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

FLAT TIRES & STOLEN MIRROR

On March 7 at 3:06 p.m., Officer Patrick Smith was dispatched to the Jamestown Apartments, 1811 Warwick Avenue, the parking lot behind the West Building, for the report of a malicious damage.

Upon arrival, Smith met with the reporting party, who said her vehicle had been vandalized. Smith said he observed three of the tires (the two passenger’s side tires and the rear driver’s side tire) were flat to the ground. He said the tires all appeared to have puncture marks in them form a sharp object (approximately an inch and a half to two inches long). 

The woman said she parked her vehicle on March 5 at 9:30 p.m. in the parking lot to the rear of the Jamestown Apartments (West Building). The next day, she left the residence around 12 p.m. and said her vehicle appeared to be in the same condition but she “couldn’t be sure.” On March 7 between 2:45 and 3 p.m., she arrived home and was notified by a maintenance worker that her vehicle had multiple flat tires. Upon looking closely, she said she observed three of the tires were punctured and flat and that the driver’s side rear view mirror was removed. 

The woman said she has no suspects in mind and has only been residing in the apartment complex for approximately two months.

SHOPLIFTING 

On March 8 at 2:22 p.m., Officer Jill Marshall was dispatched Wal-Mart, 840 Post Road, for a shoplifter. Upon arrival, Marshall met with a loss prevention associate, who said he observed a female, later identified as Ashley Willard, 24, of 395 Palmer Avenue, Warwick, and an unknown male behaving suspiciously in the hardware department. Willard had a large tote bag inside her cart, along with various merchandise selected from the sales floor. She was then observed selecting a Brita water filter and made her way to the women’s clothing department, where she selected several clothing items and placed them in the cart. Willard then went to the girl’s clothing department, where she concealed the merchandise in the tote bag and then exited the store, where she bypassed all points of sale, making no attempt to pay for the concealed merchandise. 

Once outside, Willard was approached by loss prevention, who identified themselves and asked Willard to return to the store to the security office, to which she complied. Once in the office, all concealed merchandise (25 items) was recovered, representing a total value of $224.99.

Willard was taken into custody and transported to Warwick Police headquarters, where she was photographed, fingerprinted, charged with one count of misdemeanor shoplifting and subsequently released on a summons to appear in Third District Court. 

INTENT TO DEFRAUD 

On March 5 at 10:19 p.m. while on patrol, Officer Walter Larson was dispatched to Fat Belly’s, 255 Lambert Lind Highway, in reference to an obtaining food with intent to defraud complaint.

Upon arrival, Larson observed a male party wearing a camouflage jacket and camouflage hat in front of the business facing Lambert Lind Highway smoking a cigarette. Larson said he drove around back and met with the manager, who said the man out front in the camouflage attempted to defraud the business with a $54.25 check without paying. She said the man received the check and left in a taxi, which was called by the restaurant because the man was too intoxicated to drive. She said before the bartender called for the taxi, the man had vomited all over the men’s bathroom. After receiving the check, she said the man left about $4, then left in the taxi. When the manager realized the man only left $4 for the check, she called the taxi company and the driver turned around and brought the man back to the restaurant. 

The man was identified as Benjamin Webster, 29, of 784 Providence Street, Apt. 3, West Warwick. Larson said while he was talking to the manager, Officer Voyer was speaking with Webster. The manager told Larson when Webster returned, he attempted to pay another $4 for the $54 check. The manager said she also spoke to the taxi driver, who told her Webster heard him speaking with the taxi company dispatcher and said if he turned the taxi around, he was going to jump out and run. Webster told Fat Belly’s staff he messed up and had no way to pay for the check. He told the manager to call his wife to bring him money, but when his wife was reached she told the manager she did not want to pay for his check and that Webster was on his own.  

Larson then went to speak with Webster, who had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath and was unsteady on his feet. Webster said he had paid with a $50 bill and attempted to leave. When asked where the $50 bill went, Webster laughed. Larson then asked him if he had a $50 bill as well as the $8 in his pocket, why didn’t he pay the check in full? Larson said Webster didn’t have an answer and appeared to be confused by the question. When asked if there was anyone around who could pay his tab, Webster provided his wife’s cell phone number, which Larson called but it went to voicemail. Larson said he left a message asking her to call back. 

Larson said Webster then became more and more belligerent with officers and was handcuffed and placed in the back of a cruiser. The Fat Belly’s manager indicated the restaurant wished to pursue charges and said they would not accept the $8 for the check, which was returned to Webster. Larson said it should be noted while he was speaking to management, Webster had maneuvered his handcuffs to the front and began to smoke a cigarette in the cruiser. When Larson had Webster put the cigarette out, he became further belligerent and started to yell, “Why can’t I smoke back here?! Am I being detained?! Let me out; there are no charges for not paying for my check!” Webster was advised to calm down. He then said if he was not let out of the cruiser, he was going to urinate on the back seat. He was told if he did, he would be charged with vandalism. 

Webster was then transported to Warwick Police headquarters, where he was processed without incident. He was summonsed and charged with obtaining food with intent to defraud. He was advised a warrant would be issued if he did not attend Third District Court and was then released.