PEDESTRIAN STRUCK

On Feb. 8 at 7:10 p.m., the Warwick Police Department responded to the area of 2406 Post Road for a report of a pedestrian who had been struck by a car.

Officers arrived on scene and found an unresponsive 63-year-old male lying in the southbound lanes of Post Road. The male had serious injuries and was transported by the Warwick Fire Department to Rhode Island Hospital, where he is currently listed in critical condition.

According to police, an initial investigation showed that the male had entered the roadway in an unlit area of the road, crossing from east to west. He was struck by a Dodge Caravan as he entered the southbound side of the roadway. The Dodge was operating southerly in the left hand lane of travel. The operator and several witnesses stopped immediately after the collision and called 911.

The Warwick Police Department Crash Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and is investigating the accident. The reconstruction team’s initial investigation has determined that speed, alcohol and distracted driving do not appear to have been factors in the incident. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk at the time of the collision. The pedestrian’s name is being withheld until family has been notified.

Those with information related to the accident are asked to contact the Warwick Police Department Traffic Division at 468-4293 and ask for Sgt. Robert T. Hart.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

On Jan. 31 at approximately 8:29 p.m., Officer Jacob Elderkin was dispatched to the area of 45 Tanner Ave. for a report of a motor vehicle accident. While en route to the area, dispatch advised the officer that a pick-up truck had stuck a utility pole.

The officer arrived at the scene with rescue personnel and other members of the department and observed a vehicle identified as a 2012 Nissan Frontier had crashed into a pole. The vehicle had been traveling westbound on Tanner Avenue at the time of the accident, and the report indicates that there were numerous witnesses on scene.

A woman told the officer that she heard a truck hit a large rock in front of her home, and said that the vehicle then struck her mailbox, two trash cans, the telephone pole, and then a fence. She said that the operator of the vehicle would initially not turn off his motor, but eventually did. She completed a written statement of the events, and identified the operator of the vehicle as the man who was standing outside of the car.

The driver was then identified as Taylor Badessa, 31, of 193 Sayles Ave., Apt. B, Pascoag. Badessa was evaluated by rescue and refused transport to the hospital. Rescue advised that he did not need to be transported as he did not have any visible injuries. Badessa was then questioned about the incident but was uncooperative with the investigation, according to the report. While speaking with Badessa, officers reportedly detected the smell of alcohol and signs of intoxication. Badessa is said to have agreed to standardized field sobriety testing.

Following the tests, and based upon the officers training and experience, it was determined that Badessa was unfit to operate a motor vehicle safely and he was taken into custody. And inventory search of his vehicle was then conducted, where an open bottle of Jameson whiskey was found. Badessa was later charged with driving under the influence, first offense.

WALLET TAKEN

At approximately 12:47 p.m. on Jan. 28, Officer Michael Walker responded to Child Inc. on Centerville Road for a report of a larceny.

Upon arrival the officer met with the reporting party at her vehicle, where he observed the driver’s side window was smashed out. The woman advised the officer that she arrived at work at approximately 6:30 a.m. and parked her vehicle in the lower lot. She placed her wallet and other belongings underneath her driver seat before locking the car and proceeding to work.

The woman returned to her car at approximately 12:30 p.m. and observed that her driver’s side window was broken. She stated that her black leather wallet was stolen. Contained inside the wallet were her license, birth certificate and assorted store and credit cards. The woman said there was no cash in her wallet and nothing else appeared to be missing from her car. There are currently no suspects or witnesses, but the woman does wish to press charges if a suspect is located.

STOLEN CONVERTER

Officer Michael Walker responded to the YMCA on Centerville Road at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Jan. 28 for a report of a stolen catalytic converter.

At the YMCA, the officer spoke with the complainant, who advised that sometime between 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 and 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 28, someone removed a catalytic converter from the YMCA bus parked on their property. Upon routine inspection of the bus, staff members found a loud exhaust and determined that its catalytic converter was missing.

YMCA staff indicated that they would check video surveillance in an attempt to identify a suspect. A statement was taken, and the YMCA does wish to press charges if a suspect is identified.

SHOPLIFTING

On Jan. 28 at approximately 4:14 p.m., Officer Anthony D’Abrosca was dispatched to the Target store on Bald Hill Road for a report of a shoplifting in progress. Dispatch advised that a white male with a brown Patriots hat and a beige jacket was removing security devices from items, and that the man became combative with Target loss prevention staff before leaving the store.

Officers checked the area in an attempt to locate the suspect, then made contact with the store’s loss prevention officers and reviewed the video surveillance. While off-duty, Detective Sokphannareth Chea observed the suspect walking and made contact with him. The detective was met on scene by other officers, and it was determined that the suspect would be taken into custody.

The suspect was later identified as Erekle Siradze, 33, of 53 Cleveland St., Pawtucket. According to the police report, loss prevention personnel stated that they recognized the subject from previous incidents in which he had been suspected of shoplifting, but they had been unable to make an apprehension. Security advised that the suspect had taken a total of $899.98 worth of merchandise. Security also provided a positive identification of the suspect.

Upon searching Siradze, the officers located a throwing knife and a folding blade that was longer than 3 inches. He was transported to Warwick Police headquarters and processed.

Background checks on Siradze revealed that he had more than three convictions on previous shoplifting charges. He was charged with felony shoplifting, habitual offender shoplifting, and possession of prohibited weapons other than firearms.