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.

ON VIDEO

Patrolman Andrew Broccoli went to the Walgreens at 1583 Atwood Ave. around 12:20 p.m. on Nov. 19 for a shoplifting report. A manager there told him she saw a man come into the store and go over to the DVDs. She said she asked if he needed help, and he said he was looking for a Blu-ray. She told police she then saw him slip a disc into his pocket as she walked away, then quickly leave the store and get into a gold Buick. She said she got the plate number and called police. She said an opened two-disc set of the movie “Godzilla” was left at the counter and one of the discs was missing.

Broccoli said he traced the plate and went to the residence, where he found the car outside but got no response when he went to the door. He said he called a tow truck for the car because it was involved in a crime. He said he looked at the video surveillance and the man in the video looked very much like the picture from the license provided by the DMV.

Detective Thomas Dwyer reported that Steven P. Rose, 58, of 161 Scenery Lane in Johnston, came into headquarters several hours later and completed a statement admitting he removed the disc from the set, put it in his pocket and left without paying for it. Dwyer said he returned the disc and was processed and released with a summons. The “Godzilla” set cost $35.30

HIT AND RUN

On Sunday, Nov. 23, around 8 a.m. Rhode Island State Troopers arrested Matthew Fellela, 28, of 3 Diaz St. in Johnston, for failing to stop for an accident with an attended vehicle and obstructing a police officer. The arrest was the result of a follow-up investigation into a hit-and-run accident. Fellela was processed at headquarters and released after arraignment.

According to reports, Fellela was traveling on 95 North Saturday night when he rear-ended another vehicle and rolled his own vehicle over near Exit 6. He was not at the scene when police arrived, and it appeared he fled on foot.

State police traced the car to Fellela’s mother, state Rep. Deborah Fellela, and she reportedly told them her son was using the car but was not at home and she didn’t know where he was. Police said she called the next morning to say he was home and troopers went to his home and arrested him. By that time, it was not possible to test Fellela to determine if alcohol was a factor in the accident.

SCRAPPY GUY

Detective Thomas Dwyer reported he met with detectives from Plainfield, Conn., on Aug. 13, who told him they had a suspect who confessed to numerous thefts of metal and wire in their town and selling the loot as scrap at J & S Scrap Metal in Johnston. They said he admitted taking various batteries and wires from farms and construction sites in Connecticut and selling the stuff as scrap for $180 on Aug. 11. He returned the next day with more batteries and a 250-foot spool of copper wire worth $1,512 and sold the lot for $320. Police said the suspect, Jeremy G. Gileau, 24, of 34 Phillips St. in Jewett City, Conn., told them he was addicted to painkillers and heroin and stole to pay for the drugs. Dwyer said they gathered video evidence of the transactions at J & S and recovered what they could from them but learned the 250 feet of wire had already been sold.

Dwyer indicated that Gileau was not a stranger to him. He said he was arrested and charged with six counts of receiving stolen goods for stealing 80 drain and sewer grates in Connecticut and attempting to sell them to Full Circle Recycling in Johnston. He was again wanted for receiving stolen goods and conspiracy, and warrants were issued for him.

On Nov. 19, Dwyer reported that Gileau showed up at headquarters to turn himself in. He said Gileau explained that he had been in a rehab clinic in Michigan from Aug. 23 to Oct. 24 and was here to clear the various warrants that were issued for failure to appear in District and Superior Court while he was in rehab. He was later transported to District Court.