HIT & RUN DUI

At 12:43 a.m., June 3, Warwick Police responded to a reported hit and run crash at the intersection of Airport Road and Loveday Street.

A caller reported to police that they were rear-ended and the other vehicle fled the scene.

They provided a description of the other vehicle.

Warwick Police Officer Paris L. Norwood was traveling north on Warwick Avenue when he spotted a vehicle matching the description. He initiated a traffic stop near the intersection with Edgehill Road.

Police identified the driver as Raymond J. Repoza, 49, of 109 Thurston St., Riverside.

Repoza wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and allegedly admitted he was involved in the crash.

“I asked him what happened not mentioning anything about a motor vehicle accident,” Norwood wrote in the arrest report. “At this time he stated ‘I was fiddling on my phone and ran into the car.’ I asked him why he didn’t stop at the scene of the accident and he stated ‘I got a little nervous.’”

He allegedly also admitted to having a few drinks and police spotted “a shot bottle ‘nip’ of Fireball whiskey” by the center console cup holder.

The other driver was transported to Kent County Memorial Hospital for treatment after complaining of significant neck pain, according to police.

Police asked Repoza to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. He agreed and following the tests, he was arrested and charged with Duty to Stop in Accident Resulting in Injury (a felony) and Suspicion of DUI (BAC unknown, first offense).

He was also issued citations for Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test (first offense), Interval Between Vehicles (Following Too Close) and No Seat Belt.

Repoza’s vehicle was towed from the scene.

OBSTRUCTING OFFICER

A West Warwick woman accused of shoplifting allegedly gave police an alias, however both the suspect and the alias had open warrants.

At 5:09 p.m., loss prevention employees at Walmart, 840 Post Road, contacted police to report that a woman had attempted to steal more than $700 in items and fled the store. When confronted, she left the merchandise behind but police tracked her down on Palm Boulevard.

The suspect gave police an alias, but she was eventually identified as Kristin Elyse Phelps, 37, of 775 Wakefield St., West Warwick.

Phelps allegedly told police her first name was “Ashley.”

When police did a background check, they say they found a photo that resembled the suspect, but heavier. The suspect told police she had lost weight, but they found an open warrant for “Ashley Phelps.”

“This prompted me to further investigate whether the suspect female was being truthful about the name she had provided officers,” Warwick Police Officer Michael P. Rocchio wrote in the arrest report.

Police determined the woman they had in custody was actually named “Kristin Phelps.” She also had an active Superior Court Bench Warrant, according to police.

While searching Phelps, police said they found a small pink plastic re-sealable baggie and a folded piece of aluminum foil in an interior pocket of a small brown leather bag in her possession. The crystalized substance weighed about 0.1 grams and tested positive for methamphetamine, according to police.

Phelps was charged with Shoplifting (greater than $100, second offense), one count of Possession of Schedule I-V Controlled Substance and a count of Obstructing an Officer in Execution of Duty.

Motorcycle Vs. Truck

Warwick Police responded to a motorcycle crash at West Shore Road and Winifred Avenue around 7:21 a.m. Thursday, June 22.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a motorcycle had collided with a Warwick Public School Department F-250 pickup truck.

“Officers indicated the injuries to the motorcycle operator appeared serious and requested Warwick EMS and FIRE to respond to the scene,” police said.

The 22-year-old motorcyclist was transported to Rhode Island Hospital Trauma center by ambulance, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The Warwick Police Traffic Units’ Accident Reconstruction Team also responded to the crash.

Following an investigation it was determined the motorcycle was traveling west on West Shore Road and collided with the pickup truck which had been traveling east and was making a left turn onto Winifred Avenue.

“The motorcycle struck the passenger side front grill area of the truck and the motorcycle operator was thrown backwards from the cycle and landed on Winifred Ave,” according to a Warwick Police press release. “The operator of the pickup truck was not injured and is cooperating with investigators. The motorcycle operator was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.”

Police later identified the deceased motorcyclist as Tyler M. Burrows, 22, of Warwick. They identified the truck’s driver as Raymond Miller, 61 of Warwick.

“At this time impairment and speed do not appear to be contributing factors,” police said in the press release. “This is an active investigation. Updates will be provided as information is developed.

 Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Traffic Unit at 401-468-4200.

“No charges are pending and no further updates to be released at this time as the investigation is continuing,” police said. “Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the WPD Traffic Unit.”

Anonymous tips on either crash can be submitted via the WARWICKPD app or text WARWICKPD to 847411.