FATAL HIT & RUN UPDATE

North Kingstown man arrested for fatal Warwick hit & run

A North Kingstown man is behind bars after an intensive investigation into a double hit and run on Quaker Lane.

Warwick Police have arrested the alleged driver of the vehicle suspected in the fatal incident last Sunday night, July 28.

According to Warwick Police Capt. Charles A. Boisseau, of the Community Services Division, on Thursday, Aug. 1, members of the Warwick Police Department, assisted by North Kingstown Police, arrested 24-year-old Dannys L. De Jesus Marcano at his North Kingstown.

Warwick Detectives located the vehicle they say “was involved in Sunday’s Fatal Hit & Run,” according to the press release released by Warwick Police.

Marcano has been charged with one count of Duty to Stop in Accidents Resulting in Death, and one count of Duty to Stop in Accidents Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The suspect was in custody for arraignment, scheduled for 9 a.m.  Friday, Aug. 2 at the Noel Judicial Complex, at 222 Quaker Lane, not far from the initial crash site.

Two pedestrians were struck down by vehicles within minutes on Quaker Lane in Warwick that Sunday night. A 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene; a 26-year-old woman was transported to the hospital with serious injuries following the fatal hit and run.

Police said a woman initially hit a male pedestrian and stopped to check on his condition. When she exited her vehicle, both she and the first victim were run down by another passing vehicle, according to initial reports from the scene.

Warwick Police identified the man who was killed as Nicholas Cote, 44, of Warwick. Police said Cote “was on foot, in the right, southbound lane.”

The first motorist, and the other hit-and-run victim, was identified as Logan Barboza, 26, of West Warwick. Barboza was transported to “Rhode Island Hospital with serious bodily injuries,” according to Warwick Police.

“Upon getting out to check his condition, a dark-colored SUV, described as a Jeep Grand Cherokee, struck Barboza causing serious bodily injury, and ran over Cote resulting in fatal injury,” according to Warwick Police. “The Jeep then continued southbound on Quaker Lane without stopping.”

The deadly incidents occurred outside 709 Quaker Lane in Warwick around 9:39 p.m., Sunday, July 28.

Upon arrival, police “found two victims in the Route 2 South bound lane of travel,” according to police.

“A witness remained on scene and provided a written statement to investigating officers,” police said in a press release. “Initial findings indicate that the female had been traveling south on Quaker Lane when her vehicle struck a pedestrian in the right, southbound lane. Upon getting out to check on his condition, a dark-colored SUV, described as a Jeep Grand Cherokee, struck the female causing serious bodily injury, and ran over the pedestrian resulting in fatal injury. The Jeep then continued southbound on Quaker Lane without stopping.”

The Warwick Police Traffic Units’ Accident Reconstruction Team led the investigation.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to Nicholas Cote’s family, as well as our wishes for a strong recovery to Logan Barboza,” Warwick Police said in a statement. “And a special ‘Thank you’ to everyone that contributed to the speedy closure of this investigation.”

Shoplifting

At around 4:14 p.m. on July 7, Warwick Police responded to an active shoplifting at the Warwick Mall Target at 400 Bald Hill Road. The suspect, identified as Joseph Moten, 49, of 265 Dexter Ave., Pawtucket, allegedly stole 16 items worth $559.34.  Police report Moten hid behind vehicles in the parking lot before taking off his shirt and going into the mall food court. When confronted, Moten reportedly resisted arrest, pulling his hands away when getting handcuffed. Moten was charged with resisting arrest and shoplifting, a felony on the second offense.

DUI

A Warwick Police Officer pulled over James Smith, 33, of 4010 Leisure Drive, Temple Hills, MD, at around 2:30 a.m. July 6 for alleged “dangerous operation” of a motor vehicle. This included speeding, illegal turns and traveling in an incorrect lane, according to police. When initiating a traffic stop, the officer noted the odor of alcohol on his breath in addition to slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. At first, Smith said that he had no drink, later saying that he had one Long Island Iced Tea from TGI Friday in New Jersey, police reported. Smith refused to do a field sobriety test, saying officers should “arrest him,” according to Warwick Police. He was arrested at 2:41 a.m. for suspicion of a DUI. 

During a motor vehicle search, Warwick Police reportedly found evidence of alcohol in a beverage in the vehicle which Smith identified as a Long Island Iced Tea from TGI Friday. He then said he had three of them from New York at around midnight, according to police. A breath test sample taken at around 3:45 a.m. recorded Smith with a BAC of 0.154, after which he was charged with driving under the influence, police say.

DUI

On July 5, at around 1:21 p.m., Warwick Police responded to a crash at 721 Centerville Road. Jesus Matos, 31, of 19 Baily St., Cranston, was in his Jeep Cherokee reportedly facing eastbound in the westbound lane. Matos consented to a field sobriety test and the officer noticed watery bloodshot eyes, according to police. A preliminary breath test did not produce a valid sample. Based on the test, the officer concluded that Matos was reportedly “unfit to operate a motor vehicle upon the public highway.” He was charged with driving under the influence and refusing to submit to a chemical test. 

Shoplifting

On July 11, Warwick Police responded to the Pawtucket PD for a warrant pickup regarding Veronica Abreu, 37, of 273 Hunt St., who was wanted for alleged shoplifting. On December 8, Abreu was seen allegedly stealing a Dunkin’ thermos and a Keurig machine at a Dunkin’ at around 8 p.m. Together, the items were valued at $98.98. She reportedly placed the items outside, before reentering the store and purchasing drinks with cash, police said.

Shoplifting

On July 9, Jorge Davila, 44, of 25 Sawyer St., Providence, turned himself in on a warrant, after being wanted for shoplifting from the Warwick Mall Target at 400 Bald Hill Road on June 28. Davila allegedly used false tickets to buy $545 worth of special Magic cards, according to police. He paid $32.05 and passed the point of sale when a Target Asset Protection Specialist tried to stop him, police reported. When the Target worker said that they were going to call the cops, Davila allegedly told her to do so, the worker said to the police.

Suspended License

On July 8, a Warwick Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on Post Road and Bucklin Avenue about 1:51 p.m. after recognizing that the vehicle owner, Dange Ardon, 24, of 735 Park Ave., Cranston, allegedly had an active warrant for failure to appear in the Third District Court. The officer found that Ardon was driving with a suspended license — Ardon’s fourth offense of this nature — and her registration was canceled, according to police.

Warrant

On July 8, Warwick Police responded to a disturbance at the Walmart at 650 Bald Hill Road. Staff wanted Mark Neff, 38, of 143 Sutton Ave., Providence, removed from the property after allegedly becoming confrontational at the customer service desk. Police reported Neff was “unsteady on his feet,” and he had “the odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.”  During checks, “Neff laid on the ground and stated he had fainted,” according to officers. He was taken to Kent County Memorial Hospital, and following an evaluation, to Warwick Police Headquarters.

Driving after Suspension

On July 8, Warwick Police were patrolling Oakland Beach when they saw a silver Honda Accord parked in the parking lot when the beach was closed to the public at around 2:30 a.m, according to a police report.  When checking the vehicle’s registration, police found that the owner, identified as Melissa Guzman 32, of 290 Beckwith St., allegedly had a suspended license. The vehicle began to drive out, which resulted in the officer performing a traffic stop, according to police.  Guzman was reportedly taken into police custody and released at around 4:10 a.m.