SHOPLIFTING

A Johnston woman was arrested for stealing a baby onesie from the Kent County Hospital gift shop.

Around 11:42 a.m., Oct. 19, Warwick Police were called to the gift shop. On the scene, they spoke to a sales clerk who told police that a woman entered the store about a half-hour earlier, wearing a Red Sox sweatshirt and pink leggings swiped a “Love to Moon” baby onesie from the display window. The worker told police the woman passed all points of sale without attempting to pay for the item.

The store valued the item at $10.99. Police were told the suspect went up to a hospital room. Police made contact with the woman after she was detained by hospital security, and placed her under arrest for a misdemeanor Shoplifting charge. Police identified the woman as Nicole E. Celentano, 36, of 351 Simmonsville Ave., Apt. 302, Johnston.

A woman with Celentano also allegedly entered the gift shop at the time of the theft, but did not conceal items. Police issued both No Trespass Orders from Kent County Hospital for non-emergencies.

DUI

Around 12:41 a.m., Oct. 20, Warwick Police on routine patrol traveling west on East Avenue spotted a  vehicle swerving on the I-95 off-ramp, nearly striking a guardrail.

Police followed the 2014 Hyundai Accent and noted the vehicle’s passenger side tires crossed the solid white line on the right side of the road. Then the vehicle swerved left, according to police. Police initiated a traffic stop.

At first, the vehicle did not pull over. Officer Nathan J. Skawinski followed the vehicle more closely and then it eventually slowed down and pulled to the right, but continued to slowly roll forward until it turned right onto Pontiac Avenue, where it “abruptly braked and parked in a crooked manner.”

The driver, later identified as Christine L. Prefontaine, 53, of 596 Providence St., West Warwick, appeared to be confused, according to the arrest report.

She rolled the window down just a little and shouted, “What?”

Skawinski asked her to roll the window all the way down, but the driver picked up her cell phone and made a call. She refused to roll her window down or provide her driver’s license.

Skawinski used DMV records to identify the driver as Prefontaine. He asked her to exit the vehicle, but she refused at first, continuing to demand a lawyer.

“Upon Prefontaine exiting the vehicle, I observed her eyes to be very watery and bloodshot,” Skawinski wrote in the report. “Prefontaine then stated that she had two beers that night. (She) continued to be argumentative, speaking with slurred speech, making it difficult to understand her.”

Skawinski asked Prefontaine to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. She refused. She also refused to take a breathalyzer once she was transported back to the Warwick Police Department.

Prefontaine was arrested DUI of Liquor (BAC unknown, first offense) and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (second offense). She was also issued citations for Driving with a Suspended License and Laned Roadway Violations.

DRIVING WITHOUT IGNITION INTERLOCK SYSTEM

Around 10:34 a.m., Oct. 28, Warwick Police Officer Michael P. Rocchio was on routine patrol and watching traffic near the intersection of Elmwood and Third avenues when he spotted a gray BMW traveling south toward Post Road.

The vehicle had “heavy, dark tint on all side windows,” prompting a check of the vehicle through DMV records, according to the arrest report.

Rocchio determined the vehicle’s registration was suspended, and so was the owner’s driver’s license. He initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Post Road and Chestnut Street.

The vehicle pulled onto Chestnut Street and police found a “very nervous” driver behind the wheel.

“He appeared shaking, crying and visibly upset,” Rocchio wrote in the arrest report. “I asked him why he appeared to be nervous and he admitted to me that he was nervous regarding his suspended license and believed it to be regarding a DUI arrest he had several months prior.”

The driver was identified as Christopher Vieira, 32, of 58 Lyndon Road, Cranston. He was asked to step out the vehicle, cuffed and searched.

“He also mentioned that he was attempting to get a(n) ignition interlock system installed on his vehicle and did not have one installed at that time,” Rocchio wrote.

A records check also revealed the driver’s previous sentencing requiring an ignition interlock system be installed and working on his vehicle for six months following July 31 of this year.

Police said this was Vieira’s second offense for Driving on a Suspended License. He was arrested and charged with one count of Operating Vehicle without Ignition Interlock System. He was also issued citations for Driving with Suspended License (second offense) and Owner of M/V with Unlawful Sunscreen Material and Operating M/V with Suspended Registration.

HIT & RUN

The Warwick Police Traffic Unit is investigating a hit and run that occurred at 12 p.m., Nov. 21 on Toll Gate Road. The suspect vehicle is a silver Volkswagen Jetta with a Florida registration (license plate), driven by a middle-aged white male with a beard and long hair, according to a Warwick Police Department online post.

“The vehicle should have heavy front-end damage specifically to its front bumper,” police said. “Any information can be reported to Off. DiNardo at nicholas.dinardo@warwickri.gov. As always, thank you for any assistance.”