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 Johnston reports.

CONSPIRACY

Patrolman Adam Parkinson reports a shoplifting at Knight’s Liquors on Hartford Avenue on Dec. 2. He said he met with the district manager for the store at the Burger King across the street. The manager told Parkinson and three other officers that two suspects were inside the Burger King who had possibly concealed some merchandise before they left the liquor store. She said a customer mentioned it to the cashier as he was being “cashed out” just after the suspects left the store. The manager told police she followed them to the restaurant and stood by while police were called, and they were now loitering at the back of the restaurant without buying anything.

Parkinson said he approached the man and woman as they were seated in a booth. He said he could see the male was sipping a dark liquid from a clear plastic cup. He said they did not see him approach and he immediately seized an open 1.5-liter bottle of Canadian Club sitting next to the male suspect. He said he insisted that the man show him a receipt for the whiskey and the man relied, “I brought that from home.” He said a sniff of the content of the plastic cup confirmed that it was alcohol. He said he advised the couple of their rights and arrested them. He said Lt. Mark Vieira took pictures of the bottle and the cup.

Parkinson said he then went across the street to talk with the cashier, who told him the couple approached his register and attempted to buy a pint of vodka and a six-pack of beer but their credit card was declined twice before they left the vodka and beer in the store and walked across the street. He said he got statements from the store employees and had them check their inventory. Only one 1.5-liter bottle of Canadian Club was sold that day, but two of them were missing from the shelf.

Parkinson said he returned the bottle to the manager and took Charles P. Dufresne, 51, and Patrice S. Whiting, 46, both of 8 Belvedere St. in Johnston, to headquarters, where they were charged with shoplifting and conspiracy to shoplift. They were later released from headquarters with summonses for District Court. Parkinson said he found an outstanding arrest warrant for Dufresne from Florida for DUI, second offense, but they were not interested in extraditing him for that.

SUSPENDED

Patrolman Matthew Rado reports he was investigating an accident at the Cumberland Farms on Killingly Street on Nov. 24 when he learned that one of the drivers had a suspended license and the registration for his car was suspended as well. James Phommatheth, 24, of 52 Harrington Drive in Johnston, was issued a summons at the scene, and the car was towed by Reliable. Rado made a note that there was minor damage to a rear door that was there before the tow truck arrived.

Patrolman Michael Protano ran the plate of GMC Yukon he found stopped in the middle of the road near Borden Avenue and Marne Street on Nov. 28. He said it came back as suspended, and so did the license of George William Correy, 56, of 128 Laban St. in Providence, who was later released with a summons.

Patrolman Andrew Broccoli reports that a single vehicle accident on Shun Pike around 5:25 a.m. on Nov. 27 did not entail any injuries, but it led to the discovery that driver’s license was suspended. The driver told Broccoli he had fallen asleep on his way home and crossed the double yellow line and continued until it hit a Jersey barrier on the other side of the road. The car was heavily damaged and was towed. William A. Dawson, 23, of 11 Country Way in North Smithfield, was charged with driving on a suspended license and laned roadway violations. He was released at the scene with a summons when a family member picked him up.

WARRANT

A Cranston man was charged with driving on an expired license around 12:50 p.m. on Nov. 20. Patrolman Jared DeAngelis said he was on a fixed traffic post when he clocked a car doing 60 mph on Hartford Avenue. He said the driver told him his name was Joseph Paolucci but had no driver’s license on him. DeAngelis said he learned that the driver’s license was suspended and that there was an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for a domestic assault charge. DeAngelis said he got a copy of Paolucci’s picture from the DMV to confirm his identity and then arrested him and took him to headquarters, where he was charged with speeding, no seat belt and no proof of insurance. He was then transported to District Court for arraignment on the warrant.