Police Log - 08/22/19

FELONY ASSAULT

Patrolman Merrick A. Cook responded to an unidentified location on the evening of Aug. 10 for a report of a male subject threatening a female subject with a knife.

Upon arrival, Cook met with the alleged victim and caller, who said that about five minutes earlier a male subject who resides in the home – later identified as David Lyon, 49, 16 South Williams St., Johnston – pulled a knife on her and pointed it in her face in a threatening manner because he doesn’t like her. The victim told the office that when she called the police, Lyon fled the area on foot. Patrolman Kayleigh T. Cooper canvassed the area an minutes later found him one block away from the residence.

Lyon was taken into custody and Cook said he admitted to hiding his knife in the garage at the residence prior to fleeing the scene. Cook located a black folding knife in the garage and the alleged victim positively identified it as the weapon Lyon allegedly used against her. Lyon was charged with felony assault with a dangerous weapon or substance and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Cook noted that the incident was not domestic in nature and that the alleged victim was visiting another person who resides at the residence at the time of the assault. *** Patrolman Nicholas A. Manocchio and several other officers, including Maj. Thomas Dolan, responded to a report of a male threatening the calling party with a firearm on the evening of Aug. 9.

Manocchio said communications personnel advised the alleged suspect was inside the house with two other people. Upon arrival, Manocchio said the alleged suspect – Robert P. Fera, 52, 161 Winsor Ave., Johnston – stepped out of the house with his hands in the air while yelling, “I don’t have the gun.”

Patrolman Kevin Brady ordered him to walk slowly to the vehicle where he was detained without incident. Officers entered the home to ensure the safety of the other parties on scene. The suspect advised Brady that he was in fact in possession of a weapon prior to police arrival and advised him where it could be located. Ready found the handgun in a black bag on top of Fera’s bed. The handgun was a 9mm Sig Sauer P-229 with an eight-round magazine that was filled to capacity, but Manocchio noted there was no round in the chamber.

The calling party had left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival out of concern for their safety, but communications personnel advised they return to provide a statement. Speaking with Manocchio, the calling party said that Fera came home and began yelling at him. The calling party said it had been a time of stress for the family, and that Fera had not been taking the situation well.

The calling party told Manocchio that he attempted to take the trash out for Fera, when he said he didn’t need help from anyone and yelled at them to leave. The calling party said he went to gather his belongings when Fera retrieves his handgun. The reporting party said that Fera loaded the handgun and pointed it, stating he had “two to get out.” The calling party said that he left the home and contacted police at that time.

Manocchio spoke with another witness, who stated that during a verbal argument Fera went into his dufflebag and retrieved a handgun. The person said that Fera loaded the weapon while following an unidentified person into another room, stating “You have two” and pointing the firearm at an unidentified person.

The witness told Manocchio that Fera continued to wave the firearm and threatened to kill the other person and her “with or without a weapon” as he waved it toward them.

Manocchio noted that the unidentified witness did not have a domestic relationship with Fera. Fera was arrested on felony counts of assault and assault with a dangerous weapon, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Fera was later arraigned and released on $10,000 personal recognizance until a Third Division District Court date of Aug. 19 for bail review, followed by an Oct. 9 pre-arraignment conference. Fera was also issued a no-contact order. DUI

Patrolwoman Kayleigh T. Cooper was on a fixed post the evening of Aug. 13 when she saw a vehicle traveling westbound on Hartford Avenue going approximately 59 mph.

Cooper conducted a motor vehicle stop and detected a strong smell of burnt marijuana. She spoke with the operator – Nicholas Costa, 19, 1270 Reynolds Road, Chepachet – and noticed his eyes to be watery and bloodshot with droopy eyelids. Cooper said Costa displayed slow and mumbling speed while answering questions. Cooper asked Costa if he had smoked any marijuana that day, to which he responded, “Yeah, I smoked it all. There is none in the vehicle.”

