Police Log

Posted

The Police Log is a digest of reports filed by the Johnston Police. Chief Richard S. Tamburini or Deputy Chief Daniel Parrillo has reviewed all reports.

<*C>911 NEVERMIND

Patrolman Michael Martufi reports he was one of four officers who responded to a 911 call about a disturbance at 1277 Plainfield St. around 1:20 a.m. on Oct. 18. Dispatch told police a man named “Ronnie” called 911 to say his ex-girlfriend was continuously knocking on his door and he wanted her stopped, but refused to give his last name.

Martufi said police arrived at the apartment and heard arguing going on inside and knocked on the door. The patrolman said a man inside told police the woman had left and that they did not need the police.

Martufi said he told the man they could not take his word for it after a 911 call and had to get inside the apartment. The patrolman said the man then claimed the lock on the door didn’t work and told police to go around the back. When police went did so, no one would open the door, according to Maturfi, and he then had dispatch call the man on the phone but there was no answer.

After waiting for a reply, Martufi said police heard a commotion inside, feared a domestic disturbance was occurring and broke the door down. The patrolman said a woman came at him with her arms flailing and he warned her to stop or he would use his Taser. He said a man then stepped in front of her and came at him yelling and flailing his arms and reached for his waist and, because he could only see him by flashlight, he fired his Taser. He said it had an immediate effect and they handcuffed the man and the barbs came out with no other injury.

Martufi said a warrant check revealed a failure to appear in District Court, and a record check revealed that the man was on probation on a firearms charge. Martufi reported that Ronald Pacheco, 26, had an extensive BCI.

Martufi said Pacheco explained that he did want to have his girlfriend removed from the premises but was afraid of getting arrested on the warrant, and that’s why he was reluctant to open the door. He was taken to the ACI after being arraigned before a justice of the peace. He was later released on bail.

<*C>FAMILIAR FACE

Sgt. Joseph Salvadore reports he was on patrol around 2:20 p.m. on Oct. 15 when he saw a man he knew was a passenger in a car heading north on Killingly Street, and he also knew that there was a Superior Court warrant out for the man for failure to appear on a larceny over $1,500 charge.

Louis G. Cascella, 25, was taken out of the car and taken to headquarters, where he was processed before being transported to Superior Court.

<*C>WARRANTED

Patrolman Andrew Broccoli reported going to 609 Killingly St. for an accident without injuries on Oct. 15. A passenger in one of the cars was identified as Herbert D. Jordan, 58, of 111 Denver St. in Pawtucket, who was wanted for failure to appear in District Court on a suspended license charge. He was held pending arraignment.

<*C>MORE TROUBLE

Patrolman Joseph McGinn reports receiving a call about an out-of-control man a 7 Primrose Lane at approximately 7:25 p.m. on Oct. 19.

He said he found a woman standing on the stairs. She reportedly told police her husband went out earlier and said he and friends would be at a local tavern, and when she learned he wasn’t at the tavern, she called him on his cell phone and confronted him about his whereabouts. She said he claimed his phone’s battery was low and hung up. She said she confronted him again when he came home and he became defensive and demanded she apologize for calling him a liar and threatened to damage the nursery, which he claimed he was home all day painting and prepping for a child they were expecting.

The woman told police said she didn’t apologize, and that her husband then punched a hole in the nursery door and punched four holes in the walls of the nursery before entering his daughter’s room and stripping off the 2-year-old’s blankets and throwing her pumpkin in the yard, at which point she called 911.

McGinn said he found the man on the rear deck and said he was very condescending and smelled of alcohol. The patrolman said the man claimed he argued with his wife when she accused him of sneaking around and that he expressed his frustration.

Nichalas J. LaPrade, 33, was charged with domestic disorderly conduct and taken to headquarters, where he was processed and held for arraignment.

Sgt. Joseph Salvatore reports LaPrade was arraigned before a justice of the peace and told to have no contact with his wife and released on $1,000 personal recognizance. He was escorted to his home to get some clothing, and police were allowed to check his personal safe for any weapons or ammunition. Salvadore also reported that he contacted Pawtucket police and was assured by them that they had LaPrade’s department-issued service weapon in their custody, and then transported him to Hartford Avenue and Killingly Street to meet a friend and arrange for a place to stay for the night.

LaPrade is a Pawtucket police officer, and according to multiple media reports has been on paid administrative leave since 2010. According to multiple media reports, LaPrade is facing efforts from the city to fire him in connection with a 2010 incident in which he was arrested for allegedly exposing himself to two women and masturbating while driving. LaPrade has denied exposing himself, saying he was attempting to urinate into a bottle at the time of the incident following a surgery. He was convicted of indecent exposure in 2011.

According to multiple media reports, LaPrade was also disciplined in connection with a 2010 incident in which he was seen on video napping in a cruiser with another unnamed officer.

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