Police Log

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.

MANHOLE RECOVERED

Patrolman Michael Andreozzi reports he was dispatched to the Carlson Construction Corp. on Oakdale Avenue for a larceny of a manhole cover and frame. An employee there told police that around 8:30 a.m., he saw two men in the yard loading a manhole cover and frame into a white work van. He said the men did not work there and were obviously stealing the manhole cover. He said he got the plate number on the van but could not determine if it was a commercial plate or not. Andreozzi said he ran the number and it came back to a commercial 2003 GMC white van and to a combination plate for a 1996 Ford, also white but cancelled as of March this year. The employee told Andreozzi the company would file criminal charges if the men were caught. The report was forwarded to detectives.

Detective Anthony Sasso reports that he went to a local scrap yard and asked if anyone had sold them a manhole cover and frame. The owner said no one had, but he would call the police if someone did show up with one.

In the meantime, Sasso located the owner of the van and spoke to a woman in his office that confirmed who the owner was and that it was a white van. He said the woman then refused to give him any more details, so he left her his card and told him to have the owner call him. He said he attempted to call the owner through several phone numbers that all tuned out to be disconnected.

On Nov. 10, the owner of the van called and said he spoke with the worker who was using the van that day and the man confessed that he stole the manhole cover and frame. Sasso said he called the man and he confirmed that he took the manhole cover, and that an attorney was representing him. He said he would arrange to turn himself in later that week. Sasso said he asked him if he still had the manhole cover, to which he reportedly replied, “I do.” Sasso said he asked him to bring the manhole cover, and frame, to police headquarters when he turned himself in.

Robert J. Handfield, 44, of 14 Adams St. in Warwick, turned himself in on Nov. 13 and was later transported to District Court for arraignment. Court records indicate that Handfield was serving a three-year probation for breaking and entering in Warwick and he was presented as a violator. He was later released on personal recognizance, with the amount not specified in the court record.

STICKER PROBLEMS

Lt. Mark Viera reports he was working an accident reduction enforcement detail on Nov. 14 when he stopped a car heading north on Killingly Street with an inspection sticker that had expired as of August. He said a check of the driver’s license revealed that it had expired as of October. David Unrena, 21, of 25 Klondike St. in Providence, was released at the scene with a summons for driving without a license and a ticket for the inspection sticker. Unrena was allowed to arrange for someone else to remove the car.

Later the same day, Patrolman Mario Mennella reports stopping a vehicle with an expired sticker on Killingly Street and learning that that driver’s license was suspended. John W. Richards, 41, of 72 Fox Run in Harrisville, was issued a summons for unlicensed driving and a ticket for the sticker and released at the scene. A relative was allowed to move his car.

A FRIEND INDEED

Patrolman Adam Parkinson reports he got a 911 call about vandalism to a car on Luther Street around 1:15 p.m. on Nov. 15. The witness said the back window of a car was smashed, and gave him the plate number of a car that left the scene with two men inside. Parkinson said he traced the car to a phone number and called the owner. He said the owner, who was on probation for another charge, acted as if he was ignorant of what the call was about and why he was being asked to come to headquarters. He said he agreed to come but then called back several times and eventually admitted he was on Luther Street at that time but had no knowledge that his friend, identified as “Joseph Connors,” intended to break the window and it was a surprise to him when he did. He said Joseph Connors got on the phone and said he and he alone was responsible for the vandalism and reiterated that the owner of the car had no knowledge of his intentions and was not told that he intended to break the window beforehand. He said Joseph Connors then asked if he would be arraigned at headquarters and how much money would he need to be released. Parkinson said they both said they would be at headquarters within the hour but did not come in. Two days later, Joseph Ryan Connors, 33, of 20 Buchanan St., was charged with vandalism and later released on personal recognizance. The owner of the car was not charged.