Citing “several conflicts of interest,” Col. Bradford Connor has turned over a complaint alleging Senate District 29 endorsed Democratic candidate Michael Carreiro forged the signature of his wife on the nomination papers he filed with the Board of Canvassers to the State Police.

Local activist Rob Cote filed the complaint with the Warwick Board of Canvassers and Warwick Police on Aug. 15 in the wake of the board’s decision not to act on Cote and Jennifer Rourke’s claims Carreiro, a Warwick Fire Department lieutenant and president of the firefighters union, was not a resident of the district at the time of his declaration since he was living at his mother’s home in North Providence. Rourke and Carreiro face off in the Democratic primary Sept. 13 for the party’s nomination. Acting on the counsel of the assistant city solicitor, the Board of Canvassers voted not to rule on Carreiro’s residency since the challenge had not been filed on time.

In his criminal complaint, Cote alleges Carreiro signed for his wife, Jennie, and then “under oath” signed the nomination papers as having witnessed the nomination paper signatures. In a supporting document he provided a copy of text messages with Jennie Carreiro which she says she didn’t sign the papers, nor did she give Carreiro permission to sign.

In an Aug. 22 email to Cote, Connor writes, “There were several conflicts of interest in this case; one being Mike's employment with the city, the other with Mike's brother working in our Prosecution Division.

“Based on these factors we thought it best to have an unbiased eye look into the complaint. We met with RI State Police and turned everything over to their detective division. They have all of your contact info and we relayed to them that you would make yourself available should they need any additional information.”

Cote said yesterday morning that he expected to hear shortly from State Police. He had no report as of press time.

Meanwhile, in a development related to Carreiro’s candidacy, Cote related a confrontation he had with members of the Board of Canvassers when he sought to verify another pair of signatures on nomination papers. He said when he asked for staff to confirm the signatures from voter registration cards, they accused him of stirring up trouble and didn’t even compare the signatures of two different people that appeared to be signed by the same person. He said he was directed to leave the office and continue the discussion in the hallway. He was then told to leave under threat that police would be called and he would be arrested for civil disturbance.

On Tuesday Cote received a letter from City Solicitor Michael A. Ursillo advising him if he desires to speak with officials at the Board of Canvassers that he must first make an appointment with Director of Elections, Kerry Nardolillo.

“Your confrontational conduct with the Canvasser’s Office cannot be countenanced. Consequently, if you do in fact request an appointment, another city official will also be present during the meeting,” reads Ursillo’s letter.