Police Log

Johnston Sun Rise ·

The Police Log is a digest of reports provided by the Johnston Police, Rhode Island State Police and other departments.

SHOPLIFTING

On February 16 at approximately 9:54 a.m. Patrolman David Galligan responded to the Plainfield Street Walgreens for a report of a shoplifting. While en route to the scene, the officer was advised that the was described as being in his 30s, thin, approximately 6’2” in height with brown facial hair, glasses, and was wearing a green winter jacket and blue jeans. The suspect had left the store and was last seen walking north on Atwood Avenue.

Officer Galligan spoke with the store manager at the scene, who advised that at approximately 9:41 a.m. the suspect entered the store and was recognized by employees from shopping there frequently. Employees observed the man walk down the aisles and then allegedly proceed to fill his pockets with an undisclosed amount of razors and Axe Body Spray. The suspect then left the store and walked to Atwood Avenue. Video surveillance viewed by the officer confirmed the account, and a report was forwarded to department detectives for review.

On February 17 around 9:44 a.m., Officer Michael Protano was traveling south on Atwood Avenue and observed a male walking north that resembled the suspect from Walgreens. The officer then exited his cruiser and approached the man, later identified as Arthur Joseph Peters Jr., 36, of 20 Park Street Apt. 119 in Johnston. Peters quickly denied stealing any items from Walgreens the previous day. A background check found that Peters had an outstanding reciprocal body attachment from the Family Court. As a result he was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters.

According to the police report, at the station Peters admitted to stealing one razor from Walgreens. He was charged with one count of shoplifting and given a Third District Court date to appear. He was later transported to the ACI.

NO CONTACT ORDER

On February 15 around 8:40 p.m., Officer Arthur Petteruti along with several members of the department responded to a Joy Street in an attempt to locate Eduard Lopez, 33, of 4 Joy Street Apt. 2 in Johnston.

Prior to arriving on scene, officers received information that Lopez was in the apartment with another person, and that there was an active no contact order.

Upon arrival, officers were greeted at the door and allowed into the apartment. Officers were then advised that Lopez was hiding on the second floor in the apartment. He was eventually located underneath a box spring mattress. He was then placed under arrest without incident and transported to police headquarters to be processed.

Lopez was criminally charged with violating a no contact order, third offense. He was arraigned in the Third District Court before Judge McCaffrey. Lopez was held as a probation violator to serve 75 days at the ACI. The violation for the bail violation was withdrawn. As for the violation of the no contact order offense, bail was set at $5,000 surety.

RECKLESS DRIVING

At approximately 8:30 on February 17, Officers Matthew Rado and Derrick Palazzo were dispatched to Plainfield Pike for a report of an erratic driver. Dispatch had advised units that the 911 caller who reported the incident was behind the suspect vehicle and they were traveling west on Plainfield near the intersection of Simmonsville Avenue.

The officers responded to the area and located the vehicle stopped on the right side of the roadway in front of Izzo’s Farm. The officers stopped and walked up to the car to check on the well being of the operator, but the driver then decided to drive away.

A slow speed pursuit of the vehicle then followed. Due to the snow, the officers were advised to terminate their pursuit as the chase neared the Scituate town line. Scituate police then took over the pursuit in their town.

Later, the officers came across the Scituate police, who had stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Plainfield Pike and Route 116 in Scituate. Identified as Scott Sawyer, 55, of 58 Wilson Avenue in Johnston, he was eventually taken into custody by the Johnston Police and transported to police headquarters. Sawyer was charged with reckless driving/eluding police and laned roadway violations.