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

MALICIOUS DAMAGE

On Jan. 17 at 11:41 a.m., Officer Rose Michel was dispatched to Sparrow Point III, located at 355 Hardig Road, for a malicious damage report.

Upon arrival, Michel spoke with a woman, who said at approximately 8:45 p.m., her grandson drove and parked her vehicle in the lot of the apartment complex. On the morning of Jan. 17 she was informed by a neighbor that her vehicle was damaged. She and her grandson walked out to the parking lot and discovered all four tires were slashed, the front windshield was cracked, the rear was smashed and the vehicle antenna was bent. 

The grandson said he did not leave the vehicle in that condition when he parked. No witnesses or suspects.

VEHICLE LARCENY 

On Jan. 12 at 6:43 a.m., Officer Michael Walker responded to Pine Street for the report of a larceny from a vehicle.

Upon arrival, Walker saw the victim standing outside of his vehicle, a Roto Rooter work truck, which had a broken back window on the right barn door. The man said at approximately 7 a.m., he discovered his Ryobi tool set was missing. He said it included a circular saw (valued at $60), a sawzall (valued at $100), a drill gun (valued at $100), and multiple drill bits (valued at $25). He last saw his van secured the previous at 9:30 with no damage. He said he wishes to press charges if a suspect is found. He also told Walker his neighbor saw the subjects breaking into the vehicle at approximately 1 a.m.

Walker then spoke to the neighbor over the phone, as she had already left for work. She said she has problems sleeping and she was up at 1 a.m. when she saw a vehicle in the roadway at the victim’s van, which was parked across from his house. She described the vehicle as a light gray or silver newer model Mustang stopped in the roadway with its lights off facing Post Road. She said a passenger with a very powerful flashlight (the size of a pen) got out of the vehicle and checked the front and side doors of the van before going to the back of the van and breaking the window. He then entered the van and took multiple items out. She described the male as wearing khaki pants and a gray sweatshirt and he appeared to be holding a blanket in his hand when got back into his vehicle, which then fled toward Post Road. She said she was unsure if the man was wearing gloves. No suspects.

SHOPLIFTING

On Jan. 15 at 1:18 p.m., Officer Christian Vargas was dispatched to J. C. Penney at Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Road, for the report of an adult female in custody for shoplifting.

Upon arrival, Vargas met with a loss prevention associate, who said a female that identified herself as Carmen Dilia Madera had been caught shoplifting. The associate said she observed the woman, who was later properly identified as Yhoani M. Valle, 50, of 68 Warrington Street, Providence, in the Fashion Jewelry Department, where she selected several pieces of jewelry, including three bracelets, three necklaces and three sets of earrings. She then went to the Women’s Clothing Department, where she selected several items of clothing, including a yellow shirt and black pair of pants. She entered the fitting room, then exited a few minutes later with two tops, which she placed on the clothing rack. The associate checked the stall in the fitting room and found two hangars but no merchandise. 

Valle then exited the store, where she was approached by loss prevention and escorted back inside. Valle said she put the merchandise in her handbag so she could go out her car and get her wallet so she could come back in and pay for it. The associate told Vargas Valle provided several false names and no identification. The total value of the recovered merchandise is $492. 

Vargas was able to obtain Valle’s correct name, date of birth, and address. She told Vargas she had a headache and did not know what she was doing and that she had never been in trouble before. When asked if she required medical assistance, Valle said she did not. Valle was transported to Warwick Police Department headquarters, where she was processed and charged with one count of Shoplifting – Misdemeanor. She was later released with a Third District Court summons.

DUI & REFUSAL 

On Jan. 13 at 6:03 p.m., Officer Timothy Tavares and Officer Zaborski were dispatched for the report of a possible intoxicated operator traveling southbound on Warwick Avenue. While en route, Dispatch advised that the vehicle was being followed by two witnesses. Tavares said he was advised the vehicle had stopped in the area of Partition Street, before continuing to travel southbound on Warwick Avenue in the area of the Washington Trust Bank, where he eventually intercepted the vehicle and initiated a motor vehicle stop.

Both officers approached the operator of the vehicle, who was identified as David E. Eccleston, 56, of 22 Overton Street, Warwick. Tavares said he immediately detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle and when he asked Eccleston how much he had to drink that evening, he said “two beers.” Officer Zaborski spoke with witnesses, while Tavares continued with Eccleston.

Tavares said Eccleston’s eyes were extremely watery and bloodshot and a strong odor of alcohol emanated from his breath. He then asked Tavares why he was stopped, to which Tavares said police had received emergency calls regarding his driving. When asked where he was coming from, Eccleston did not respond. When asked where he was going, he said he was on his way home. When asked how much he had to drink, he reiterated two beers. When he exited his vehicle, Eccleston stumbled and Tavares had to catch him by the arm so he did not fall. He was uneasy on his feet, had a staggered stance, and leaned against his truck for balance. Tavares said it appeared Eccleston had urinated on himself, “as his groin area and shoes were wet.” When asked what the residue on his pants and shoes was, Eccleston said he did not know. He then began to explain he was involved in a motor vehicle accident somewhere on West Shore Road the day before and he had gone to Rhode Island Hospital, where he had received morphine at some point during the day. Tavares said it was unclear as to when he was medicated, as his speech was very confused and slurred. When asked if he was supposed to have alcohol with the medication he received, Eccleston did not answer but said he had the alcohol prior to getting the medication. 

While attempting to conduct a series of field sobriety tests, Tavares said Eccleston became defensive and repeatedly asked Tavares to call Rhode Island Hospital to find out what happened to him on the prior day. He remained uncooperative, interrupted Tavares and refused to listen, eventually telling Tavares he would not perform the tests and to “just arrest me.”

Eccleston was then taken into custody and transported to Warwick Police Department headquarters, where he refused a chemical test. He was charged with one count of DUI/Drugs/Alcohol/1st Offense – B.A.C. Unknown, with a Third Division District Court date, and one count of Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test, with a Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal court date, and later released to a sober adult.

According to witness statements obtained by Zaborski, Eccleston crossed the center line into the oncoming northbound traffic on Warwick Avenue multiple times, and when he stopped on Partition Street, he got out and urinated before getting back in his vehicle.