DNA leads to break-in charges

DNA testing on a crime scene bloodstain recently led police to file charges in a year-old break-in case.

Michael A. Calise, 42, of 2154 Hartford Ave., Apt. 18 in Johnston, has been charged with two felony counts of breaking and entering into a building with criminal intent. He was arraigned March 23, with surety bail set at $2,000 and a May 25 court date set. He remains held on the ACI in Cranston on unrelated charges.

The case dates back to March 30, 2015, when Patrolwoman Brooke Ardito responded to Waliga Imports at 1467 Atwood Ave. for a report of two campers having been broken into.

According to Ardito’s narrative report, the campers had been stored and secured at the location over the winter, and the covers over the campers had signs of tampering. Both had items missing, including televisions, and according to Ardito’s report were “in a state of disarray as if someone was looking for more valuables.”

In a supplemental report on the same date, Detective Mark A. Bairos indicates he determined the entry point for one of the vehicles appeared to be a smashed driver’s side middle window. Suspected blood stains were found on a couch positioned under the window.

The point of entry for the second vehicle appeared to be an unmarked door, according to the detective, and a footwear impression was found on a white plastic shelf that had been tossed to the ground.

Bairos reports testing of a swab from the couch stains confirmed it was blood, “consistent with a single source unidentified male contributor.” The DNA profile was reviewed against a state database, leading to the identification of Calise as a suspect earlier this year.

Detective Thomas Dwyer reports Calise was found to be incarcerated at the ACI in connection with prior incidents. He reportedly had numerous prior charges on his record, including robbery, shoplifting, and breaking and entering.

Detectives responded to the ACI on March 17 of this year to interview Calise, who reportedly indicated he had been addicted to drugs at the time of the break-ins and did not recall the incidents. Police subsequently filed the new charges.

Johnston Maj. Frank Levesque, who heads the department’s detective division, praised the work of Ardito, Bairos, and Dwyer on the case – from maintaining the integrity of the crime scene to identifying the bloodstain and pursuing the use of DNA testing.

“That’s just great police work from start to finish,” he said.

Levesque said DNA has increasingly become a part of investigations since a new law took effect last year requiring those arrested on certain felony charges involving violence to submit DNA samples to police.

“It’s happening more and more,” he said.