SWIMMER DIES

Police have identified a man who went missing while swimming off Conimicut Point on Saturday and was pronounced deceased after being pulled from the water by rescuers.

Joseph Gillespie, 57, of Auburn, Massachusetts, was taken to Kent Hospital after being located by Warwick Police and Fire personnel and members of the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force, according to Chief of Police Col. Rick Rathbun.

The chief said Warwick personnel responded to the scene at approximately 3:22 p.m. Saturday. He said Gillespie had been reported missing by a woman who accompanied him to Conimicut.

“We don’t suspect any foul play,” he said.

Rathbun said it remains unclear whether Gillespie had entered the water from Conimicut Point – a location that is known to be hazardous – or from the nearby swimming area. It is also unclear whether a lifeguard was on duty. The matter remains under investigation.

MAN CHARGED IN FATAL CRASH

A Warwick man has been charged in connection with a fatal car accident that occurred two months ago in West Warwick.

Keith R. Jensen, 27, was arrested Friday on charges of driving under the influence, death resulting, and driving to endanger, death resulting. He was arraigned that day in Third Division District Court and ordered held on $10,000 bail with surety. A felony screening is scheduled for Oct. 7.

A release from West Warwick Police indicates that Jensen was involved in a head-on motor vehicle crash that occurred May 25 on Providence Street. The crash resulted in the death of 80-year-old Ferial Alrefai of West Warwick.

Police said the charges against Jensen resulted from an “extensive investigation” that included assistance from the attorney general’s office, Rhode Island State Police and the Department of Health.

SHOPLIFTING

Shortly before 5 p.m. on July 19, Officer Michael C. Bailey responded to the Macy’s location at Warwick Mall for a report of a shoplifting incident in progress. Dispatch advised that four subjects – three male and one female – had been observed shoplifting inside the store before leaving the scene.

Upon arrival, Bailey observed another officer sprinting toward a vehicle that was attempting to drive away. Bailey stopped the vehicle, which was suspected of involvement in the shoplifting incident, and made contact with the operator and two passengers. Loss prevention personnel subsequently identified the three subjects as having been involved in the shoplifting incident

Police recovered stolen merchandise from the vehicle, including a Michael Kors handbag containing a “large amount of jewelry. Bailey reports that the fourth suspect was subsequently located at the Cumberland Farms on West Natick Road. The stolen merchandise found in possession of the suspects had a total value of more than $1,580.

Christopher R. Storti, 19, 58 Kenyon Road, Cranston, was arrested on charges of shoplifting and conspiracy and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was additionally taken into custody on a bench warrant issued from Third Division District Court. He was subsequently transported to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

Shaylyn C. Moran, 18, 110 Lawn Ave., Pawtucket, was arrest on charges of shoplifting and conspiracy and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. She was later released with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court.

Kaylem M. Pereira, 19, Attleboro, Massachusetts, was arrested on charges of shoplifting and conspiracy and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was later released with a summons to appear in Third Division District Court.

Issiah Dias, 19, 8 Audrey St., Providence, was arrested on charges of shoplifting and conspiracy and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was additionally taken into custody on a bench warrant issued from Sixth Division District Court. He was held as a probation violator.

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Shortly before noon on July 24, Officer Thomas J. Duncan responded to the Macy’s location at the Warwick Mall for a report of shoplifting. Dispatch advised that loss prevention personnel were involved in an altercation with an individual at the scene.

Upon arrival, Duncan observed a loss prevention officer fighting with another individual. Duncan and another officer broke up the fight and restrained the individual.

The loss prevention officer told police that that he was conducting routine surveillance of the store at approximately 11:40 a.m. when he observed a male subject who was recognized from previous shoplifting incidents.

The man is said to have selected a box containing JBL headphones and proceeded to the men’s department, where he removed the headphones from the box. The man then proceeded to the exit, passing all points of purchase.

At that point, the loss prevention officer met the man, who is said to have become “combative and violent.” A passer-by is said to have helped restrain the man while the loss prevention officer contacted police. No one was injured during the incident.

In addition to the headphones – valued at $99.95 – the man was found to be in possession of a bottle of men’s fragrance valued at $82.

Carlton J. Purdy, 3 Maple St., Cranston, was arrested on charges of shoplifting and simple assault/battery and transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing. He was held for violating the terms of his sentence on a previous shoplifting conviction.

LARCENY

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on July 15, Officer Charles A. Austin Jr. responded to the Dunkin’ Donuts location at 27 Jefferson Blvd. for a report of a larceny from a motor vehicle.

At the scene, the reporting party told Austin that he had been inside the Dunkin’ Donuts for approximately 90 minutes. During that time, someone entered his vehicle – which was unsecured and had its windows down – and took his backpack, which contained his passport and various clothing items.

Security camera footage was not available. The matter was documented.