Police Log - 12/5/19

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

RECKLESS DRIVING

While on patrol, Patrolman Jared DeAngelis observed a car “fish tail” through a red light at the intersection of Cherry Hill Road and Greenville Avenue proceed north in the southbound lane.
DeAngelis said he activated his emergency lights and siren, at which time he observed the vehicle continually travel back and forth over the double yellow line. DeAngelis said no plates were affixed to the vehicle.
Now on George Waterman Road, DeAngelis radioed to dispatch, and Lt. Steven Guilmette happened to be a few cars in front of him. Guilmette stopped his vehicle, which caused traffic to come to a halt.
The car DeAngelis was pursuing stopped momentarily before veering onto the shoulder and around the stopped traffic. The car then went down Rice Street, with both DeAngelis and Guilmette in pursuit. The vehicle parked in a lot where it made a series of maneuvers to attempt to evade police, narrowly missing Guilmette’s cruiser on several occasions. The vehicle then went down Dexter Street at the other end of the parking lot before coming to a halt at a dead end.
DeAngelis said that he and Guilmette approached the vehicle with their firearms drawn. He said Guilmette opened the car door, at which time the operator – later identified as Robert Clark, 51, 19 Dexter St., Johnston – put up brief struggle before the two officers took him to the ground.
DeAngelis said that, while Clark apologized for his actions, he would not state what spurred them on. Clark was charged with reckless driving, eluding police and resisting arrest. He was also cited for obedience to red light, operation left of center and display of plates.
Detective Brian M. Loffredi said he completed a state probation violation report. It was returned by Special Assistant Attorney General Katlyn Tracey stating that Clark did not comply with a specific condition of his probation, which was imposed on Dec. 6, 2018.
In reference to the new criminal charges, Justice of the Peace George Lazieh set Clark’s bail at $1,000 personal recognizance with surety, and Clark has a Kent County District Court date of Dec. 9.

LARCENY

Patrolman Michael A. Protano responded to a larceny from a motor vehicle the afternoon of Nov. 21.
Protano said that he spoke to the alleged victim upon arrival, and she told him that her vehicle was last parked by her husband the previous night but left unlocked. She saw messages on her cell phone in the morning that two purchases were made for the amount of $10.20 and $17.10 at Vasilios Pizza earlier that day.
Protano said she looked in her vehicle to realize that five credit cards and an iPhone 7 were missing. She used the “Find My iPhone” application and received a ping at 4:04 a.m. in the area of Manton Avenue near CVS.
Protano said he attempted to call the stolen iPhone, but was met with negative results. He contacted Vasilios and spoke to the owner, who said he was provided a delivery address of 940 Morgan Ave. – near the same area as the ping the victim received.
Protano searched tax records and found the property owner of the address he was given, but that person did not wish to be mentioned in the report. He was advised there were two units at the address. According to cross-agency files, one of the residents – 20-year-old Ariel Antonio Albizu – was previously arrested by Rhode Island State Police in 2017 for interference with fire alarm apparatus and vandalism.
Albizu was later arrested and charged with misdemeanor larceny under $1,500. The victim was also referred to Providence Police to pursue fraudulent use of credit card charges.