Police Log

Posted 8/5/15

The Police Log is a digest of reports filed by the Warwick Police Department.

THE CHIEF

GOT HIM

Police Chief Stephen M. McCartney was traveling on Cowesett Road heading towards police …

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Police Log

Posted

The Police Log is a digest of reports filed by the Warwick Police Department.

THE CHIEF

GOT HIM

Police Chief Stephen M. McCartney was traveling on Cowesett Road heading towards police headquarters in his unmarked vehicle on July 30 at approximately 6:50 a.m. to begin his assigned tour of duty when his attention turned to his rear view mirror. He observed a vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed in excess of the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour, which then passed on the left operating in the wrong way of travel. He proceeded to stop the 2002 Ford Taurus at Love Lane and radioed in to dispatch requesting assistance from a marked unit. The operator, who identified himself as Benjamin Dufault, 18, of 178 Lakedell Drive, Warwick, did not have his license on his person but gave his date of birth. A license check did come back with an active license. At that time, Officers Timothy Lipka and Matt Smith arrived on scene, were briefed by McCartney of the circumstances, and the investigation was turned over to them.

While speaking with Mr. Dufault, Lipka observed that the car had an expired inspection sticker. Upon running checks with dispatch, Lipka was again advised that Dufault had an active license but he did have a warrant through the Office of the Courts. At that time, Dufault was handcuffed, taken into custody, and transported back to police headquarters while Officer Smith remained on scene for the vehicle to be towed.

At headquarters, Dufault was booked and secured and subsequently issued a summons for overtaking on the left and inspection sticker required.

SHOPLIFTING

On July 30 at approximately 9 p.m. Officers Timothy Kenyan and James Wenneman were dispatched to the Walmart at 840 Post Road for a report of shoplifting. Upon arrival officers met with a member of the store’s loss prevention team, who was outside with two females, and stated that there was a third female who fled the store when confronted for shoplifting. That woman was identified as Melissa Moreta, 19, of 87 Rounds Ave., Apt. #1, Providence.

According to loss prevention, at approximately 8 p.m. he was monitoring video surveillance and observed the three women in the cosmetic aisle selecting various items from the shelf and placing them in a lady’s hat they had also selected. Moreta also selected a lady’s handbag and while in the infant’s clothing section concealed 22 cosmetic items in the bag, according to the report. After doing so, all three allegedly exited the store without attempting to pay for the merchandise, with Moreta holding the concealed items, valued at $146.41. The loss prevention member approached the subjects in the vestibule area of the main exit and identified himself, and it was then that Moreta threw the handbag at him and ran to Post Road. Loss prevention contacted Warwick Police as the other two females remained on scene.

Wennman ran a check of Moreta and it was discovered she had a warrant for failure to appear for a shoplifting charge from April. Wennman instructed the two friends to contact Moreta and at 9:20 p.m. she returned to the store and was taken into custody. She was transported to police headquarters, fingerprinted, photographed, booked and then transported to the A.C.I.

CAN’T

TAKE TEST

Officer John Curley was on a traffic stop on Rout 95 North in the area of exit 14 on July 29 at approximately 10 p.m. While on that traffic stop and making initial contact with the vehicle operator, Curley observed Officer Stephen Major arrive on scene, leaving cruiser lights on, and start walking towards his direction. Shortly after, Curley heard Major scream in a loud voice “Curley,” at which time he looked up and realized there was a vehicle traveling directly at the two officers. Both officers relocated to the passenger side of the stopped vehicle to avoid being struck by the northbound car. At the last moment, the driver of the black pick-up truck swerved, barely missed Officer Major’s parked cruiser, jerked the vehicle to the left and cut off numerous vehicles before continuing on to the Route 37 eastbound exit. Major responded back to his vehicle and followed the 2014 Toyota black pick-up.

When Major finally caught up with the truck, the driver eventually pulled over in the middle of the Route 37 exit. Major used the cruiser’s megaphone to advise the driver to move forward for safety reasons. The driver pulled up about 100 yards farther off to the right, striking the curbing along the exit as he drove.

Major approached the driver and identified him with his license as John Bucci, 63, of 170 Arnold Ave., Cranston. Major observed immediately that Bucci had severely bloodshot and watery eyes and asked him where he was coming from, to which Bucci stated Narragansett. Major asked him about the near collision, in which Bucci stated the two cruisers emergency lights “startled him.” As Major continued the interaction, he observed Bucci speak in a slurred and mumbled fashion and detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Major asked if he had any drinks while in Narragansett, and Bucci stated he had three drinks “down by the water.”

Major requested that Bucci take a series of sobriety tests, to which he replied that he “needed to pee.” He stated he could hold it while taking the tests. He exited the vehicle, leaned against its body while making his way to the rear and sat up along the tailgate.

The officer asked Bucci if he had any injuries that would preclude him from following the visual stimulus test, which he said no. On five separate occasions while Major was giving the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, Bucci was unable to keep his head still and follow the visual stimulus with his eyes only. When Bucci could keep his head still, he would only stare off into the distance. Major moved on to the Walk and Turn test, in which Bucci could not stand in the heel to toe position. On three occasions he almost fell over, at which point Bucci stated “I can’t take this test, I’m too drunk.” Major asked if Bucci would continue, and he stated “Nope, I can’t take this test. I’m too drunk.”

Major asked if he would attempt to take a second test, to which he stated “Sure, why not.” Major began providing instructions for the One Leg Stand test, asked if Bucci had any injuries that would preclude him, and he just continually said “an artificial hip.” He then again repeated, “I can’t take this test. I’m too drunk.”

Officer Curley, after concluding his previous traffic stop, eventually arrived on scene with a portable breath test machine, which he is certified to use. He presented Bucci with the option to blow into the breath test, which he accepted and proceeded to blow a .195.

Bucci was placed under arrest and was read his rights from a Rights for Use at the Scene of a preprinted card. On the ride back to police headquarters, Bucci was apologetic for drinking and driving and was “embarrassed” that he was drunk driving.

At the station after making his confidential phone call, Bucci was placed in front of the Intoxilyzer 9000 machine and asked to give a breath sample. At 10:54, Bucci stated “a guilty man needs to own up to his fault.” Major asked if he was going to provide a breath sample and he stated no. He was then turned over to the jailer for processing.

Bucci was charged with D.U.I., B.A.C. unknown firstst offense and refusal to submit to a chemical test. He was then released to a sober party in the lobby.

CYCLIST

IDENTIFIED

Police have identified the driver and the cyclist involved in an accident July 28 at about 9:30 p.m. in the area of 2000 Warwick Avenue.

The accident involved a 2005 Nissan Altima, operated by Gina Pineda, a 45-year-old female from Warwick, and the bicyclist, Eduard Brum, a 53-year-old male from Warwick. Brum was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by Warwick Fire Rescue, where he is currently listed in stable condition.

The preliminary investigation disclosed that the vehicle was traveling north on Warwick Avenue in the left lane when the vehicle collided with the bicyclist, who initially appears to have been crossing the roadway from the westbound side to eastbound side of Warwick Avenue. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Preliminary investigation shows that speed and alcohol do not appear to be a factor at this time. At this time, it appears criminal charges are unlikely.

The investigation is ongoing and any person with information related to the accident is requested to contact the Warwick Police Department Traffic Division. Please contact Officer Hart (468-4345) who has been assigned as the lead investigator.

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