Police Log - 05/28/19

Posted 5/28/19

ROAD RAGE ATTACK A Warwick man is facing charges after police say he beat another man with a baseball bat at a local gas station during a road rage incident. James Germalm, 47, of 235 Holmes Road, Warwick, is charged with three counts of felony assault

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Police Log - 05/28/19

Posted

ROAD RAGE ATTACK

A Warwick man is facing charges after police say he beat another man with a baseball bat at a local gas station during a road rage incident.

James Germalm, 47, of 235 Holmes Road, Warwick, is charged with three counts of felony assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of disorderly conduct. He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment and was due to be arraigned at the hospital.

According to Cranston Police, officers responded to the Mobil gas station at the intersection of Park and Elmwood Avenues at approximately 2:42 p.m. on May 24 following reports of a disturbance. Dispatchers advised that numerous callers reported two men fighting in the station’s parking lot and that a pipe or similar item may have been involved. Subsequent reports clarified that the incident had escalated into an assault following a car accident.

At the scene, officers found a large crowd of people, including several who were restraining the suspect – later identified as Germalm – to prevent him from continuing to strike the victim. The item in the attack was confirmed to be a baseball bat. The victim is said to have been on the floor inside the gas station, bleeding from the head.

The victim told police he and a friend had been stopped in traffic at the intersection of Park and Elmwood when their vehicle was intentionally rammed by another vehicle. The victim said he attempted to flee on foot but was pursued by the other vehicle’s driver, who struck him at least twice with the bat, including once in the head. Police say the incident was captured on surveillance video.

The condition of the victim was unclear at press time. Police say Germalm suffered broken ribs and a concussion as a result of efforts to restrain him prior to his arrest.

Additionally, Cranston Police said Warwick Police “are investigating a potential incident in the city of Warwick that is believed to have occurred prior to this collision and assault.”

DRUG SALES AT SCHOOL

A West Shore Road resident has been charged with selling marijuana to students on the grounds of Pilgrim High School.

According to Warwick Police, James M. Denier, 65, was arrested at approximately 11 a.m. on May 24. He is charged with distribution of a controlled substance near a school and distribution of Schedule V narcotics and marijuana to minors, and he was held pending arraignment.

A statement from police indicates the arrest resulted from a joint investigation by detectives and school resource officers “concerning the delivery of narcotics to certain Pilgrim High School students.” Police say Denier was in possession of 10 grams of marijuana at the time of his arrest.

“No students were placed at risk during this investigation,” the statement reads.

SHOPLIFTING

On May 12 at 4:14 p.m., Officer William R. Holz responded to the Walmart location at 650 Bald Hill Road for a report of an alleged shoplifter in custody.

At the scene, a loss prevention associate at the store told Holz that a woman had been observed selecting merchandise from several areas of the store – including socks, pajamas and a T-shirt from the women’s section, batteries and a DVD from the electronics section, a “bed in a bag” kit from the home section, and a pacifier from the infant section – before proceeding through a self checkout lane without paying and exiting the store.

The associate said the woman was approached outside the store and escorted to the loss prevention office without incident. The stolen merchandise had a total value of more than $224.

Danielle Fay, 33, 1723 Main St., West Warwick, was arrested on a charge of shoplifting and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. She was held pending arraignment.

***

On May 17 at 2:38 p.m., Officer Jeffrey B. Taranto responded to the Walmart location at 650 Bald Hill Road for a report of a hit-and-run accident.

At the scene, a loss prevention associate at the store told Taranto that while reviewing surveillance video in connection with the hit-and-run, she was advised by coworkers that a male subject was “actively concealing merchandise from the store.” The subject was additionally observed pushing a shopping cart containing a portable air conditioner unit – valued at $438 – past all points of purchase and into the store’s parking lot without making any attempt to pay.

Paul Joseph Kuzdeba, 34, with a last known address of 16 Polo St. in Pawtucket, was arrested on a charge of shoplifting and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing.

At headquarters, it was determined Kuzdeba had initially given police a false name – resulting in an additional charge of obstructing an officer in the execution of duty – and that he was wanted on two bench warrants issued from Third Division District Court. He was held as a probation violator and transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

***

On May 18 at 11:23 a.m., Officer Ali M. Jaafar and other officers responded to the JCPenney location at Warwick Mall for a report of shoplifting.

Dispatch advised that loss prevention personnel at the store were observing the subjects involved as they removed tags from items and concealed them in a backpack and shopping bag. The subjects were said to be moving toward the store’s inner mall exit, and the officers positioned themselves near that exit.

The two subjects – a man and a woman – were confronted after they exited the store without making any attempt to pay. A subsequent review of surveillance video found that the man had not concealed any items in his backpack, and the woman – who was found in possession of $169 worth of clothing and a pair of sunglasses – was the sole suspect.

Erika L. Medeiros, 27, 100 Stubblebrook Road, West Greenwich, was arrested on a charge of shoplifting and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. She was subsequently released with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court.

LARCENY

At approximately 3:44 a.m. on May 16, Officer Frank J. Montanaro was on a directed patrol at the Lancaster Apartments at 325 West Shore Road when he observed a blue, four-door Toyota hatchback sitting on bricks with its wheels and tires missing.

Dispatch advised that no reports of missing wheels and tires had come in from the location. Montanaro obtained a phone number for the vehicle’s owner, who responded to the vehicle and said he had parked it at approximately 11:45 p.m. on May 15.

Montanaro observed that the vehicle’s front passenger-side window was broken and that several compartments had been gone through. The owner advised that nothing of value had been taken from inside the vehicle.

No surveillance video was immediately available. The matter was forwarded to detectives. road rage

Comments

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  • RISchadenfreude

    James Germalm: Another adult who doesn't know the difference between "Can" and "Should".

    It's a shame that so many "adults" don't know how to behave themselves...no coping skills.

    Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Report this

  • TheSkipper

    What ever happened to the days of just flipping the bird, telling them where to go and going about your way?

    since when did driving become a full contact sport?

    Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    Skipper, I believe it started when people got so in touch with their "feelings" and are encouraged to act on them without thinking through the consequences.

    Friday, May 31, 2019 Report this

  • davebarry109

    TheSkipper...flipping folks off often enrages them. And it is rude. Don't be a crude jerk.

    Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Report this