Johnston Police Log

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

DUI

Patrolwoman Kayleigh T. Cooper responded to the area of Hartford Avenue and Bishop Hill Road the evening of July 24 for a report of an erratic operator driving a white pickup truck with a ladder in the bed of the truck.

Cooper said she saw a vehicle matching the description traveling westbound on Hartford Avenue swerving between the two westbound lanes and crossing over the double yellow lines into the eastbound lane. Cooper activated her overhead lights and sirens and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road before making an abrupt left turn into the driveway of 2954 Hartford Ave.

Cooper made contact with the operator – Timothy Leonard, 36, 60 Woodsong Drive, Scituate – and she said that, as he opened the window, there was a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle.

She said that, as she asked Leonard for his driver’s license, registration and insurance, he handed her his welder’s license instead. She said Leonard had to be asked multiple times for his information and Cooper said that he was slurring words severely and had bloodshot eyes.

Cooper said she asked Leonard if he had anything to drink that night, to which he responded that he had beers at Union Hall in East Providence earlier that evening.

As he exited the vehicle, Cooper said Leonard had trouble maintaining his balance. She asked Leonard to submit to standardized field sobriety tests, a request he refused. Cooper arrested Leonard under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

At Johnston Police headquarters, Cooper said Leonard refused to submit to a chemical test and refused to sign the refusal. While he was being processed, Leonard said he arrived at 825 Waterman Ave. in East Providence at the Union Hall restaurant to drink with his work friends. Cooper said Leonard told her that he had been drinking beer from 4:30 until 10 p.m., after which time he left to head home. Leonard was released with a Third Division District Court summons for Oct. 5.

STOLEN GOODS

Patrolwoman Kayleigh T. Cooper was on a fixed post at 1025 Plainfield St. the afternoon of July 23 when she saw a vehicle traveling eastbound with no front plate affixed to it.

Cooper detained the vehicle in the area and made contact with the operator, Frank Tameo, 34, Plainfield Street, Johnston. A RILETS check revealed the rear license plate was reported stolen to the Cranston Police Department on June 2. Cooper said it should be noted that the plate belonged to a white 2018 Kia, but the vehicle on scene was a maroon 2002 GMC Envoy.

A further check on the vehicle came back canceled as of August 2019 and was last registered from Providence. Cooper said Tameo was unable to provide a valid bill of sale for the vehicle.

Subsequent checks showed Tameo’s license was suspended Aug. 11, 2016, and this was his second offense. Tameo was issued Third Division District Court summonses for receiving stolen goods and driving with a suspended license.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Patrolwoman Kayleigh T. Cooper was heading north on Killingly Street the evening of July 16 when she saw a vehicle traveling northbound with an expired registration sticker. She then detained the vehicle.

She spoke with the operator – Blake Carpenter, 22, River Drive, Johnston – and a RILETS check revealed his registration was suspended. A further check showed that Carpenter possessed a suspended license and that this was his third or subsequent offense.

Carpeneter was issued a Third Division District Court notice to appear on a charge of driving with a suspended license, third or subsequent offense.