DUI

On Oct. 22 at 8:15 p.m., while sitting in the parking lot of Benny’s at 2574 West Shore Road, Officer Jacob Elderkin observed a vehicle exit the Burger King parking lot and make a right hand turn onto West Shore Road, spinning its tires and making a loud screeching sound. After observing this, Elderkin followed the vehicle and when it screeched its tires a second time while turning onto Sandy Lane, he conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Sandy Lane and Clorane Street.

Upon speaking with the operator of the vehicle, who was identified by his Rhode Island driver’s license as being Richard White, 30, of 139 Green River Avenue, Warwick, Elderkin said he immediately detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and noticed his eyes were severely bloodshot. When asked if had consumed any alcoholic beverages that evening, the man said, “Yes, of course I have,” and when asked how many, he said, “About six or seven beers.” Elderkin said his speech was extremely slurred.

After calling for assistance, Elderkin removed White from his vehicle and patted him down to check for weapons, then escorted him to a flat, level surface and told him he would administer field sobriety tests.

While administering the tests, Elderkin said White had difficulty maintaining his balance and subsequently failed all three tests. After determining White was unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle, he was taken into custody and transported to Warwick Police headquarters, where he agreed to submit to a breath test, registering a .209 and .222 using the intoxilyzer 9000 machine. White was also afforded an opportunity to make a confidential phone call but declined it. He was then turned over to the jailer for processing. White was charged with one count of DUI of liquor and/or drugs first offense .15 or greater and for driving with a suspended license with a District Court date. He was also issued a violation for care in starting from stop with a Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal court date. White was then able to contact a sober adult to pick him up from the station. White’s vehicle was towed from the scene.

SHOPLIFTING

On Oct. 23 at 7:08 p.m., Officer Christian Vargas was dispatched to Macy’s, 400 Bald Hill Road, for the report of a male shoplifter in custody.

Upon arrival, Officer Vargas met with loss prevention associates, who pointed out the male subject in custody. He was later identified as Michael Tran, 31, of 36 Mendon Street, Bellingham, Mass. One of the loss prevention associates said she observed a male subject, later identified as Tran, enter the Men’s Active area of Macy’s, select three T-shirts (one white, one blue, one black), a NorthFace sweatshirt and two NorthFace jackets. He then entered the fitting room with the six items and later exited with only five. He then exited the store, passing all points of purchase and failing to pay for the merchandise. Tran was then detained outside the store and escorted back inside with the assistance of mall security. Once in the loss prevention office, the merchandise was recovered from a Macy’s bag, which also contained an empty shoebox, which contained a heavy duty magnet, identified as a “detacher” used by retail personnel to remove “Hawkeye sensor security tags.”

Vargas said the detacher was tagged and entered into evidence. He said Tran was also in possession of a “hook,” which is used in a “sensormatic” security device for removing security pin tags. This was also tagged and entered into evidence. After a loss prevention associate checked the items that were brought into the fitting room and left, the defeated “Hawkeye sensor security tag” was located in the pocket of one of the sweatshirts. The recovered merchandise was identified as a black T-shirt, valued at $17.50. The associate told Vargas Macy’s wished to prosecute and have the subject No Tresspassed from Macy’s.

Vargas said he was informed that during a search incident to arrest by another officer, three pills in a plastic baggie were located on Tran, which were identified through Drugs.com as oxycodone hydrochloride. The pills were seized, tagged and entered into evidence.

Tran was asked if he used a device to remove a security tag from a Nike T-shirt, to which he said he probably did. He said the magnet and hook were his and described his shoplifting as a “hobby.” He claimed the oxycodone pills were prescribed to him by a doctor but was unable to produce a prescription bottle. He claimed he only carries what he thinks he will need for the day.

Tran was then transported to Warwick Police Department headquarters, where he was processed and charged with Shoplifting-Misdemeanor; Possession of Schedule I, II, III, IV, V; and Unlawful Use and/or Removal of Theft Detection Device. Tran was released after going before the bail commissioner.