Police Log

Posted

The Police Log is a digest of reports provided by the Johnston Police, Rhode Island State Police and other departments.

FORGERY

On September 21, 2017 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Officer Matthew Rado met with a complainant in the lobby of police headquarters in reference to a checking fraud complaint. The reporting party informed the officer that the checking fraud occurred at the Citizens Bank located in the Stop and Shop on Commerce Way.

The man stated he noticed an overdraft in his checking account for the sum of $11,000, which he found to be suspicious because he knew that he did not have that amount in his account. He then contacted the bank about the matter and they confirmed that a customer came into the bank and withdrew $11,000 from his checking account by using a fraudulent check with his name on it.

According to the report, the man had already spoken with the Citizens bank fraud unit. They advised him that on September 18, 2017, a petite Hispanic woman between the ages of 18 to 20 years old came into the bank and displayed a check with his name on it that was made out to a “Jaelen Bautista Mora.” The man was unsure if this individual provided any identification to the teller. The fraud unit also stated the suspect gave a phone number and that they had contacted her, at which time she allegedly admitted to taking the funds and also claimed she knew the complainant.

While at the station, the man showed Officer Rado the check that was used. He also stated that he did not know the suspect in any way, and that he wished to pursue a criminal complaint. The report was then forwarded to detectives for review.

Detective Michael Edwards responded to the Commerce Way Citizens Bank on September 26 to obtain any photos or video surveillance of the female suspect. He spoke with the teller who handled the transaction, and obtained a description of the woman. The suspect provided a license number used in the transaction, which was under the name of Jaelen Bautista Mora, 19, of 46 Home Avenue, Apt. 2 in Providence. The detective also spoke with the Citizens Bank investigator handling the case. A warrant was then drawn for her arrest.

On July 1, Mora was arrested by Warwick Police on the active warrant. She was then transported to Johnston, processed, and eventually arraigned before Justice of the Peace Connors on the charges of forgery and counterfeiting and passing of counterfeit notes. She was released on $15,000 personal recognizance and issued a September 20 Sixth District Court date.

WARRANT

While on a fixed post in the area of 80 Greenville Avenue on June 30 at approximately 1:17 p.m., Officer Robert Cardoza observed a driver traveling west who was actively using his cell phone. A traffic stop was then initiated in the area of Greenville Avenue and Blaine Street.

Contact was then made with Alex Lopez, 20, of 115 Bellevue in Pawtucket. Lopez was not able to produce his driver’s license, but was positively identified using his license number. Procedural checks then revealed that Lopez’s license was suspended and that he had an active Sixth District Court warrant.

Lopez was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters without incident as his car was towed from the scene. At the station Lopez was processed and issued a summons for the hands free law, driving without a license, and driving with a suspended license. He was later transported to the ACI.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Officers Michael Schiappa and David Galligan on June 25 around 10:30 a.m. observed a vehicle traveling east on Hartford Avenue with an expired registration sticker. The vehicle was detained and the officers met with the driver, identified as Luz Ramos, 48, of 76 Mercy Street in Providence.

Background checks revealed that Ramos’s license and registration were both suspended. Her vehicle was then towed, and Ramos was released at the scene with a District Court notice to appear on the charge of driving with a suspended license, first offense.

STOLEN GOODS

While on patrol in the area of 110 Plainfield Street on June 20 around 5:58 p.m., Officer Matthew Leveillee observed a car traveling east with a Rhode Island license plate but a Massachusetts inspection sticker affixed to the windshield.

A traffic stop was conducted, and the officer made contact with the woman operator. The woman provided a name, but stated that she did not have any form of identification. According to the report, the woman appeared to be very nervous. Procedural checks on the car revealed that the license plates attached to the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Cranston.

Checks using the name provided by the driver found a license of a person who was distinctly different than the woman at the scene. The driver was then asked to exit the vehicle, and reportedly became nervous, evasive, and visibly concerned about the police inquiries. Further investigation revealed that the woman provided false information about her identity, and was discovered to be Nicole Dimeo, 33, of 995 Atwood Avenue Apt. 101 in Johnston.

Further background checks revealed that Dimeo had an active Superior Court bench warrant and that her license was suspended. She was then taken into custody and transported to police headquarters. She was charged with receiving stolen goods, obstructing an officer, driving on a suspended license and provided with a summons.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here