Costa was asked to participate in and consented to a series of standard field sobriety tests, but stated, “I don’t know why I have to do this. I’m tired and you guys already know I’m high.”

Cooper said Costa could not complete the final test, the one-leg stand, and told Cooper, “I am high. You guys already know this.” Cooper also said Costa conducted the walk-and-turn test in a rushed and impatient manner.

Cooper then placed Costa under arrest for suspicion of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs. Cooper searched Costa’s vehicle and found several burnt marijuana blunt “roaches” in his center console. Costa would later refuse a chemical breath test, for which he received a violation.

Costa was later arraigned and released on $1,000 personal recognizance with a Third Division District Court date of Aug. 26. *** Patrolman Arthur Petteruti responded to the intersection of Plainfield Street and Simmonsville Avenue on the morning of Aug. 15 to assist Sgt. Dennis L. Peacock with an erratic operator in a construction zone.

Peacock said he was a fixed post within the zone when he saw a vehicle come straight through a “road closed” sign in the middle median of the four-lane road. Peacock noted that the road was lit by light towers and there were tall construction cone barrels across all four lanes. Peacock said he yelled “Stop!” several times while waving his arms and flashlight as the vehicle came to a screeching halt, nearly striking the sign.

As Peacock approached the vehicle, it began to back up, at which point he yelled for the vehicle to stop. Peacock asked the operator – Sean C. Campbell, 49, 135 Chestnut Drive, East Greenwich – if everything was OK, to which he responded, “Yeah, why?”

Peacock said he explained to Campbell he almost struck the sign and wasn’t abiding his instructions, to which he commented that he did hit the sign. While speaking to Campbell, Peacock said he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Campbell’s breath and observed that his face was red in color with bloodshot, watery eyes.

Peacock told Campbell that he did not hit the sign, but that he was clearly out of his lane. Campbell continued with sarcastic comments, Peacock said, before he radioed for additional units.

Petteruti asked Campbell if he had been drinking, to which he replied in the affirmative. Campbell said he drank approximately three beverages while at the establishment from which he came. He then submitted to a series of standardized field sobriety tests, and Petteruti noted that Campbell had to utilize the door frame of his vehicle to remain stable while exiting his vehicle and that he was unsteady on his feet.

Petteruti said Campbell refused to follow the instructions during the first test, and after asking again if he understood the instructions, Campbell said, “You don’t tell me what to do, I tell you what to do. I pay your salary so you work for me!”

Campbell then said, in response to a further set of instructions, “I’m your boss and I’m not doing anything for you.”

Petteruti said he terminated the testing as Campbell was uncooperative. Campbell was arrested for suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs. As Campbell was placed in the back of the cruiser, Petteruti said he stated “Why are you giving me a ride home, I already called an Uber and it should be here.”

Petteruti was also issued a violation for refusal to submit to a chemical test and a citation for obedience to a police officer. Campbell was later released with a Third Division District Court summons for Aug. 26. SUSPENDED LICENSE

Patrolwoman Kayleigh T. Cooper responded to a motor vehicle accident at 1880 Hartford Ave. on the afternoon of Aug. 11.

Checks revealed that this was the third offense for driving with a suspended license for Joseph Warren Arruda, 28, 46 Anchorage Court, Bristol.

Arruda was arrested for driving with a suspended license, third offense. He was released with a Third Division District Court summons. *** Patrolwoman Kayleigh T. Cooper was on a fixed post at 2140 Hartford Ave. the afternoon of Aug. 10 when she observed a vehicle traveling 47 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Cooper performed a stop at 2100 Hartford Ave. and spoke with the operator, Crystal Crossen, 39, 127 North Road, Hopkinton. Checks revealed that Crossen had a suspended driver’s license and that this was her third offense.

Crossen was arrested for driving with a suspended license, third offense. Crossen was arraigned and released on $1,000 personal recognizance until a Third Division District Court date of Aug. 19.