Johnston Police Log, Sept. 24, 2021

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

LARCENY

On Oct. 15, 2019, Johnston Police investigated the report of a stolen debit card. The victim told police that they allowed a friend, Ronnie Joseph Franco, of 1157 Narragansett Parkway, Warwick, to stay in their home.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, the victim was alerted by cell phone text message that around 3 a.m. someone had used their Bank of America debit card, according to the police incident report.

The victim told police they went to check on Franco, but discovered that he had “snuck out” of the house. The victim then checked a purse in the home, and realized the debit card was missing.

The victim alleged that Franco made three fraudulent debit card transactions from the ATM machine at Cumberland Farms located at 2643 Hartford Ave. Three unauthorized transactions were made that morning, one for $20, the second for $44, and the third for $9.95.

The victim told police they would like to pursue a criminal complaint.

A criminal background check revealed Franco had previous burglary and larceny convictions on his record, according to the police incident report.

The case was turned over to the Detective Division.

Nearly two years later, on Sept. 7, 2021, Franco was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and Larceny Under $1,500. Surety bail was set at $2,000. A status hearing was scheduled for Sept. 13, and a pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Sept. 27.

According to the police report, Franco was not processed due to being incarcerated at the ACI.

VANDALISM

Around 7:30 p.m., on Sept. 2, Johnston Police Officer Manuel Perez was dispatched to a Johnston home in reference to the report of vandalism to a motor vehicle. The victim told police that upon arrival at her residence around 4:30 p.m., she observed damage to the passenger side of her vehicle and said she had last observed the vehicle was in good condition on Sept. 1, according to the police incident report.

Immediately after noticing the damage to her vehicle, she reviewed camera surveillance footage from cameras on the property and observed that at 8:43 a.m. on Sept. 2, a man she only knew as “Fabio” had rammed a trash bin into the passenger side of her vehicle several times.

Police watched the footage and saw a white man wearing a black shirt, gray shorts and black shoes intentionally ramming a black trash bin into the vehicle several times.

Attempts to speak with the man, later identified as Fabio Raposo, of 111 George St., Johnston, were initially unsuccessful, according to the police incident report.

Police noted minor damage to the front and rear passenger side door of the victim’s vehicle.

The victim told police that she would be able to positively identify the suspect if she were to see him again, and she told police that she wished to pursue criminal charges. The report was forwarded to the Detective Division.

Around 11:45 a.m., on Sept. 8, Johnston Police Officer Cody Weaver responded to the Johnston Police Department Headquarters to process Raposo, who turned himself in on an active warrant for a misdemeanor charge of Vandalism/Malicious Injury to Property. He was processed and released with a Third District Court summons to appear Sept. 20.

CONSPIRACY

Around 10:30 a.m., on Sept. 10, Johnston Police responded to The Home Depot, 100 Stone Hill Drive, in reference to a report of shoplifting in progress. While en route to the location, dispatch advised officers that the suspects fled in a silver Jeep with unknown registration, and that the suspect was a black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and red hat.

As Johnston Police Officer Arthur Petteruti approached the Atwood Avenue/Route 6 on-ramp, he observed a vehicle matching the description access the ramp and travel eastbound, according to the police incident report.

“At that time, I was able to catch up to the suspect vehicle and conduct a motor vehicle stop in the area of Route 6 east bound just prior to the Killingly Street exit,” Petteruti wrote in the report. “At that time, I advised dispatch of the motor vehicle stop and advised the male in the rear matched the suspect description.”

The male driver told police that he had just left The Home Depot plaza and did not know what was going on, according to the police incident report.

“Due to an active investigation, all three occupants were removed from the motor vehicle and detained,” Petteruti wrote.

While on scene, another patrolman responded to the store and spoke with loss prevention personnel. Petteruti was provided with an image of the suspect from the surveillance camera, which matched the man in the back seat, later identified as Rodney L. Elliot, homeless, of Providence, according to police.

Petteruti was able to identify the male driver as Jorge Ledeecrespo, of 65 Ledge St., Apt. 1FL, Providence, and the other passenger as Phillip D. Silva, of 526 Branch Ave., Providence.

Petteruti conducted a check on all three occupants, and discovered Ledeecrespo did not possess a Rhode Island driver’s license, but was negative for warrants.

A Rhode Island Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (RILETS) check on Elliot was met with negative results, according to police.

A RILETS check on Silva, however, revealed he had an active NCIC warrant from the Providence Police Department for Domestic Felony Assault, Domestic Simple Assault and Failure to Relinquish a Telephone.

Due to the information available to police, all three men were transported to headquarters for processing.

Ledeecrespo’s vehicle was towed from the scene.

Ledeecrespo and Silva were processed, allowed to make a phone call and secured in a cell.

Ledeecrespo was charged with a misdemeanor charge of Conspiracy, and Driving without a License.

Silva was also charged with Conspiracy, and held on the active warrant. Silva was also held at headquarters because of probation violations stemming from previous larceny and breaking and entering charges, according to the police report.

“While on scene, I conducted a check on all three male occupants,” Petteruti wrote in the report. “While attempting to search Mr. Elliot I observed him to be clenching an item in his fist. Upon opening his hand, I observed him to be holding a clear bag with a powder substance.”

A Nac II test identified the substance as heroin, and it weighed 0.3 grams.

Elliot was processed, allowed to make a phone call and secured in a cell. He was charged with Shoplifting, Conspiracy and Possession of Schedule I, II, III, IV, V controlled substance, all misdemeanors.