ROBBERY

On March 25, 2024, the Statewide Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Jimmy Castro, 23, and Gissell Starnes, 19, both of Central Falls, with three counts of first-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy.

The alleged act occurred in the city of Warwick on or about Feb. 19, 2023. The Warwick Police Department conducted the investigation, according to a press release from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on April 12, in Kent County Superior Court.

“An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation,” according to the AG’s Office. “A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”

SHOPLIFTING

At 5:14 p.m. on Jan. 1, Warwick Police responded to a report of a shoplifting in progress at the Warwick Mall Macy’s. 

At the scene, the officers were informed of a male who had earlier, around 4:11 p.m., entered the North Face section of the store, where he selected three jackets from the rack, then went to the fitting room.

Upon exiting the fitting room, the man only had one jacket in hand, which he returned to the rack. The jacket he wore appeared bulky, as if the other two were being worn beneath it, according to the arrest report. The man then exited the store, but allegedly re-entered the store at 4:21 p.m. and returned to the North Face section.

“The male selected three jackets off the rack and responded to the changing room,” police wrote in the report. “The male emerged a short time later carrying one jacket in his hand.”

The shopper hung one jacket back on the rack and exited the store again, once again using the north exit. He left the scene in a black Ford Fusion, according to police.

Store security found “security tags” that were removed from the missing jackets inside the pockets of the jackets left behind by the suspect. Police matched the vehicle’s registration with DMV photographs for the owner, and identified the suspect as Derrick T. Gadson, 37, of 215 Harrison St., Apt. 1, Pawtucket (police also listed a redacted North Providence address for the suspect).

Police issued an arrest warrant for Gadson for a misdemeanor Shoplifting charge.

Around 10:40 a.m., Feb. 26, Gadson turned himself into the Warwick Police Headquarters lobby. He was processed, issued a Third District Court summons and released from custody.

DUI

Around 6:40 p.m., Dec. 31, 2023, Warwick Police responded to a DUI arrest in progress in the vicinity of Warwick Neck Avenue and West Shore Road.

Dispatch informed police at the scene that a witness spotted the driver allegedly nearly strike the barrier on Palmer Avenue by Rocky Point Avenue, and then across Warwick Neck Avenue into the back neighborhoods, almost striking multiple parked cars and swerving into oncoming traffic.

Police identified the driver as David R. Forgue, 61, of 37 Warren Ave., Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Forgue was allegedly seen stumbling out of the Bottom Line Bar, at 415 Palmer Ave. He climbed into a white van and drove away from the bar. The witness followed him and called police.

Police found the van parked in the 7Eleven parking lot, just inside the West Shore Road entrance, obstructing the travel lane for vehicles entering and exiting the gas pumps.

Police noted the “strong odor” of alcohol on Forgue’s breath.

Police asked him how he got to the 7Eleven parking lot.

“I drove,” he allegedly answered.

Police then asked him if he ad consumed any alcohol. He said no.

Then they asked him where he was coming from.

He answered, “Music.”

Police noted bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech.

“His answers did not make sense,” Warwick Police Officer Connor W. Craig wrote in the arrest report.

Police asked Forgue to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. He consented. Following the tests, he was arrested and charged with DUI (BAC unknown, first offense). He refused a chemical breath test, according to police. He was also charged with Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (first offense), and issued citations for Laned Roadway Violations and Failure to Maintain Proper Control of Vehicle.

SUSPENDED LICENSE

Around 1:30 p.m., March 4, Warwick Police patrolling East Avenue spotted a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado missing a side mirror, with a “severely shattered windshield.”

Warwick Police Officer Jacob T. Elderkin checked the registration and learned it had been suspended. Police identified the driver as Rafael E. Calderon, 43, of 23 Cornplanter Row, Providence.

According to police, Calderon had an active bench warrant for his arrest and a suspended license.

He was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest. Police searched Calderon and found two knives; one in his pocket and another in his waistband. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Police charged Calderon with Driving on a Suspended License (third offense, a misdemeanor). He also received citations for Operating with a Suspended Registration, No Insurance, and Window Obstruction.

He was later transported to the ACI on the outstanding arrest warrant.

REVOKED LICENSE

Around 3:20 a.m., March 5, Warwick Police Officer Nathan J. Skawinski was patrolling Main Avenue when he spotted a white 2018 Nissan Altima in the westbound lane, swerving over the white center dotted line.

Police initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Gary Jackson Hurst, 39, of Woonsocket.

Police ran a background check and discovered the driver did not possess a valid driver’s license. Police found that it was Hurst’s fourth offense for driving with an inactive license.

Hurst was arrested and charged with Driving with Suspended/Revoked/Canceled License (fourth offense, a misdemeanor) and cited for Laned Roadway Violations. He was transported back to Warwick Police Headquarters and released around 5:55 a.m.