless driver was reportedly spotted on Asylum Road less than an hour later. That car also could not be found.

A caller reported a man and woman were arguing in a car on Naomi Street at 5:30 p.m. Officers responded and provided assistance to the couple. There were no charges filed.

Mail was reportedly stolen from a home on Wilson Street.

A driver reported turkeys crossing the road at State Street and Ansonia Avenue around 7 p.m. Officers dispersed the turkeys.

Nuisance complaints came in from State Street at 11 p.m. and Wood Street at 11:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 16

A duck was reportedly causing a traffic disturbance at Hope and Constitution streets at 8:30 p.m.

There was a smoke scent reported in a house on Metacom Avenue. There was no fire, just a smell coming from a faulty roof unit.

Officers “relocated a turkey” from Classic Pizza House on Metacom Avenue at 11:30 a.m.

A resident on Goulart Avenue called police because children left their bicycles in the street at 5 p.m. At the same time, another resident on Jones Avenue called because a child’s hockey net was apparently blocking the roadway. Neither case required police action.

A raccoon was wandering around a backyard at 5:30 p.m. on Fatima Drive. Another raccoon was in a resident’s yard on Franklin Street at 9 p.m. Both raccoons had wandered off before police arrive, as raccoons tend to do.

An EBT card was reportedly stolen from a home on Sowams Drive.

Friday, April 17

Another raccoon was annoying residents, this time on Reilly Lane around 7:30 a.m. This raccoon was ill and the state Department of Environmental Management was notified.

A dark colored car was reportedly sitting on Highview Avenue for an extended period of time. There was no problem.

A caller from Star Nails on Metacom Avenue reported a suspicious red car parked in front of the business. It was gone when officers arrived.

Saturday, April 18

Jewelry was reportedly stolen from a home on Dewolf Avenue. Police investigated.

Residents on Chestnut Street called to report neighbors were making too much noise at 1:48 a.m. Police advised the group to keep it down.

The driver of a blue pickup truck was reportedly seen dumping concrete and gypsum board at the Mt. Hope Boat Ramp on Annawamscutt Drive. The caller was unable to get the license plate number but did get a picture of the truck. Police are investigating.

A resident on Jane Lane called to report dogs were barking in the neighborhood at 5:30 p.m. There was no problem; the dogs went inside.

Sunday, April 19

A resident on Baker Street called police because someone placed twigs in front of her driveway. A patrolman removed the twigs.

A caller reporte “suspicious” activity at the Getty station on Metacom Avenue. Several vehicles in the parking lot had their hoods up at a gas station. There was no action required.

PROVIDENCE — A federal grand jury in Providence has returned a six-count indictment charging Reginald “Reggie” Chaney, 19, of East Providence, with conspiracy, sex trafficking of a child and transportation of a minor. It is alleged that Chaney conspired to recruit, transport and coerce two minor females to engage in commercial sex acts.

The indictment charges Chaney with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child, conspiracy to transport a minor, and two counts each of sex trafficking of a child and transportation of a minor.

The indictment, returned on Wednesday, is announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for New England; Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.; East Providence Police Chief Christopher Parella; and Seekonk Police Chief Craig Mace.

According to information previously provided to the court, on or about January 18, 2015, Mr. Chaney met two young females, ages 15 and 16, and drove them to a residence in East Providence. It is alleged that at the direction of Mr. Chaney, photographs were taken of the victims for the purpose of being displayed on Backpage.com. Later that evening the victims were driven by Mr. Chaney to a motel in Seekonk, and the photographs were then posted on Backpage.com.

It is alleged that on several occasions between on or about January 18, 2015, and January 30, 2015, Mr. Chaney arranged for meetings between the victims and individuals who responded to advertisements on Backpage.com, offering the victims for the purposes of commercial sexual activity. The meetings allegedly occurred at motels in Seekonk and at locations in Providence, Warwick, Charlestown and Narragansett.

Mr. Chaney was arrested in East Providence by East Providence Police on January 29 based on information developed during an investigation conducted by the Providence Police Department with assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Chaney is currently being held in Rhode Island state custody as a superior court probation violator on a 5-year suspended sentence imposed on January 14 on a weapons charge.

