DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

While on routine patrol heading west on Airport Road on July 26, Officer Alfred Silveira observed a Nissan Altima operating in the left hand lane with both driver side tires in the eastbound lane over the double yellow lines. He then initiated a traffic report.

According to his report narrative, the officer then made contact with the driver, identified as Amanda Alexander, 33, of 16 S. Locust in North Providence. Alexander could not immediately provide her license and took some time to locate it as she rummaged through her purse. She then located the license but failed to provide her registration and insurance.

When asked, Alexander told the officer she was coming from her friend’s house in Warren. She then said that she was coming from Ollie’s Pub on West Shore Road. Officer Silveira observed signs of intoxication and detected the smell of alcohol as they spoke. Alexander stated that she had one alcoholic beverage that evening. Additional officers were then called to the scene for assistance.

Alexander was asked to exit her vehicle and consented to a series of standardized sobriety tests. Police report that she stated, “Look, I know I’m drunk, I’m not going to be able to do this,” during one of the tests and “Why don’t you just arrest me already, I know I’m drunk,” during another.

Based on her interactions with the police, and the experience and training of the officer, a determination was made that Alexander was unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. She was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters. While in transport, she told the officer she had a couple of house margaritas at the pub.

At the station she reportedly told officers that it was her night to go out and have fun and stated she should have had someone drive for her. She kept repeating that she knew she shouldn’t have been driving and would admit to anything, adding that she had never been arrested before and wanted to be cooperative. She consented to a chemical breathalyzer test, which produced readings of 0.233 and 0.220 as a blood alcohol content.

Alexander was charged with driving under the influence, first offence. It was later found that her license had expired, which resulted in a charge of driving on an expired license. She was also issued a violation for leaving the lane of travel. She was later released to a sober adult. The officer noted in his report that Alexander was very cooperative during his contact with her.

LICENSE PLATES DAMAGED

On July 26 at approximately 8:30 p.m., Officer Tyler Stone responded to a Carolyn Road residence for a report of malicious damage to license plates.

At the scene he spoke with the reporting party, who stated that the bottom right hand corners on both his front and rear license plates had been cut off. The officer then viewed the damage and noted that they were cut so that the removed sections contained the registration decals. The owner stated that the damage occurred sometime within the previous 48 hours.

Neighbors were approached for possible additional information, but indicated that they had not seen anything suspicious. At this time there are no suspects or witnesses.

COUNTERFEIT BILLS

Officer Derek Mourato along with multiple officers from the department responded to the Warwick Mall on July 27 just after 4 p.m. for a report of six male subjects attempting to pass counterfeit $100 bills in the Food Court. The subjects were described as younger black males all wearing similar red clothing, according to the police report.

At the scene officers spoke with security personnel, who stated that the male subjects ran from the Food Court onto Greenwich Avenue. Officer Mourato then observed a younger black male wearing red sneakers and a red baseball cap walking nearby. He was stopped and asked where he was coming from, to which he answered the mall’s Food Court. He was later identified as Carlos Fleming, 23, of 30 Richman Plaza in Bronx, N.Y.

When asked whom he had been with, he stated that he did not know who they were, but said that he was from New York. When asked for his name, he reportedly stated that he “didn’t have to give it because he had nothing to do with those other guys.” He was then ordered several times to sit down, and refused. He was then forced into a seated position by officers.

He allegedly provided a false date of birth and fictitious name, and refused to answer any questions while obstructing the investigation. He did admit that he was with the other subjects in the Food Court but said that he “was not gonna get in trouble for what the other guys did. Fleming did not have identification on him, and continued to provide a false name and date of birth.

It was eventually determined that Fleming would be placed under arrest for obstructing an officer in execution of duty by providing false information . He was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters.

Background checks on information provided by Fleming led to a 74-year-old male. After being fingerprinted, he provided his correct Social Security number, name, age, and date of birth. Checks then revealed that Fleming had a criminal history with several arrests for passing counterfeit bills.

Fleming was charged with one count of obstruction, and was held to await an appearance before the bail commissioner.

STOLEN BACKPACK

On July 29 at approximately 7:05 p.m., Officer Timothy Tavares was dispatched to the area of 840 Post Road for a report of a suspect in a theft of a backpack from the previous day was traveling on foot southbound on Post Road. The suspect had allegedly stolen a backpack from an employee at the Post Road McDonalds. The theft was captured by surveillance cameras. Management staff at the restaurant called police stating that the male suspect had returned to the store and had just left again on foot. They also provided a description of the suspect.

At the scene Officer Tavares observed a male fitting the suspect’s description, and stopped him. Identified as Richard Pestana, 24, of 140 Norwood Avenue in Warwick, he at first stated that he had no knowledge of the backpack. He later became cooperative and stated he did take the backpack and that it was still in his possession.

Pestana was taken to his residence by officers to retrieve the bag. He then took officers to the room he was renting and placed items he believed he took from the backpack back inside. According to the reporting party, the backpack also contained $350, however Pestana stated that there was no money in the backpack.

Pestana was then taken into custody for one count of receiving/possession of stolen goods. He was then transported to police headquarters, where he was given a Third District Court summons before being released.