SEXUAL ASSAULT

On Nov. 1, the Kent County Grand jury returned an indictment charging Blong Yang, 51, of Warwick, with one count of domestic first-degree sexual assault and one count of domestic assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual assault, according to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

The alleged acts occurred in the city of Warwick sometime between July 29, and July 31, 2022. The Warwick Police Department conducted the investigation. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on November 10, in Kent County Superior Court.

CATALYTIC  CONVERTER THEFTS

On Oct. 15, Warwick Police Officer Aaron L. Steere was at the Hilton Garden Inn, at 1 Thurber St., when he was approached by a woman who said she was a guest at the hotel and that when she checked out, and got into her vehicle, it would not start.

Upon further inspection, she realized that someone had stolen the catalytic converter from her vehicle’s undercarriage. A second victim later came forward and told police they also had a catalytic converter stolen from their car while it was parked in the lot around the same time.

On Oct. 17, Warwick Police Officer David L. Boardman responded to 877 Main Ave., where he met with another woman who told him her catalytic converter was stolen from her vehicle the previous day (Oct. 16). The vehicle was running fine prior to 3 p.m., but after work at the Bald Hill Road Walmart around 11 p.m., the car “sounded horrible.”

The vehicle was towed to the Battery Shop, and the victim was told damages and a replacement would cost around $4,000.

DUI

Around 5:30 p.m., Oct. 15, Warwick Police on routine patrol traveling north on Post Road spotted a disruption in traffic where the road separates into three lanes.

“My attention was drawn towards a disruption of traffic which was taking place in the intersection ahead of me,” Warwick Police Officer Keara M. Enos wrote in the arrest report. “I observed traffic in the center lane come to a halt, and a gray Saab was stopped in the laneway. The Saab then turned from the center lane, across the right-turn-only lane, and began traveling east on Airport Road. It should be noted that when the vehicle did this, it caused multiple vehicles surrounding it to activate their brakes to avoid hitting it.”

Enos followed the vehicle and eventually initiated a traffic stop.

The driver was identified as Ivan Rodriguez, 40, of 239 Indiana Ave., Providence. Dispatch advised that Rodriguez’s driver’s license was suspended.

Enos asked him if he would submit to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. He consented.

Following the tests, Rodriguez was arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor/Drugs (BAC 0.15 or greater; second offense), Bench Warrant, and Driving on a Suspended License (third or subsequent offense). He was also issued traffic citations for Operation of Unregistered Motor Vehicles, Display of Registration Plates, Manner of Turning at Intersection and Laned Roadway Violations.