Johnston Police Log

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

MULTIPLE CHARGES

Patrolman Nicholas A. Manocchio and several other officers responded to the area of 1575 Plainfield St. for the report of a motor vehicle hit-and-run involving two vehicles the evening of June 6.

Upon arrival, Manocchio said he spoke with the first victim, who said he was traveling west on Plainfield Street when an SUV, traveling eastbound, entered his lane of travel at a high rate of speed and hit the front and rear quarter panels of the driver’s side of his vehicle. Manocchio said he observed air bag deployment in the man’s vehicle.

The man advised Manocchio that the suspect vehicle fled from the scene after impacting his vehicle and made no attempt to stop. The officer also spoke with a second victim, who said she was traveling west on Plainfield Street when a gold/beige Ford Explorer with a Tennessee registration, going eastbound, veered over the yellow lines and side-swiped her vehicle on the driver’s side rear quarter panel.

She said the vehicle then went over the curb on the westbound shoulder of the roadway and came to rest in the parking lot of 1537 Plainfield St. She said that a woman exited the vehicle and ran from the scene on foot traveling north on Pezzullo Street. Moments later, the same woman was observed walking south on Pezzullo Street and was positively identified as the alleged driver of the vehicle.

The suspect – Cassandra A. Tierney, 27, of Bloor Street in Warwick – signed a medical treatment refusal form with the Johnston Fire Department. While speaking to Tierney, Manocchio said he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath. Tierney also allegedly had severely bloodshot and watery eyes, her speech was slurred and her face was red in color. When he asked Tiereny if she had been drinking alcohol that evening, she responded, “Yes.”

Manocchio said Tierney believed that she was on Park Avenue in Cranston. When Manocchio advised her that she was on Plainfield Street in Johnston, she responded, “No way, this is Park Ave., we’re in Cranston.” At that time, Manocchio requested Tierney take part in a series of standardized field sobriety tests, or SFSTs, to which she consented. He noted that all emergency flashing lights were off and JFD had left the scene.

Manocchio said Tierney was transported to a safe and open location in the parking lot, which was a level surface, clear of any possible obstruction. He noted that, while Tierney was walking to a safe and open location, she struggled to walk without losing her balance. He said she was wearing sneakers as well.

Manocchio said he had to repeat the instructions to the first test four times because Tierney continuously interrupted him. Tierney said she understood the instructions, and Manocchio asked if she had any physical impairments that would prohibit her from performing the test, to which she said, “No.”

Manocchio began to administer the test with his pen, when he observed her lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes. He said she also continuously swayed from front to back.

While explaining his second test, the walk-and-turn, Manocchio said Tierney lost her balance and almost fell to the ground. She said, “I can’t pass this.” The officer said he then terminated the tests for Tierney’s safety.

Tierney was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and two counts of duty to stop for an accident resulting in damage to attended vehicles. She received a Third Division District Court summons for those charges, as well as one for driving with a suspended license, first offense.

Tierney was issued separate summonses for refusal to submit to a chemical test, two counts of operating left of center, operating of vehicle when registration is canceled and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.