Police Log

Posted 9/20/18

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE On Sept. 8 at approximately 7:18 p.m. Officer Tyler Stone was on patrol on Post Rd., in the area of Route 37, when he saw a truck driving very erratically, speeding down Post Rd. and crossing lanes constantly, almost causing

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Police Log

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DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On Sept. 8 at approximately 7:18 p.m. Officer Tyler Stone was on patrol on Post Rd., in the area of Route 37, when he saw a truck driving very erratically, speeding down Post Rd. and crossing lanes constantly, almost causing an accident.

He pulled the car over and identified the driver as Paul Griffin, 68, of 140 Bay View Ave. in Cranston. Griffin seemed confused and oblivious about his erratic driving, according to the officer. When asked, Griffin said he was driving home from Chelo’s and said that he had two beers while there just prior to driving. He also said he had been playing softball at City Park that day and had been drinking beers there.

The officer observed Griffin to have bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcohol coming from his breath. He decided to conduct a series of field sobriety tests on Griffin, during which nearly all clues indicating impairment were observed, according to the officer.

Griffin was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI and transported to police headquarters. While there, Griffin agreed to chemical B.A.C. tests, during which he had levels of .128 and .130 B.A.C.

Griffin was charged with DUI of Liquor or Drugs – 1st Offense .10 - .15 and later was released on court summons.

***

On Sept. 10 at approximately 4:29 p.m. multiple officers responded to the report of a medical emergency at the intersection of Cowesett Rd. and Hardig Rd. There had been a motor vehicle accident and first responders were already on the scene.

Officer Brian Fontaine made contact with one of the drivers, Thomas Palucha, 72, of 100 Youngs Ave. in West Warwick.

While speaking with Palucha, the officer said he detected an odor of alcohol coming from his breath and his eyes to be bloodshot. Palucha told him he had drunk two hard alcoholic drinks that day.

Palucha consented to a series of field sobriety tests, during which nearly all clues indicating impairment were observed by the officer.

He was placed in the back of a police cruiser, and agreed to a preliminary B.A.C. test, during which he blew a .137 B.A.C.

He was taken to police headquarters, where he did not consent to an official B.A.C. test. He was charged with DUI Drugs/Alcohol 1st Offense – B.A.C. Unknown and issued for Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test.

He was also issued for No Insurance 1st Offense, Failure to Yield Right of Way to Emergency Vehicles, and Laned Roadway Violations. During the original accident, he had tried getting out of the way of an ambulance and hit another vehicle on the road.

He was released from the station with district court summons.

***

On Sept. 14 at approximately 11:16 p.m. Officers Christopher Gillis and William Holtz were on patrol on Jefferson Blvd. when they observed a vehicle driving in the middle of two lanes, so they pulled it over on the on-ramp to Rte. 95 North.

The driver was identified as William Bent, 34, of 35 Oaks Rd. in Framingham, Mass. Officer Gillis saw an open glass beer bottle in the cup holder of Bent’s car and an alcoholic odor coming from the car. He also said Bent had bloodshot eyes and flushed cheeks.

Bent told the officers he was coming from a wedding rehearsal dinner in Newport and driving home, and admitted to having consumed alcohol that night.

Bent agreed to a series of field sobriety tests, during which nearly all clues indicating impairment were observed by the officer. As such, Bent was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI and transported to police headquarters.

At the station, Bent submitted to chemical B.A.C. tests, which yielded results of .169 and .172 B.A.C.

Bent was charged with DUI Drugs/Alcohol 1st Offense - .15/Greater and he was taken to Kent Hospital for detox after being given his court summons.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

On Sept. 14 at approximately 4:10 p.m. Officer Tyler Stone responded to the Shaw’s parking lot on Warwick Ave. for the report of an intoxicated male trying to get into his vehicle.

Upon arrival, he saw the male, later identified as Jon Aulenbach, 51, of 19 Haddon Hill Rd. in Cranston, arguing with several Shaw’s employees. He observed Aulenbach to smell strongly of alcohol, speaking in slurred speech, having trouble keeping his balance, and screaming obscenities.

Aulenbach was yelling that he should be able to drive off and that Shaw’s had “ruined his life.” The officer had Aulenbach lean against his police car so he could pat him down and Aulenbach continually pushed off from the car, turning towards a Shaw’s employee with his fists clenched and in a fighting stance.

