DUI

Around 2:24 a.m., Nov. 25, Warwick Police Officer Connor R. Bemis was traveling north on Warwick avenue in the area of North Country Club Drive when he spotted a black Chevy Malibu with Massachusetts plates traveling north at “an extremely low rate of speed.”

Bemis estimated the car was moving around 20 mph in a 35 mph zone. The vehicle tires were also crossing the double yellow line as the car swerved into the southbound lanes repeatedly, he wrote in the police report.

Bemis initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Warwick and Harrison avenues.

“As the vehicle came to a stop, I then observed a male operator, who was not wearing a seatbelt, to slowly move into the passenger seat while a female on the passenger seat began to jump into the driver’s seat,” Bemis wrote. “It should be noted that the male operator and the female passenger changed spots in an incredibly slow manner and I observed this with a clear and unobstructed view in a well lit area.”

Bemis noted the man who had been in the driver’s seat had “suspected vomit on his clothing.”

“I then observed the female passenger who was now sitting in the driver’s seat to have vomit all over her in a manner consistent with her having just been puked on,” Bemis wrote in the arrest report.

The woman told police the man was her brother, and he was her ride from a concert they had attended that night. Police identified the driver as Vilmer O. Pojoy Diaz, 31, of Lynn, Massachusetts. He did not speak English.

Police requested a Spanish speaking officer respond to the scene. Bemis asked dispatch to “see if there was any Spanish speaking Officers in the State of Rhode Island that could respond to the scene and assist.” Dispatch informed Bemis that “none were available at this time.”

“I was not able to ask Diaz to submit to SFST’s (Standardized Field Sobriety Tests) due to this language barrier,” Bemis wrote. “Due to Diaz’s suspected high level of impairment of an intoxicating liquor/and or drug, and Diaz’s operation of the motor vehicle the decision was made that Diaz would be place into custody for a DUI investigation.”

The car was towed from the scene. Diaz was placed under arrest and transported to Kent County Memorial Hospital. East Providence Police officer Josemar Silva, who speaks Spanish, was able to meet them at the hospital, to help translate.

Police say Diaz consented to a blood sample, which was collected and logged into evidence.

According to police, Diaz was cited for Driving with a Suspended License (first offense), Laned Roadway Violations, Operating Below Minimum Speed, No Seatbelt Operator.

“Diaz will be facing DUI charges pending the toxicology results form the Rhode Island Department of Health,” Bemis wrote.

Diaz was turned over to hospital staff custody for detox.

RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS

Around 11:51 a.m., Dec. 8, Warwick Police Officer Kevin P. Grant Jr. was on a Click It or Ticket Enforcement detail at a stationary post at the Eco Gas Station, 15 Jefferson Boulevard, when he spotted a car pass and he decided to check on the vehicle’s registration.

According to police, the plates had been reported stolen out of Providence.

Grant initiated a traffic stop. The driver was told that he was stopped because the plates on the car did not match the vehicle. The driver told police that he had just bought the car, which was the reason the plates didn’t match.

Police asked for the driver’s identification. He said he didn’t have an ID, but he had a Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal summons with his name on it. He produced the summons, which had the name “Gerard Grassi” on it. Although the driver continued to claim to be “Gerard,” police eventually identified him as James Raymond Grassi, 57, of 112 Holden St., Providence.

Police also asked the passenger for identification. According to the report, the passenger “immediately stated, ‘My name Joseph Lepage (redacted) and I have a bench warrant out for my arrest.’”

Police identified the passenger as Joseph Lepage, 45, of 49 Doulas Ave., Providence.

Lepage was placed under arrest, searched and placed in the back of a cruiser. Police decided to arrest Grassi and charge him with Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle Parts. He was handcuffed and transported to Warwick Police Headquarters. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Meanwhile, Lepage was fingerprinted, photographed and processed without incident.

Warwick Police Officer David M. Gaulin responded to the scene to transport the driver to HQ. During the booking process at headquarters, the driver told Gaulin that he “lied as to who he was” and “Gerard” was not his name. He told police his name was actually “James Grassi,” and after police checked on his record they found two active arrest warrants on file.

Besides Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle Parts, Grassi was also charged with Obstructing Officer in Execution of Duty and Driving with Suspended License (fourth or subsequent offense).

VANDALISM

Around 4 p.m., Dec. 11, Warwick Police Officer Ryan E. Riecke responded to CCRI, 400 East Ave., to assist CCRIPD with an arrest. They had a male student in custody for alleged vandalism.

Police identified the suspect as Tyler Z. Shammas, 21, of 21 Haverhill Ave., North Kingston.

“Tyler was identified through security cameras to be the one who committed the vandalism,” Riecke wrote in the arrest report. “He was seen defacing a railing by writing ‘Spencer’ in white lettering on top of the railing.”

CCRIPD estimated around $100 in damage.

According to police, Shammas admitted to the vandalism. He was handcuffed and transported to Warwick Police Headquarters. He was charged with Vandalism/Malicious Injury to Property, a misdemeanor, and released from police custody around 6 p.m..