An arraignment date in federal court on the indictment returned on Wednesday has not yet been scheduled. An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child and sex trafficking by force or coercion of a child is punishable by statutory penalties of up to life in federal prison with a mandatory minimum term of 15 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Conspiracy to transport a minor and transportation of a minor are punishable by statutory penalties of up to life in federal prison with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being prosecuted jointly in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela E. Chin and Assistant Rhode Island Attorney General Daniel Carr Guglielmo.

A broken pine tree rests on the ground inside Veterans Park.

But when Ms. Tjader returned to the trail a day later, she found the trees smashed and ripped out of the ground. Empty beer cans and other trash were littered about nearby.

“This is disgusting,” said the longtime resident. “We’re making this place nicer for everyone. I don’t understand why anyone would do this.”

Ms. Tjader, who is a member of the local land trust, said volunteers have been working hard on the new Veterans Park trails for months. She and others have been clearing paths that run from the end of Bosworth Street through the woods east of the Bayside YMCA, connecting with the East Bay Bike Path and with other existing trails in the park.

The trails project had been nearing completion when Ms. Tjader and the students planted the four white pines — each standing about six feet tall — near a fork in the path; the trees are located about 200 yards west of the end of Bosworth Street. The volunteers dug deep holes for the trees’ roots and later hauled 10-gallon containers of water into the woods.

The group finished its work at about 1 p.m. on April 21, but by about 3:30 p.m., a man walking his dog along the same stretch of trail noticed that three of the trees had been torn from the ground and a fourth was snapped in half. Each tree cost about $100 and was purchased using money from a grant.

Ms. Tjader returned to the area at about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, which happened to be Earth Day, and discovered the wrecked pine trees. She also found beer cans on the ground and some trail signposts tossed into the bushes.

She called police and filed a complaint, and then went back to work re-planting the trees. She said she was not sure if the trees would survive the vandalism.

On Thursday, April 23, Ms. Tjader returned to the path and was again greeted by damaged trees. It appeared the same vandals returned to the path and uprooted the pines again.

“It’s just sad that people are trying to kill trees for sport. It’s disturbing,” she said.

Ms. Tjader said she hopes people using the trails will keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and report incidents to the police. She said the tree vandals may have been the same group of individuals who made a bike jump at the end of Bosworth Street.

PORTSMOUTH — A new town program will allow local residents to receive a significant discount to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered.

Under Rhode Island law, a portion of what a municipality brings in for animal licenses must be put into a separate fund for spay/neuter services.

Until this week, however, that hasn’t been the case in Portsmouth. The oversight was corrected when Interim Town Administrator James Lathrop, the town’s director of finance and personnel, brought it up with Police Chief Thomas Lee.

“We’ve been collecting these fees and for whatever reason, no program was ever set up in town for this,” said the chief.

Animal Control Officer Ariel Fisher, who initiated the new year-round program, said $1 from every $8 dog license will be put into a spay/neuter fund. The town has about 1,600 dogs registered and the licenses must be renewed every April. (Cats do no have to be registered.)

Under the town’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, Portsmouth will offer $100 per pet to be used toward the cost of a spaying or neutering procedure at the Rhode Island Community Spay/Neuter Clinic, LLC, 235 Elm St., Warwick. The program is modeled after similar programs that have had success in other municipalities.

“As soon as people start calling, we’re going to set up appointments,” said Officer Fisher.

The clinic charges anywhere from $200 to $250 to spay or neuter dogs, depending on their weight, according to its website. The fee for tame cats is $75 and for feral cats, $65. (Extra charges apply for packages that include additional procedures.)

And if you’re over 65, the program will be offered free of charge, Chief Lee said. “So that will be a good thing for our senior citizens in Portsmouth,” he said.

In addition, people who own pit bulls or other so-called “bully breeds” will also receive a discount, according to Officer Fisher. “It’s because they’re taking over the shelters,” she explained.

Benefits dogs, cats

Officer Fisher said getting pets spayed or neutered benefits them in numerous ways.

“It helps decrease the rate of cancer and other illnesses,” she said. “It also helps with behavioral issues, especially with male dogs.”

Chief Lee also said getting people to participate in the program will help keep coyotes at bay since they’re attracted to domestic dogs that are not spayed or neutered.

“This program is going to be helpful for our coyote control program, too, which is one of the other reasons why we’re looking to do this,” said Chief Lee.

As it stands, Portsmouth has already seen a sharp decrease in coyote activity since February 2013, when the town became only the second municipality in the state to outlaw the feeding of non-domesticated animals.

