SCAM ALERT

Warwick Police warned the public of potential scams impersonating local police.

“Please be advised that the Warwick Police Department will NOT contact you to solicit money,” according to the Warwick Police Department. “If you suspect any fraudulent activity, please contact the Warwick Police Department.”

OBSTRUCTING OFFICER

Around 8:31 a.m., March 22, Warwick Police were on patrol in the area of the Holiday Inn Express, traveling north on Jefferson Boulevard when they spotted a red Chevy Aveo with occupants allegedly not wearing seatbelts. Police checked the vehicle’s registration and found it was canceled.

“It should be noted that special attention and directed patrols are conducted by Officers of this Department at each of the hotels within the city, as they are known to be high crime areas,” Warwick Police Officer Yadira wrote in the arrest report. “Officers of the (WPD) respond to these hotels frequently for various crimes and calls for service to include but not limited to narcotic possession and trafficking, prostitution, narcotic induced overdoses, and recovered stolen vehicles. Based on my training and experience, I know that hotels are frequently used for the commission of crimes due to the anonymity they provide.”

As police drove by, Allen noted “both occupants stare at our vehicle and follow with their eyes as we passed by.”

Police noted the vehicle traveled at a “significantly slower speed than the posted speed limit.” Police suspected the driver was trying to avoid contact with police as they traveled via the Airport Connector.

Allen initiated a motor vehicle stop in the parking lot of Dave’s Marketplace Warehouse at 111 Kilvert St.

Police identified the driver as Elton J. Spencer, 47, of 126 Tell St., Providence. Spencer allegedly told police that he did not have a valid driver’s license, the vehicle was not registered and he could not provide a bill of sale for the vehicle, according to the arrest report.

Police noted the vehicle was “in a state of disrepair and covered in filth.” The passenger was also unable to provide photo identification.

Spencer allegedly gave police a false name at first. Police were unable to find a record of the false name, which made them suspicious.

“Based on the above mentioned facts and circumstances, I had reason to believe that the operator was not being truthful in respect to his identity,” Allen wrote in the report. “As the operator of a motor vehicle driving upon a highway of this state, the operator is required to identify themselves at an officer’s request.”

Police placed the driver under arrest. He was searched and placed in the rear of a patrol unit.

Locked in the back of the patrol the driver allegedly decided to confess to police, providing his actual name and date of birth. He was identified and police found that he possessed an “inactive driver’s permit.”

He told police that he “thought he had warrants,” which was the reason for lying about his identity.

“I discovered that Spencer had three prior convictions after being charged with driving without or with an expired license,” Allen wrote. “As such, this would be his fourth or subsequent offense.” That means it’s an arrestable offense; a misdemeanor.

According to police, Spencer had been previously convicted of driving without a license three times; in 2001, 2004 and 2023.

Spencer received citations for No Insurance (first offense), Operation of a Motor Vehicle with Canceled Registration and No Seatbelt (Operator).

Spencer has also been charged with Driving with Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled License (fourth offense) and Obstructing Officer in Execution of Duty, both misdemeanors.

NO LICENSE

Around 10:30 p.m., March 25, Warwick Police were at a fixed traffic post on Post Road north of the Airport Connector when a vehicle passed with a “tinted license plate cover covering their registration plates” traveling south.

“The vehicle went onto the Airport Connector and I attempted to run the registration but due to the tint on the license plate cover I was unable to for a period of time,” Warwick Police Officer Noah J. Kane wrote in the arrest report.

Police identified the driver as Ebby Garcia Jr., 56, of 161 Wood St., Apt. 1, Providence.

A check of the vehicle’s registration revealed it had been canceled in 2022. Police checked whether the driver had any prior driving offenses and discovered it would be his fourth driving without a license charge, a misdemeanor and arrestable offense.

Garcia was arrested and locked in a cruiser. The vehicle was searched and towed from the scene.

Garcia was charged with Driving With a Suspended/Revoked/Cancelled License (fourth offense), a misdemeanor, and cited for Display of Registration Plates.

SHOPLIFTING

Around 4:49 p.m., March 27, Warwick Police were dispatched to Walmart, 650 Bald Hill Road, for the report of a shoplifting in progress. While en-route, dispatch advised the suspect was man wearing a gray sweatshirt and black pants who had allegedly stuffed items in a bag and left the store.

The suspect was spotted heading west toward East Avenue on a bicycle.

Police spotted a man matching the description on foot on East Avenue, “walking away from a bicycle on the sidewalk that was leaning against a traffic pole.”

“I observed a duffle bag on the brick wall nearby where the bike was left,” Warwick Police Officer Ryan A. Valentim wrote in the arrest report.

Police made contact with the man and identified him as Tobin Ferretti, 27, of 63 Depasquale Ave., Providence.

Ferretti was taken into custody and he allegedly told police the bike and bag were his possessions.

Police found Ferretti had an active arrest warrant for Shoplifting (greater than $100, second offense), from Target at 400 Bald Hill Road.

Walmart’s loss prevention officer told police that Ferretti had concealed a Shark vacuum and infant merchandise in his bag while in the store, and left without paying.

According to police, they found the vacuum and other items with a total value of $1,116 in Ferretti’s bag. He was transported to the Warwick Police Department, processed and placed in a cell. Police found two previous convictions for shoplifting in the state on his record. He was charged with Shoplifting (greater than $100, second offense) and held on the active warrant.

For the prior incident at Target, police allege Ferretti took two Dyson vacuums, both items valued at $569.99 (or $1,139.98 total).