Police Log

FRAUD

On December 14 just prior to 10 a.m., Patrolman Matthew Leveille responded to a Cherry Hill Road residence for a fraud complaint.

Once on scene, he spoke with the reporting party who stated that there were several fraudulent charges to her Citizens Bank checking and debit card during the month of November. Unauthorized purchases were made at the Johnston Home Depot and at various businesses in Johnston and elsewhere. The victim advised that family members are currently in possession of her account information and that her debit card had been deactivated.

The victim also told the officer that during the times of the transactions, a friend and neighbor known as Stephen Capuano, 55, of 343 Simmonsville Avenue, Apt. 216 in Johnston, had possession of both her debit card and checkbook. She said that he was given these items for the purposes of running errands and purchasing groceries, but clearly indicated that several transactions were not authorized by her and were done without permission. The transactions in question were identified on the victim’s bank statement, totaling approximately 20 separate purchases totaling approximately $2,400.

Background checks revealed that Capuano had two outstanding bench warrants originating from two felony charges for larceny. The case was then forwarded to detectives for a follow-up investigation.

On December 16 at 9:52 a.m., officer Leveille and Patrolman Ryan Lemieux responded to Capuano’s address, where he was taken into custody without incident and transported to police headquarters. Capuano was then questioned by Detectives Thomas Dwyer and John DeAngelis after being read his rights.

Capuano told the detectives he purchased 13 Dewalt power drills at Home Depots in Johnston and Providence for the sum of $1,636.03. He then visited the Atwood Avenue DB Mart three times, where he purchased $296 worth of cigarette cartons. According to the police report, all the purchased items were then sold on the streets in Providence. 

Capuano was charged with two counts of fraudulent use of credit cards and was processed at the station. He was then arraigned before J.P. McCaffrey, who set his bail at $5,000 with surety. As a condition of his bail, Capuano was barred from having contact with the victim. After his arraignment, he was transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions for the two outstanding bench warrants.

WARRANT

While on a fixed post in the area of 1025 Plainfield Street on December 16 around 5 p.m., Officer Kevin Brady observed a car headed westbound with a driver not wearing a seatbelt. A traffic stop was initiated near Calef Street, where contact was made with the two occupants.

The passenger, identified as Michael Shaw, 33, of 1415 Plainfield Street in Providence, was found to have an active bench warrant for sentencing violations stemming from a larceny charge of over $1,500. He was taken into custody without incident and taken to police headquarters, where he was processed. Shaw was later transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

ACCIDENT

On December 18 around 5:30 p.m., Officer Derrick Palazzo responded to the area of George Waterman Road and Sheridan Street for a motor vehicle accident. While there were no reported injuries, a driver of one of the vehicles, identified as Anthony Lee, 19, of 6 Osbourn Street, Apt. 3 in Providence, was found to have no valid driver’s license on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles. He was issued a citation and court summons for driving without a license.