Johnston Police Log, July 21, 2022

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following police log information has been taken from public record police incident and arrest reports provided by the Johnston Police Department.

SHOPLIFTING

Johnston Police Detective Thomas M. Dwyer responded to a Johnston store in reference to a reported shoplifting. Upon arrival a loss prevention manager told police that around 4:17 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2021, a man entered the business and proceeded to the hardware department where he picked up a Dewalt miter saw (valued at $629) and placed it in his cart.

At 4:25 p.m., that same man was “captured on video surveillance pulling the cart with the saw past the point of purchase exiting the store without making any attempt to purchase the item,” according to the incident report.

Police discovered that on Oct. 11, 2021, Providence Police arrested a man matching the suspect’s description at a Providence store. Police identified the man as Orlando Rafeal Goris, of 52 Dover St., Apt. 1, Providence. Goris was arrested on the scene in Providence and charged with shoplifting. He also had an active Superior Court bench warrant.

Police confirmed through database images that Goris was allegedly the suspect wanted in the Johnston case.

“NCIC on Mr. Goris was negative,” Dwyer wrote. “He has 14 previous charges on his RI BCI.”

All attempts to contact Goris were unsuccessful, so an affidavit and arrest warrant was prepared, charging him with Shoplifting.

CONSPIRACY

Around 3 p.m., June 22, Johnston Police Officer Richard J. Varan was dispatched to a store in town following the report of a shoplifting incident in progress.

While en route, dispatch advised the suspect’s vehicle was a white Dodge Caravan with Connecticut plates, traveling east and occupied by two men. Varan spotted the vehicle traveling south on Atwood Avenue near the intersection with Central Avenue, when the vehicle took a left turn onto Central and continued east, according to the arrest report.

Varan activated his emergency lights and siren and detained the vehicle.

As he approached the vehicle, Varan wrote that he “observed in plain view in the rear of the caravan a Ryobi pressure washer and Dewalt hedge trimmer.”

Police identified the driver as Patrick Kennedy, of 241 High St., Baltic, Connecticut, and the passenger as Leonard Buchert, of 32 Huntington Place, Norwich, Connecticut.

The driver asked police why he was detained. Varan told him that he was investigating a shoplifting “and his vehicle matches the suspect vehicle description.”

Varan wrote in the report that Buchert admitted to stealing from the store. Both parties were detained on the scene and police investigated further.

Police discovered that the following items were stolen from the store: a Ryobi pressure washer (valued at $449), a Dewalt 20V max hedge trimmer ($219), Husky contractor bags ($29.97), Clorox bleach bottles ($10.34) and Fabuloso ($15.96).

“Let it be noted that after doing an inventory of the suspect vehicle all items listed above were in fact recovered,” Varan wrote.

Both Kennedy and Buchert were arrested at the scene. Kennedy was charged with Shoplifting, Conspiracy, and Operating a Motor Vehicle on a Suspended License, according to police.

Buchert was charged with Shoplifting and Conspiracy. Both were transported to Johnston Police Headquarters and processed.

Patrick was also cited for Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

DUI

At 4:13 p.m. on July 15, Cranston Police arrested Christopher Castrignano, 34, of 1865 Atwood Ave., Johnston, on charges of DUI – BAC Unknown. The arrest was the result of an accident that occurred at Phenix Avenue and West Hill Drive. He was held as a Bail Violator.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Around 4:30 p.m., June 21, Johnston Police Officer Kevin W. Lyons responded to a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Putnam and Collins avenues.

After an NCIC/RILETS check of a driver in the crash, police discovered her Rhode Island driver’s license had been suspended.

“BCI checks revealed several past convictions, third and subsequent offenses,” Lyons wrote in the summons report.

The driver was identified as Lisa Vasconcelos, of 3 Angell St., Apt. 1, Johnston.

She was charged with Driving after Denial/Revocation/Suspension (third offense, a misdemeanor) and released at the scene with a Third District Court notice to appear on July 25. Her vehicle was driven from the scene by a family member.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Around 3:23 p.m., June 29, Johnston Police Officer Patrick Gendreau responded to a motor vehicle crash at 2154 Hartford Ave. On the scene, he identified the driver of one of the vehicles as Eliseo Ruiz Hernandez, of 187 Wallace St., First Floor, Providence.

A Rhode Island DMV check revealed that Hernandez was allegedly operating the vehicle with a suspended license. Further checks revealed two previous offenses, according to police.

Hernandez was given a Third District Court summons to appear in court. The vehicle he was driving sustained significant damage and was towed from the scene.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

While patrolling Killingly Street around 10:45 a.m. on July 1, Johnston Police Officer Michael A. Protano spotted a Honda Accord with a Rhode Island trailer registration plate affixed to the rear of the vehicle. The plate also had an expired yellow registration sticker (April 2021).

The car suddenly turned right onto Borden Avenue and Protano stopped the car at the intersection with Alcazar.

“I approached the operator who was extremely nervous and talking very low to me when I asked if he had a driver’s license,” Protano wrote in the report.

The man was later identified as James Y. Dolo, of 84 Warrington St., Providence. Dolo told police that he was “currently going to the R.I. DMV to ‘fix’ his license, however I explained to him that he must attend whatever court dates he was given for the offenses,” Protano wrote in the summons report.

DMV files revealed Dolo had a suspended Rhode Island driver’s license, according to police. The trailer registration affixed to the car belonged to someone else. When asked why he was driving the vehicle with a trailer plate he did not have an answer, Protano wrote in the report.

“Mr. Dolo later replied that he did not know where the registration plate came from,” Protano wrote.

Police contacted the owner of the trailer, and they told police that they own property in Narragansett where they keep a trailer on site. They noticed that the plate had been “ripped off.” The original plate owners were told they could pick up the plate at Johnston Police Headquarters. They were advised to contact the Narragansett Police Department if they wished to file a larceny report.

Johnston Police charged Dolo with Driving with a Suspended License (third offense) and also cited for Improper Use of Evidence of Registration. The vehicle was towed from the scene.