Aulenbach continued to be violent and wasn’t submitting to the officer’s commands, and the officer attempted to restrain Aulenbach on the ground. According to the officer, Aulenbach swore and screamed at the top of his lungs that someone should record the incident, and also yelled that he could not be arrested because he is “white.” He refused to put his hands behind his back and kept them clenched under his chest, continuing to scream.

Aulenbach was eventually handcuffed but continued to fight back as the officer tried to get him into the back of his police car, and eventually got in but could not be seat belted because he was flailing around.

Aulenbach was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters.

A later witness report said that Aulenbach had been walking around Shaw’s and the employees believed him to be intoxicated. They said they were able to take his keys away from him when he tried getting into his car so he could not drive while impaired.

Aulenbach was charged with one count of Disorderly Conduct and one count of Resisting Legal or Illegal Arrest. He was released to Kent County hospital for detox.

LARCENY

On Sept. 8 at approximately 2:00 p.m. Officer Christian Vargas responded to a residence on Kenyon Ave. for the report of a larceny from a shed.

The owner said that earlier that day he saw the door to his unlocked shed open and a variety of expensive items and tools had been stolen.

The items stolen included a pressure washer valued at $117.17, a mower valued at $199.95, and a trimmer valued at $30. There were no cameras in the area and no suspects at the time, and there was nothing else to process.

***

On Sept. 8 at approximately 8:00 a.m. Officer Joseph DeDonato responded to a residence on Fourth Ave. for the report of larceny from a vehicle parked outside.

The victim said when she woke up that day she checked her phone, which had video surveillance footage from her driveway and front yard. She said the footage shows a male enter her yard around 2:19 a.m. that morning and unsuccessfully try to open her door.

A copy of that footage was to be forwarded to the police station, and there was nothing else to process as nothing was stolen.

***

On Sept. 10 at approximately 4:00 p.m. Officer Richard Odell responded to a residence on Watson St. for the report of a stolen purse.

The victim said that while she was at the Dollar Tree on Post Rd. earlier that day she had put her purse down for a minute while shopping and it was taken without her realizing it. She said the store staff was unable to recover it.

Officer Odell looked at video surveillance footage of the incident, and they did show the victim walking into the store with her purse. She then left the area that the cameras were focused on and nine minutes later came back without the purse. The officer did not observe anyone to leave the store carrying the bag.

The contents of the purse that was stolen included $80 in cash, a $2 purse, a $2 black wallet, and her driver’s license and social security card.

The report was forwarded to district detectives for follow-up.

SHOPLIFTING

On Sept. 7 at approximately 9:17 p.m. Officer Steven Morretti responded to the report of a shoplifter in custody at the Macy’s at Warwick Mall.

Loss prevention had a suspect, identified as Anthony Perez, 19, of 29 Paolino St. in Johnston, in custody.

The associate said she saw an employee Perez knew talk to him, then remove an electronic sensor from a Nike sweatshirt and put it in the “last act area.” Perez then took the sweatshirt and left the store without paying.

He was detained outside the store and went back in without incident. The Nike sweatshirt was valued at $45 and recovered by the store. The loss prevention associate said they’d like to press charges on Perez and have him trespassed from the store.

Perez was taken to police headquarters, where he later released with a court summons on one charge of Shoplifting – Misdemeanor.

***

On Sept. 8 at approximately 3:41 p.m. multiple officers responded to a shoplifting in progress at the Macy’s at the Warwick Mall. Dispatch said the two suspects were reported to be running out of the store with items in their hands and headed south on Greenwich Ave. in a black Toyota Camry.

The car was eventually pulled over nearby and driver was identified as Darren Barros, 25, of 84 Fales St. Apt. #306 in Central Falls. In the backseat of car was a variety of Nike clothing still on hangers and with their security tags attached. There was also a pile of Nike clothing on the front seat.

A statement from the store’s loss prevention associate said that Barros had taken ten items, valued at $410, and Diamontae Cole, 18, of 112 Academy Ave. in Providence, had taken 15 items from the store valued at $710. Together, there was $1,220 worth of items stolen and in the car.

The two males were transported to police headquarters. It was found that Barros had an active warrant out on him for failure to appear, and also was driving on a suspended license. He was charged with one count of Shoplifting, one count of Conspiracy, and Driving on Suspended License 3rd or Subsequent offense. He was booked and transported to the ACI because of his active warrant.

Cole was charged with one count of Shoplifting and one count of Conspiracy, as well as Obstructing an Officer in Execution of Duty, because he gave the officers a false name and date of birth. After his proper identity was determined, he was found to have an active warrant out on him as well. He was also booked and transported to the ACI.

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