Johnston Police Log

Posted

POSSESSION OF STOLEN VEHICLE

Patrolman Arthur Petteruti and several other officers respect to the area of Plainfield and Walnut streets on the evening of Jan. 25 to assist Cranston Police with locating a stolen motor vehicle.

Cranston Police advised JPD that they were receiving LoJack alerts on the stolen vehicle in the area, and Petteruti began canvassing the vicinity because he has LoJack in his cruiser. He said he immediately began receiving alerts, and the signal became strongest in front of 107 Walnut St. in Johnston. He noted that the garage door was fully open and could be seen in plain view from the roadway.

As Petteruti exited his car, he saw Elvis J. Lopez, 19, of the above address, standing inside the garage directly next to the passenger side of the vehicle. He walked away from the vehicle, Petteruti said, and approached the officer in the driveway.

Petteruti asked whose cars they were, to which Lopez said, “They’re mine, why what’s up?” At that time, Petteruti could see in plain view through a clear portion of the car cover the passenger registration affixed to the rear bumper, matching the registration plate connected to the stolen vehicle.

While standing in the driveway, Petteruti saw two additional male parties removing items from a U-Haul in the driveway. They were not in close proximity to the stolen vehicle, and all three were detained while Petteruti investigated the stolen vehicle. Petteruti noted that Lopez said he stole the vehicle and the other men had no knowledge of its theft. He was arrested for felony possession of stolen motor vehicle, and he was later arraigned and released on $10,000 personal recognizance with a pre-arraignment conference set for April 21.

WARRANT

While on patrol the afternoon of Jan. 26, Patrolman Robert Cardoza observed a vehicle traveling west on Plainfield Street with an expired Massachusetts inspection sticker.

Cardoza conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the operator, identified as Jailson Ascencao, 21, 10 Katherine Drive, Johnston. Procedural checks revealed that Ascencao was wanted an active arrest warrant issued from the Bristol Police Department on a charge of breaking and entering, forced entry. He was taken into custody and later turned over to the BPD.

SHOPLIFTING

Patrolmen Thomas Pederzani and Arthur Petteruti responded to The Home Depot on the afternoon of Jan. 25 for the report of a larceny in progress.

Upon arrival, Pederzani said he spoke with the reporting party, who said she observed a woman identified as Carleen M. Villella, 59, 1603 Plainfield St., Johnston, in the paint department with a large purse. The reporting party said Villella used the purse to conceal paint, and she walked through the garden center past all points of purchase. She was apprehended and escorted to the reporting party’s office, where a paint machine was also discovered hidden in the purse.

The itemized receipt revealed the stolen merchandise totaled $236.46, and all stolen property was returned to The Home Depot personnel. Villella was arrested and charged with misdemeanor shoplifting, and she was released from Johnston Police Department headquarters with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court on May 24. She was also issued a no-trespass order.

OPERATING WITHOUT A LICENSE

Patrolman Anthony J. St. Laurent was on patrol in the area of 1360 Atwood Ave. on the morning of Jan. 27 when he observed a vehicle make an abrupt turn into the parking lot of New England Realty Group without using its turn signal.

Upon observing this violation, St. Laurent conducted a stop and spoke with the operator, identified as William J. Stuart, 26, 36 Kinnicutt Ave., Warwick. Procedural checks revealed that he was operating without a driver’s license, and it was his third or subsequent offense. He was issued a Third Division District Court notice to appear May 17.

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