Chief Lee and Officer Fisher said police haven’t received a coyote complaint all year.

“I think it’s because a lot of the feral cats have been fixed already and we don’t have people openly feeding because we have a no-feeding ordinance now. We used to have people just leaving food out,” said Officer Fisher.

To learn more about the spay/neuter program, contact Officer Fisher at 401/643-0136 or afisher@portsmouthri.com.

To contact the Warwick clinic directly, call 401/369-7297, or visit www.ricsnc.org.

PORTSMOUTH — Here are some highlights taken from the Portsmouth police log over the past week.

Wednesday, April 22

Brett A. Marshall, 25 of 79 East Beardsworth Road, Tiverton, was charged with shoplifting at Clements’ Marketplace and larceny of under $1,500. The charges stem from an April 18 complaint filed by an employee of Clements, who said that on two separate occasions — April 16 and 17 — a man entered the store and stole two cans of Redi-Wip whipped cream canisters. The first time, a can was later found on the corner of the building with all of its propellant expelled. The second time, he inhaled the propellant while still inside the store, police were told. Both incidents were captured on both video and still photography, police said. A warrant was put out for Mr. Marshall’s arrest and on April 22 he was found at Portsmouth Publick House. Police said Mr. Marshall was currently out on bail for a different shoplifting charge. This was the second time a man had been accused of “huffing” from Redi-Wip containers at Clements’ Market. Last month a 29-year-old Portsmouth man was charged with shoplifting at the store after video footage revealed he had opened six canisters of Reddi-wip and inhaled some of the contents, according to police.

Brad A. Humes, 26, of 18 Namquid Drive, Middletown, was charged with driving after his license had been denied, suspended or revoked. Police pulled his car over for speeding on East Main Road shortly after 6:30 p.m.

Justin J. Long, 19, of 36 Silva Ave., was arrested for domestic assault at 11:20 p.m. Police said Mr. Long assaulted a 17-year-old Middletown girl the previous day. Police said the victim’s mother monitors her daughter’s Facebook messages and concluded that she was in an abusive relationship, police said.

Saturday, April 25

Tatiana I. Sanchez, 23, of 95 Atlantic Ave., Apt. 1, Providence, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) and refusal to submit to a chemical test at 12:42 a.m. Police received a report of an erratic driver and subsequently pulled Ms. Sanchez’s vehicle over on Turnpike Avenue. Police said her car had drifted over the double yellow line, briefly operated on the wrong side of the roadway and struck a curb before coming to a stop with its front tires on the sidewalk. Police said there was vomit on the outside of the driver’s door as well as on Ms. Sanchez’s lap, hands and hair. Ms. Sanchez told police she was coming from a party in Bristol and that she parked her car so her friend could come get her, according to police. Police informed Ms. Sanchez that she could not park on a sidewalk.

Dwight A. Williams, 38, of 36 Chapel Terrace, Newport, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) after police pulled his vehicle over on West Main Road near Melville School at about 11 p.m. Police said Mr. Williams was speeding and made a lane change without using a turn signal.

Hector A. Casanova, 57, of 222 Kearns Ave., Tiverton, was charged with driving while intoxicated (first offense) shortly before midnight. Police received a report of an erratic driver and found a vehicle matching the description speeding on Route 24 northbound near Cedar Island. The vehicle also drifted over the fog line and into the breakdown lane, according to police, who pulled over Mr. Casanova’s car.

Police received several more complaints of identity theft from residents who said false tax returns had been filed using their personal information. Complaints were filed on April 16, April 17, April 21 (two on that date) and April 25.

Sunday, April 26

Ashley E. Lefort, 22, of 827 Anthony Road, was charged with violating a no-contact order at 6:10 p.m. Ms. Lefort was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over on Middle Road for having a loud muffler. Police said they smelled a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, and during a records check of the four occupants learned of an active no-contact order between Ms. Lefort and a male passenger. The male was issued a summons for possession of marijuana.

Tuesday, April 28

A police patrol officer, using a shotgun, euthanized a rabid raccoon shortly after 6 a.m. in the backyard of a home on Oliver Perry Hazard Road. Police said the raccoon, which was found lying in the grass, had an open wound on its rear leg and was unable to move.

Sorry folks, no boozing on the bus.

That was the message from a RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) driver to two men who boarded a bus on Friday, April 24, while carrying plastic cups filled with alcohol.

