ROBBERY

On Feb. 16, the Statewide Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Raymond Silva, 54, of West Warwick, with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of carrying a firearm while committing a crime of violence, according to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

The alleged acts occurred in the town of Coventry sometime on or about Sept. 18, 2021. The Coventry Police Department conducted the investigation.

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on March 4, in Kent County Superior Court.

LARCENY

At 1:26 p.m., Jan. 20, the manager of Hobby Lobby, at 945 Bald Hill Road, came into Warwick Police Headquarters to report that a former employee had allegedly, over time, stolen more than $200 worth of gift cards, if not more, and took advantage of her employee discount, giving away items to family and friends, according to the police incident report.

The manager told police that over two months, dating back to November 2021, the former employee, identified as Laura Hoyle, 45, of 100 Goldfinch Drive, Apt. 137, Coventry, would at separate occasions ring out a customer purchasing a gift card and take the gift card that was loaded for herself, giving the customers blank gift cars with no money on them, according to police.

Hoyle was terminated from the job on Dec. 29, 2021.

The manager first noticed an issue when on Nov. 26, 2021, a customer complained about a gift card issue that was allegedly rung out at Hoyle’s register.

“The co-manager at Hobby Lobby asked (Hoyle) where the gift card was, and (she) opened the cabinet drawer and admitted to loading the wrong card,” Warwick Police Officer Normand G. Guilbert wrote in the report. “(Hoyle) provided a statement to Hobby Lobby confessing to having purchased five gift cards over time and making false transactions for customers. She also admitted in her statement … to taking a $100 gift card along with approximately 30 other gift cards with balances left on them over the course of her employment.”

The case was forwarded to Warwick Police Detectives for further investigation.

At 1:55 a.m., Feb. 9, Rhode Island State Police transported Hoyle to the Warwick Police Headquarters because she had an active warrant issued relating to the alleged thefts at Hobby Lobby.

Hoyle was charged with Larceny under $1,500, searched and placed in a holding cell. She was summoned to appear at the Third District court on March 8.

POSSESSION

At 4 a.m., Feb. 11, Warwick Police Officer Nathaniel Gray was on patrol on Jefferson Boulevard when he observed a gold Honda CRV take a right turn to enter the I-95 northbound on-ramp without using a turn signal, according to the police incident report.

Gray wrote that the vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed, around 85 mph, on I-95, so he caught up to the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.

“The vehicle took longer than normal to stop so I also used my siren,” Gray wrote. “This vehicle then pulled to the side of the highway and stopped near exit 16.”

Gray approached the vehicle form the passenger side and saw four occupants inside.

“I detected a strong odor of recently burnt marijuana emanating from the passenger compartment of the vehicle as I was speaking with the occupants,” Gray wrote. “I also observed a tray which is commonly used to roll marijuana cigarettes on the floor of the front passenger compartment.”

Gray asked the occupants if there was any marijuana inside the vehicle, and they allegedly told him they had a small amount.

The occupants produced a mason jar containing approximately 6.7 grams of marijuana, and police seized it.

“It should be noted, I asked the occupants if any of them possessed a medicinal marijuana card,” Gray wrote. “They all replied in the negative.”

A second officer arrived on the scene to assist.

The driver was identified as Julio Calderon, 36, of 84 Farm St., Providence.

“Upon conducting checks, I observed that Calderon did not, nor has he ever, possessed a driver license,” Gray wrote.

Calderon was taken into custody. Gray said he learned this was Calderon’s third and subsequent offense for driving without a license.

Police asked the occupants to exit the car, patted them down, and then searched the vehicle. Police allegedly found “suspected burnt marijuana cigarettes” in the vehicle’s front passenger compartment, and three CVS pill containers in the backpack allegedly in the possession of Steven B. Gonzalez, 30, of 100 Broad St., Apt. 622, Providence.

“It should be noted the pill containers did not have any labels on them,” Gray wrote. “I then asked Gonzalez if the backpack and pills were his, which he stated they are. I then asked him what the pills are and he stated they are Xanax and Klonopin. I asked him (if) he had a prescription for either and he stated he does not. Gonzalez continued to state that he has a problem and proceeded to cry. Gonzalez also stated that he needs to get help (in reference to his drug habit).”

Gonzalez was cuffed and secured in the back of the cruiser. Calderon gave another occupant who appeared sober permission to drive the vehicle from the scene.

Calderon was also taken into custody. He received a summons for Driving With Expired or Without License (third offense), and received a Third District Court date of March 10. He also received summons for Speeding and Turn Signal Required violations. He was released from police custody around 8 a.m.

Gonzalez was issued a summons for Possession of Marijuana (less than an ounce, person over 18, first offense) and he received a Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal court date. He was also charged with one count of Possession of A Schedule I to V Controlled Substance (a felony) and two counts of Possession of A Schedule I to V Controlled Substance (a misdemeanor). Gonzalez was awaiting transportation to Third District Court for arraignment on Feb. 11, when the incident report was written.