The Police Log is a digest of reports filed by the Warwick Police Department.

HIT & RUN

On March 1 at 10:01 p.m., Officer Gregory Accinno was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident for the report of another vehicle leaving the scene at the 7 Eleven, 2078 West Shore Road. Upon arrival to the 7 Eleven, Accinno said he was flagged down by a man at the intersection of Oakland Beach Avenue and West Shore Road, who said his girlfriend was in the roadway and she had been struck by a car. Officers Elderkin and Accinno then met with the woman, who was laying next to her 2003 Nissan Altima blocking the left lane of travel.

The woman’s boyfriend told officers there was an earlier road rage incident that took place at the Stop & Shop at 2470 Warwick Avenue. He said while traveling south on Warwick Avneue, the operator of a red Ford Mustang changed from the right lane of travel into the left lane, making contact with the Nissan Altima. The man said the damage was sustained to the front passenger side bumper of the Altima from the contact made with the driver side rear bumper of the Mustang. He said his girlfriend then passed the Mustang in an attempt to pull over the operator and exchange information. At the intersection of Oakland Beach Avenue and West Shore Road, the man said he and his girlfriend exited the Altima, at which point the operator of the Mustang swerved around the Altima and struck his girlfriend with the Mustang and then left the scene of the accident, traveling east bound down West Shore Road. At that point, Officer Elderkin put an Attempt to Locate out on that vehicle for a red Ford Mustang GT convertible bearing R.I. registration JF300. Warwick Fire responded to the scene and rendered aid to the woman, who was transported to Rhode Island Hospital due to her injuries.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Officer Mitchel Voyer responded to the hospital and met with the woman, who said she did not remember being in the accident or being struck by the vehicle. Voyer said the doctors advised that she may have a concussion and she sustained injuries to her lower extremities, to include a possible broken right ankle, and to her ribs.

At approximately 10:10 p.m., Officer Timothy Tavares heard a call involving a hit and run accident come over the radio with the vehicle fleeing the scene east bound on West Shore Road. Tavares said he started traveling south bound on Warwick Avenue toward the area of Hoxsie four corners to assist in locating the suspect vehicle. In the area of Governor Francis Farms, Tavares said he saw a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle’s description, which was confirmed by the JF300 license plate, and he initiated a motor vehicle stop at Columbia Avenue just in from Warwick Avenue. After Officer Kenyon arrived on scene to assist, Tavares approached the operator and asked him what happened on West Shore Road. He said the operator became excited and asked, “Did you see that other car? They got out and started yelling at me.” Tavares then asked the man if he struck a female, to which he said yes. He said she got out of the car and started yelling at him and he got scared and fled the scene. Tavares said it appeared that the operator did not realize he had been in a minor motor vehicle accident prior to that. The operator was then asked to provide his license, which he did, and was identified as Justin J. Franca, 20, of 316 Manolla Avenue, Warwick.

Franca was asked to step out of the vehicle. Officers then checked the vehicle and located damage on the rear driver’s side quarter panel as well as minor damage on the front driver’s side bumper. Tavares said there was also a spot on the passenger side of the hood where it appears someone may have slid off as well as the antenna being bent from where he struck the female. Additional officers arrived on scene to take photos of the damage and wait for a tow to come pick up the vehicle.

Franca was placed under arrest and transported to Warwick Police Department headquarters, where he was fingerprinted and photographed. Franca was charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Duty to Stop Accident Resulting in Personal Injury and/or Death, and Duty to Stop Accident Resulting Damage to Attended Vehicle. He was also cited for summons for these charges and is scheduled to appear at Third Division Court. Franca is currently being held.

ATTEMPTED WHEELCHAIR LARCENY

On March 2 at 3:45 p.m., Officer Christopher Lo was dispatched to Kent Hospital, 455 Toll Gate Road, for a report of a larceny in progress. Dispatch advised that security had detained a male subject they believed had been attempting to steal a wheelchair from the property.

Upon arrival, Officer Lo met with a hospital security officer, who said he had received a phone call from an employee stating that two males were attempting to steal a wheelchair. When he arrived in the parking lot, he said he saw a vehicle stopped and identified the operator as Cyrile Laliberte, 53, of 12 Appleton Avenue, West Warwick. While he had the vehicle stopped, the security officer said he also observed a wheelchair in the back of the vehicle the subject was operating. Lo said Laliberte immediately admitted to taking the wheelchair, which has a value of $400, and provided the serial number. While waiting for the head of security to respond, Lo said he detained Laliberte.

Lo then made contact with the witness, who said she was leaving the lobby of the hospital when she noticed two males, the younger one was taking a wheelchair out to the parking lot to a gray vehicle. She said the older male was walking in close proximity to her away from the younger male. She said she watched as they walked the wheelchair to a vehicle, which Lo said should be noted was the same vehicle that was detained by hotel security. She then watched as the males met up with the vehicle and placed the wheelchair in the back. She said they struggled to get the wheelchair to fit because it had a four-foot pole sticking up, which is commonly used for IV fluid. The woman maintained visual contact with the males while contacting hotel security and followed the males in the parking lot until security arrived.

Once the head of security arrived on scene, he told Officer Lo he wished to press charges on both individuals for the larceny. Both males were then taken into custody and separately transported to Warwick Police headquarters, where they were fingerprinted and processed. Laliberte was held for the next session of the bail commissioner.

STOLEN TIRES & RIMS

On Feb. 29 at 6:29 a.m., Officer Matthew Smith responded to a residence on Oakdale Street for the report of a larceny.

Upon arrival, Officer Smith met with the reporting party, who said at approximately 9 p.m. the day before, he parked his blue 2015 Mazda 6 in front of his residence. Around 6:10 the next morning, he discovered his vehicle on cinder blocks and the wheels and rims had been stolen. He described the wheels as 19-inch factory dark silver alloy rims with Dunlop P225/45/R19 SPS tires valued at approximately $3,000.

No suspects or witnesses.