Police Log

Posted 5/25/17

PEDESTRIAN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES On Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 10:25 p.m. officers from the Warwick Police Department responded to the area of 651 Main Avenue for a report of pedestrian who had been struck by a motor vehicle in the roadway. Upon arrival on

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Police Log

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PEDESTRIAN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES

On Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 10:25 p.m. officers from the Warwick Police Department responded to the area of 651 Main Avenue for a report of pedestrian who had been struck by a motor vehicle in the roadway.

Upon arrival on scene, officers located an adult male who had been struck by a car that was driving easterly on Main Avenue approaching the intersection of Greenfield Avenue while the pedestrian was crossing Main Avenue. The victim was transported to RI Hospital with critical injuries. The pedestrian, a 23 year old male from Massachusetts, later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The car's driver was uninjured in the crash, and stopped at the scene where he was taken into custody after failing a series of field sobriety tests.

Members of the Warwick Police Traffic Division Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and are conducting investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the crash. The preliminary investigation revealed that drugs and alcohol were factors in the crash on the part of the car's driver.

The operator of the car is identified as Marshall Howard, 23, from Asylum Road in Warwick. Howard has been charged with driving under the influence (drugs), death resulting and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. He appeared in Third Division District Court for arraignment on those charges.

The victim is identified as David Bustin, originally from Pembroke, Mass., who was residing at 648 Main Ave.

The Warwick Police are seeking the public's help in identifying any witnesses to the crash. Anyone with information relevant to the accident is being asked to contact the Warwick Police Traffic Unit at (401) 468-4343.

ASSAULT

On May 12 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Officer Thomas Green was dispatched to the Hilton Garden Inn on Thurber Street for a report of an intoxicated male wandering through the hallways. Prior to his arrival, dispatch advised that the suspect was not complying with hotel staff to stay in his room, and that two employees were with him.

At the scene Officer Green observed the suspect, later identified as Shawn Merrill, 31, of 98 Farm Lane in Seabrook, New Hampshire, to be wandering through the hall with no pants on and yelling outside of his room. Based on his experience, he noted that Merrill showed definite signs of intoxication and brought him into his room.

The officer then spoke with two female witnesses, who stated that Merrill got into a physical altercation with another male prior to police arriving. Merrill was seen chocking the other man, and later touched the breast of one of the female witnesses. He also attempted to put his hands down her pants as she pushed him away. Merrill then kicked the woman in the shin in retaliation, according to the report. The woman stated that Merrill continuously said, "I love you baby, but why baby?"

Merrill also attempted groping a female security guard while being escorted to his room. As the officer then attempted to speak with Merrill, he became belligerent and incoherent. He continuously swore at the officer before becoming apologetic and compliant. Throughout the interaction, Merrill waivered between compliance and aggression.

Other officers responded to the scene, and one of the females involved in the altercation indicated that she wished to press charges against Merrill. He again became belligerent, and told officers he knew karate and would "kick their (expletive)." He was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters.

Merrill was held for the next session of Third District Court, charged with one count of simple assault and one count of disorderly conduct.

STOLEN WHEELS

Officer James Vible responded to the NYLO hotel on Knight Street on May 13 at about 8:45 am for a report of a larceny of tires and rims from a vehicle.

At the hotel he met with the car's owner, who stated he parked the vehicle in the front lot at around 7:30 p.m. When he returned the next morning he found his car precariously perched on rocks and all four tires and rims were missing.

He advised the officer that the vehicle was a new lease and that the approximate value of the stolen wheels was about $4,000. Hotel staff informed the officer that there were no cameras in the area where the car was parked.

The victim, who was from out of state, was provided phone numbers for local dealerships and tires service stations. At this time there are no suspects or witnesses, and the case was forwarded to detectives for review.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Maxwell Goto, 27, of 7 Evergreen Road in Chepachet, who recently told officers that he drank "probably too much," was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence.

On May 12 just after 11 p.m., Officer Timothy Tavares was dispatched to the area of 200 Post Road for a report of a one care accident, There, he and other officers observed a Prius with its trunk open and Goto near the driver's front side tire. When approached by officers, he did not immediately look at them and appeared confused when asked where he was coming from and what he was doing.

Eventually, Goto told officers that he thought he struck a pothole but was unable to tell them where. According to the report, a strong smell of alcoholic beverages emanated from him. Goto told officers that he had been at the Hot Club in Providence, and when asked if he had been drinking he replied "probably too much." He then agreed to partake in a series of standardized sobriety tests.

Based upon the officers' experience and training, it was determined that Goto was unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle. He was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters while his car was towed. At the station, Goto later refused to take a chemical breathalyzer test. He was charged with one count of driving under the influence, and refusal to take a chemical test. He was later released to a sober adult.

STOLEN SCRAP

Officer Tomas Bogusz was dispatched to the West Shore Health Center on West Shore Road on May 10 around 11:30 a.m. for a report of stolen scrap metal.

There he met with the complainant, who stated that on May 8 a man came into the facility asking if he could take possession of two used water heaters that had been placed outside next to dumpsters. The man was told that he was not allowed to take the heaters as the facility was going to scrap the water heaters themselves.

On the 10th, it was discovered that the heaters were missing. Video footage of the area showed the same male suspect driving into the parking lot in a silver truck with a trailer. He then loaded the heaters onto the vehicle and drove away from the scene. The caller advised that he does wish to press charges if the suspect is found.

LARCENY

On May 12 at approximately 8 a.m., Officer Julio Benros responded to a Community Road residence for a report of a larceny from a motor vehicle.

The caller advised the officer that her Coach wallet valued at $200 was stolen from the car while it was parked in her driveway. The wallet contained a health card, her drivers license, and a credit card. That card was later used without her permission as a Warwick Dunkin' Donuts. She then told the officer that she had called her financial institution to report the activity and cancel the card.

A criminal complaint was taken and the report was forwarded to detectives for follow-up.

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