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.