Police Log

Posted 2/25/16

By DANIEL KITTREDGE

Town man arrested with drugs, counterfeit merchandise

A Johnston man was arrested in Massachusetts earlier this month after an investigation into the sale of counterfeit …

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Police Log

Posted

By DANIEL KITTREDGE

Town man arrested with drugs, counterfeit merchandise

A Johnston man was arrested in Massachusetts earlier this month after an investigation into the sale of counterfeit sports merchandise.

Mansfield police took Richard Rugo, 46, into custody on Feb. 16 as he attempted to sell counterfeit items during a sports memorabilia show at the Holiday Inn in that community. Police worked with a private investigation firm that had been conducting a probe of suspected intellectual property violations.

According to police, a search of Rufo’s vehicle at the scene resulted in the seizure of oxycodone and suboxone pills, along with a 1-1/2 bag of marijuana, $760 in cash, and “numerous other counterfeit items and apparel.” Police said a subsequent search warrant executed at a Smithfield warehouse led to the seizure of a “sizeable amount of counterfeit merchandise.”

Rufo was arraigned on multiple drug- and counterfeiting-related charges and released on $750 cash bail.

Bank robbery suspect

arrested again

A woman charged in the robbery of a Cranston bank earlier this month has been arrested again in connection with a heist in Coventry.

Shannon Sampson, 27, with a last known address of 55 Manual Ave. in Johnston, was arrested Saturday at the Warwick Mall. She is charged with robbery.

According to Coventry police, a woman wearing a hood and scarf entered the Citizens Bank branch on Tiogue Avenue in that community around noon on Saturday.

The woman passed the teller a note and then left with a small amount of cash, with witnesses reporting she had gotten into the passenger seat of a white vehicle. Sampson was identified as a person of interest, and was later arrested after being spotted at the mall by Warwick police.

Sampson – who told police she worked as a dancer at a Providence strip club – was arrested earlier this month in Attleboro, Mass., in connection with a robbery at the Santander branch on Reservoir Avenue in Cranston.

Suspect in pregnant woman’s killing indicted

A Providence man has been indicted on murder and arson charges in connection with the November killing of a pregnant Cranston woman.

Born Smith, 29, of 106 Knight St. in Providence, remains held without bail and is due to be arraigned in Providence Superior Court on March 9, according to the office of Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. The Statewide Grand Jury’s indictment was reported out on Feb. 16.

Smith – who had no prior criminal record – was arrested Nov. 17 and charged in the murder of 32-year-old Aliss Collins, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her death. Police said witness descriptions of a suspect seen fleeing the scene of the crime played a role in Smith’s apprehension.

Firefighters responding to a blaze at 35/37 Marcy St. in Cranston on the evening of Nov. 13 discovered Collins’ body, and she and her unborn child were pronounced deceased after being transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

Authorities determined the fire – which was contained to the third floor of the apartment building, where Collins lived with a roommate – had been set intentionally. The State Medical Examiner’s Office found Collins died as a result of blunt force trauma and smoke inhalation.

At the time of Smith’s arrest, Cranston Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist described him as having been an “intimate partner” of Collins for approximately 10 months. He said the victim’s family knew of her relationship with Smith, and had described it as “volatile.” It is unclear whether Smith was the father of the unborn child.

While offering few specifics, Winquist in November had pointed to what he called a “very strong case” against Smith, including a forensic link to the murder weapon and other physical evidence.

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