The bus driver first told the men — one was from Middletown and the other from Bristol — that they needed to dump the booze if they wanted to ride on the bus.

The men obliged, but then, once the driver turned his attention back to the road, they reportedly refilled their cups and continued with their mobile party; then men were also speaking loudly while using vulgar language. Eventually, the bus driver pulled an alarm, alerting the Barrington police to the situation.

The driver pulled the bus over on County Road near a park and ride lot and waited for the officers to respond. Once they arrived, the policemen boarded the bus and spoke with the driver. Police then spoke with the men in question and searched them for more booze. The search reportedly turned up negative; police also questioned one of the men about some white powder he had on his nose.

Eventually, the men exited the bus — the Bristol resident was able to get a ride home from his brother, while the Middletown man waited for a different bus to take him to Providence.

No one was charged.

EAST PROVIDENCE — At the same time as Baltimore literarily combusted following the latest tragic incident involving police and an African American male, local law enforcement and community leaders engaged in a composed, comprehensive discussion pertaining to minority relations Monday night, April 27, at City Hall.

The City of East Providence Affirmative Action / EEO Office, represented by Elmer Pina, hosted the event which also featured East Providence Police Department Chief Chris Parella, Rhode Island State Police Colonel Steven O’Donnell, Project: Night Vision director Kobi Dennis and the NAACP Providence Branch president Jim Vincent Te forum touched upon numerous issues pertaining to cops and the community they are charged with protecting.

Mr. Vincent said police departments “need to be open, honest and fair.” He added law enforcement must communicate in a “clear, frank and very direct” manner with its constituents, especially minorities.

Chief Parella said one his department’s top priorities is its relationship with the entire community. He said, “If the perception the East Providence Police Department isn’t working for you, then I need to know about it.”

Col. O’Donnell said the State Police and most police departments are “very conscious of what’s happening in the community, be it East Providence, Baltimore or Staten Island.”

Mr. Dennis noted many of the forums his group take part in are “low attended.” He said that “has a lot to do with the lack of a relationship” between the police and the public. “Building relationships are what these forums are all about,” he continued.

He added, those in attendance shouldn’t attend these forums “because of what’s happening in the news. You should be here because of what’s happening on your front steps, because of what’s happening on your streets.”

He concluded his opening remarks by saying, “A majority of what they (the police) do is good, but every once in a while they don’t and they need to be held accountable.”

At times, the discussion turned pointed and poignant. One audience member, an adult African American woman, told of her experiences of being pulled over by police and released without any issue or explanation on at least six occasions.

Becoming emotional, she said the last time occurred with her young daughter in the car. She welled up telling how she had to explain to her daughter what had just happened and loss of esteem it created.

Mr. Pina, of Cape Verdean descent, sympathized with the woman’s plight, vividly describing a similar event that happened to him as a teenager. He was pulled over near his home, taken to ground, had his body and car searched before police admitted to misidentifying him as matching the description of a robbery suspect. They did so, however, without a hint of remorse and without an apology.

Mr. Pina said “to this day I carry that fear” of being targeted without cause. Even as he drives to work each day, dressed in a suit and tie, he wonders if or when it will happen again.

Col. O’Donnell said officers need to do a better job interacting with subjects. He said “training methods have and will improve” and that officers “must do a better job of communicating” why someone is being stopped.

When posed with the notion minorities, in this case African Americans, dread coming into East Providence for any reason, even for a visit to a friend’s home, Chief Parella said so-called “racial profiling” is “absolutely not tolerated” in the EPPD.

He added “it is very difficult to change perceptions” but upon review of the city’s statistics the numbers were not “askew.” He did admit minorities do often have their person or car searched more by police, and “that’s something we need to work on.”

Mr. Dennis countered saying the “reality” of the matter is officers do tend to target African Americans, black males, more than their white counterparts and “that we need to understand that and speak about it honestly.”

The chief and the colonel urged anyone who felt they’ve been racially profiled to file a complaint and vigorously follow up on the matter.

Chief Parella said it’s also important for police department’s to reflect the communities they serve. In that regard, he said his organization is made up of 17 percent minorities (including women) while the city’s population percentage is 16. He noted he and East Providence Fire Chief Oscar Elmasian continue to work with Mr. Pina to further diversify their ranks.

