Johnston Police Log

ATTEMPTED B&E

Patrolman Thomas Santurri and members of the third watch respond to Burger King at 9 Putnam Ave. on the morning of Oct. 30 for a report of a breaking and entering in progress.

While en route, communications personnel advised that the suspect was in possession of an axe, and it was noted that there were numerous employees inside the business. The workers said the suspect – later identified as Keith Barrieault, 45, of no known address – had shattered the front door with the axe and was attempting to gain entry through a side entrance.

Upon arrival, Santurri said Barrieault was in the parking lot walking toward Putnam Avenue. He was not in possession of the axe, the officer reports, and was placed under arrest.

Santurri spoke with the manager of Burger King, who said that a few minutes earlier she had heard a loud noise coming from the front door, consistent with glass breaking. She told Santurri she noticed a man holding an axe and swinging it at the door. She said he was trying to break the glass in an attempt to enter the business. Santurri said the manager told him she advised employees to move to the back left corner of the business, which had an exit.

The manager said that Barrieault noticed the employees move to the back, and he started walking toward the exit on the northwest facing side of the building. One of the employees then exited the building and was confronted by Barrieault, still holding his axe. Barrieault then attempted to enter the business. Other employees and a drive-thru customer confirmed the narrative. The customer said that employees were able to “wrestle the axe away” from Barrieault.

Barrieault was charged with felony counts of attempted breaking and entering and making, repairing or possessing burglary tools as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct. A check also revealed Barrieault was wanted on 11 active bench warrants.

FELONY ASSAULT

Patrolman Thomas Hayden and two other officers responded to a report of a disturbance in progress on the morning of Nov. 3.

Upon arrival, the calling party and victim were outside of the residence, and the former alleged that another person – identified as Steven Briggs, 28, 6106 Scituate Vista Drive, Cranston – had struck the latter several times with a hammer.

The officers entered the residence, which Hayden observed to be in complete disarray as the kitchen table was smashed with shattered glass on the kitchen floor. Briggs was inside standing in the kitchen when Hayden entered the apartment, and Briggs appeared to be sweating and nervous while speaking with the officer. Hayden said Briggs told him he went to the house with one of the parties and just wanted to hang out with his friends.

While speaking with the victim, Hayden said he was told the man was attacked by Briggs with a hammer inside the residence. He said he was struck several times, causing both of his forearms to swell up.

Another party said that Briggs showed up at 6 a.m. accusing them of stealing an unknown item that they said had nothing to do with Briggs, causing him to become irate. She said Briggs told her she had 20 minutes to come up with the alleged items. She told Hayden she had misplaced whatever items he was searching for. A few minutes later, she said Briggs reentered the residence swimming a hammer and attacking the victim. The kitchen table was smashed during the confrontation. She was not injured.

While searching Briggs later at the station, Patrolman Andrew Broccoli searched Briggs and found a Newport cigarette box. It was put to the side, but Broccoli later investigated further and found a small glassine baggy containing a white powdery substance he identified as cocaine. A field test was conducted and confirmed the suspicion.

A second plastic bag was located within the empty cigarette box as well, containing rectangular green pills as well as a green powdery substance. Three total pills were found, later identified as Alprazolam.

Briggs was charged with felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a Schedule I-V controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of vandalism/malicious injury to property and disorderly conduct. Briggs was also wanted on an arrest warrant issued from the Johnston Police Department on two counts of larceny under $1,500 and one count of disorderly conduct, all of which are misdemeanors.

Those charges stemmed from an alleged incident that occurred the morning of Aug. 18. On that date, patrolmen Robert Cardoza and Michael Protano reported a call of disorderly conduct. Upon arrival, Cardoza said they spoke with calling party/victim, who said Briggs had become irate and started yelling, “I want my stuff.” The reporting party said they were unaware of any missing items, and advised that, when Briggs was confronted, he became more enraged and began throwing objects around the apartment.

She said that Briggs entered her bedroom and took her digital camera, before grabbing $96 from her wallet.

DUTY TO STOP

Patrolwoman Kayleigh Cooper responded to the area of Greenville Avenue and Killingly Street on the evening of Nov. 13 for a report of a hit-and-run accident with an attended vehicle.

After speaking with the operator of the first vehicle, Cooper spoke with Steven Lucia, 49, 21 Vermont St., Johnston, who was driving the second car. He admitted that he struck the first vehicle. It was determined that Lucia was traveling north on Killingly Street and struck the rear bumper of the other vehicle. Lucia exited the vehicle and told the other driver to pull over to the side of the road to get out of the way of traffic, after which point Lucia fled the scene.

The first driver said he followed Lucia through the neighborhoods adjacent to Killingly Street, eventually ending up at the intersection of Greenville Avenue and Killingly Street where officers arrived on scene. Cooper said Lucia could not provide officers with a valid reason for leaving the scene. A later check revealed Lucia was wanted on an active Superior Court bench warrant for failure to appear for a pre-arraignment conference stemming from a domestic vandalism charge from the Johnston Police Department.

Lucia was charged with misdemeanor duty to stop for an accident resulting in damage to an attended vehicle. Lucia was out on personal recognizance bail from a domestic violence case, and he was to be held in violation of his bail and presented as a violator at arraignment.

SHOPLIFTING

Sgt. David Galligan responded to Putnam Avenue on the afternoon of Nov. 6 for a report of a shoplifting in progress.

Upon arrival, Galligan spoke to the store manager/calling party, who said that the suspect – later identified as Melvin Raul Alvarado, 48, of no known address – left the business prior to the arrival of police and traveled south on George Waterman Road on an electric Jump scooter. Patrolman Matthew Leveillee located Alvarado moments later.

The calling party provided surveillance video that showed Alvarado entering CVS on the above date, walking down the personal hygiene aisle and concealing multiple bottles of Dove body wash in his backpack. He then exited the store, passing all points of purchase without making an attempt to pay for the merchandise. The value of the assorted stolen items was placed at $103.03.

Leveillee wrote in his report that Alvarado matched the description of the suspect, making contact with him on George Waterman Road. Leveillee said Alvarado told him he had stolen items from CVS and said, “Here just let me return them,” as he displayed the stolen items inside the backpack.

Alvarado was arrested and charged with felony shoplifting. He was arraigned with bail set at $10,000 bond with surety. He was held without bail for a probation violation and bail violation.