Man charged after new speed hump on Sheridan St. damaged

A man police say vandalized a new speed hump on Sheridan Street earlier this week has been charged.

Gary M. Tella, 25, of 5 Orchard Ave. in Greenville, faces one count of vandalism/malicious injury to property and one count of disorderly conduct. He was released with a summons to appear for arraignment in Third District Court on Aug. 26.

According to the report of Patrolman Remy Mendez, police were notified of the damaged speed hump shortly before noon on Aug. 18. The reporting party told Mendez a gray Ford F150 had stopped at the newly installed speed hump before accelerating at a high rate of speed, which caused its tires to dig into the asphalt and left two large indents.

Highway personnel told Mendez the speed hump had been installed earlier that day, and estimated the damage caused by the truck in question at roughly $2,300.

Based on registration information, police traced the vehicle in question to Tella, who was contacted and voluntarily responded to Johnston police headquarters.

Mendez reports that when Tella arrived on Aug. 18, police received a call from a woman who indicated Tella had pulled a knife on a man during an incident earlier that day on Sheridan Street. Witnesses reportedly told police Tella had been in his vehicle during that incident, and had attempted to exit the vehicle and “in an aggressive manner … while holding a knife” but had been prevented from doing so by his girlfriend and by the man outside the vehicle, who repeatedly shut the driver’s door.

According to a supplemental report from Detective John D. DeAngelis, Tella told police he had accelerated at the speed hump to free his vehicle after the tires began sinking into the asphalt, which had not yet dried.

Tella also reportedly said in the other incident, the other man had threatened him and attempted to open the truck’s door, and that the presence of others at the scene made him fear for the safety of himself and his girlfriend. He told police he held up the knife after the other man attempted to open the truck’s door, and then drove away.