Also in attendance Monday were members of the latest Municipal Police Training Academy, which included seven EPPD prospects, one being a female of African-American descent.

Another question pertained to how officers can report wrong doing from within without being labeled a “snitch” or a “rat.”

Col. O’Donnell said it comes down to a policeman’s “intestinal fortitude” and that it is his or her “duty to report up” the chain of command. He added, “no policeman I’ve ever known wants bad apples” in the department.

Chief Parella said if an officer is considered a “rat” then the department is “doomed to fail.” Answering rhetorically, the chief said, “Will we protect him? Absolutely.”

Speaking to the children in the audience, Mr. Dennis said, “What we’re saying here is it’s O.K. to tell the truth.”

Among the other highlights of the evening was a performance of the combined Orlo and Whiteknact Elementary Schools chorus, which opened the proceedings with a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” and the 1980s hit song “Eye of the Tiger” from the movie “Rocky III.”

Getting involved in the discussion, an elementary student asked why there isn’t a police presence is all city schools. Chief Parella noted the three SROs (Student Resource Officers) that are on duty, one each at East Providence High School, Martin and Riveriside middle schools.

“We don’t have officers at every school, but it’s coming,” the chief explained. He said the officers on patrol in the vicinity of schools will soon be required to stop in the buildings on a regular basis to talk to and get to know the students. And that when situation occurs, they are to “help and protect” them.

Counseling was available to Mt. Hope students this week after one of their classmates died suddenly over the weekend.

A 16-year-old girl was rushed to St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River Friday afternoon, possibly suffering from a drug overdose, according to Tiverton Police Captain Patrick Jones. The student was with friends in that town when she started displaying signs of an overdose, he said. Tiverton rescue brought her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The medical examiner’s report in not yet available, but Capt. Jones said it appears to be a death related to an overdose. Several social media posts suggested heroin was involved, though authorities could not provide confirmation.

Capt. Jones said there doesn’t appear to be foul play involved, other than the use of narcotics itself, but that the investigation continues.

The Bristol Police Department made the following arrests in the past week:

Jose Capeles, 43, of 589 Cranston St. Apr. 1, Providence, was charged with larceny under $1,500 and vandalism on April 20.

Hanwen Fan, 23, of 673 Metacom Ave., Apt. 51, Bristol, was arrested on a bench warrant just after 1 p.m. April 22 at Ammouri’s Gas and Food Mart on Hope Street.

For more local police news, check out this week’s Portsmouth Police log.

Nicholas Iemma, 26 of 327 Matteson Road, Foster, was arrested April 23 on bench warrants from Superior Court and the 6th District Court.

Daniel Demello, 44, of 7 River St., Bristol, was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant April 23.

Ana Santana Pena, 21, of 169 Columbia Ave., Crnaston, was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct after police were called to Roger Williams University for a nuisance/disturbance call around 10 p.m. April 24.

Matthew Biggs, 35, of High Street in Bristol, was charged April 25 with domestic assault by strangulation and refusal to relinquish a telephone.

Nicholas P. Pregiato, 20, of 121 Sagamore Road, Tuckahoe, NY, was charged with domestic assault April 26.

Kenneth R. Carson, 34, of 16 Richmond St., Apt. 2, Bristol, was charged with violating a no contact order April 26.

Robert S. Lake, 48, of 58 Magnolia St., Bristol, was charged with driving with a suspended license April 26.

Above: Ryan Deblois

PORTSMOUTH — A 34-year-old man was arrested Thursday afternoon after he allegedly drove a vehicle at speeds exceeding 50 mph on the Portsmouth Middle School soccer field as students were being dismissed.

Ryan Deblois, of no permanent address, was charged with reckless driving, three counts of vandalism and disorderly conduct following his arrest at about 4 p.m. The vandalism charge stems from damage to the soccer field as well as to a resident’s yard next to the school, according to police.

Police responded to the school at 2:48 p.m. Thursday for a report of a vehicle operating recklessly on school grounds as students were being dismissed, said Detective Lt. A.J. Bucci.

According to witnesses, only one person was in the vehicle, which was “traveling erratically” at speeds estimated to be over 50 mph “while on the school soccer field and portions of the paved areas which were in proximity of middle school students who were being supervised by staff as the students boarded buses for dismissal,” Lt. Bucci said in a prepared statement from police.

Due to the reckless operation of the vehicle, its driver’s-side air bag deployed. Witnesses obtained a description and registration number of the vehicle before it left the area, Lt. Bucci said.

Just before 4 p.m., police responded to the Portsmouth address of the registered owner: a 34-year-old woman police identified as a victim in the incident.

Police found the vehicle, “which had damage consistent with witness accounts and damage at the middle school,” Lt. Bucci said.

Mr. Deblois was at the scene and acknowledged he had been driving the vehicle earlier, police said.

Police also learned there was an active Second Division District Court warrant for Mr. Deblois’ arrest for failure to appear for a status review. As a result he was placed under arrest and transported to the police station, where he was processed then taken to the Adult Correction Institutions in Cranston.

Mr. Deblois’ next court appearance is on Monday, May 4, in Second Division District Court in Newport.

The Bristol Police Department responded to the following calls between April 20 and April 26

Monday, April 20

Police found a construction barrel and cone at a home on Wood Street that some juveniles had taken from a construction site.

A smell of natural gas was detected inside a home on Mt. Hope Avenue. Fire-rescue responded to assist.

Tuesday, April 21

A pony was running loose on Asylum Road around 1:30 p.m. It was returned to the owner’s property.

An older model, gold car was driving on Franca Drive around 4 p.m. The driver was reportedly putting items in residents’ mail boxes. The car was gone when officers arrived.

A man called from Agave on Hope Street stating he is lost and needs a ride home to Warren. Police filed the report.

Find out who wore the cuffs in this week’s Bristol arrest report

Wednesday, April 22

A woman was reportedly walking her bike across the Mt. Hope Bridge at 1:30 p.m. She was advised pedestrians are not allowed on the bridge.

A resident on Sousa Street complained his neighbor is harassing him by taking pictures of him in the neighborhood. Officers spoke with the neighbors; there were no further problems.

A home may have been broken into on Fatima Drive around 3 p.m. A woman came home to check on an alarm that sounded to find her front door open. However, there did not appear to be anything missing.

Juveniles were reportedly throwing objects at a house on Sowams Drive around 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 23

A possibly rabid raccoon was reportedly stuck under the sun porch of a home on Glenview Drive just before noon. Animal control officers responded and ordered the animal be quarantined.

Friday, April 24

A man was reportedly running down Burton Street “talking loudly” just before 3 a.m. The man was gone when police arrived.

Officers extinguished a small brush fire at Belltower Plaza on Metacom Avenue around 12:30 p.m.

Police responded to dog bit complaints on Siegel Street and at Colt State Park.

Officers assisted with an oven fire in a home on Fetima Drive just after 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 25

A man was reportedly shooting at wild turkeys at Ballou Boulevard and Tupelo Street at 6:30 a.m. Officers found the man was just taking pictures of the wildlife.

An EBT card was reportedly stolen from a home on Alma Avenue.

A squirrel was reportedly climbing on children on the Town Common around 1 p.m. Animal control officers relocated the squirrel.

A tree reportedly fell on a car on Metacom Avenue, The report came in around 2 p.m.

A caller on Wood Street reported a loud party in a neighbor’s backyard just after 2 p.m. Police filed the report.

A resident who lives near Gillary’s on Thames Street reported loud music coming from the bar at 10:30 p.m. The bar manager was advised to close the door to keep the noise down.

Police responded to a bonfire complaint at Roger Williams University at 11:30 p.m.

A resident on Thompson Avenue was spooked by a stranger in her home just before midnight. Police investigated, finding the stranger to be her roommate’s boyfriend.

Sunday, April 26

Two 14-year-olds were reportedly caught spray painting Seabra Supermarket on Hope Street. They were charged with defacing commercial property and possession of spray paint by a minor.

Another squirrel was reportedly chasing children around Town Common just after noon. An animal control officer brought the rodent to Warren Animal Hospital.

A loose dog was reportedly running around the Bristol Gold Club on Tupelo street around 1 p.m.

A woman called police on Saturday, May 2 at about noon, after a man riding his bicycle on the East Bay Bike Path near the Bayside YMCA allegedly exposed himself to her.

The woman told police that the man’s shorts were down and his buttocks were exposed as he rode past her. She reportedly hollered out that his pants were falling down, which prompted the man to begin rubbing his buttocks in a suggestive manner.

The woman told police she believed the man was taunting her.

Police searched the surrounding area for the suspect but could not find him.