SHOPLIFTING

On April 21, a man, later identified as Joseph Mccormick, 41, of 129 Metropolitan Drive, Warwick, was observed by Ann & Hope loss prevention to select six items, valued at $60.96, conceal them, and pass all points of purchase making no attempt to pay. He was constantly surveyed by loss prevention during this time and was stopped when he exited the store. The loss prevention officer identified himself and requested Mccormick back inside the store to return the items.

Mccormick put up a struggle prior to Officer Stephen Major’s arrival, but was eventually subdued. According to police, Mccormick refused to listen to commands to keep his hands out of his waistband area and continued to reach into his waistband at the base of his back. Major had to pin Mccormick down by the base of his neck and shoulder, while attempting to secure both hands in restraints.

Ann & Hope wished to press charges for shoplifting. Mccormick was placed into custody and transported to Warwick Police headquarters, where he was jailed and processed without incident. He was then transported to Third District Court for arraignment.

WARRANT

On April 29 at 11:34 p.m., Officer Christopher Cote observed a vehicle operating on Toll Gate Road with no tail lights working and initiated a traffic stop for the violation. Officer Thomas Duncan assisted in the investigation.

Upon making contact with the male operator, identified as Marco A. Lizarraga 47, of 37 Newell Street, West Warwick, he was asked for his license, registration, and proof of insurance and was advised of the reason for the stop. He was able to provide his registration and proof of insurance, but he said he had no license. After running checks on Lizarraga, Duncan said they found he had an expired R.I. license as of August 2012 and he also had a Third District Court bench warrant for failure to appear for payment and review of expired license.

Officer Cote gave Lizarraga a warning for the taillights violation. Lizarraga was then taken into custody for the expired license and warrant and was transported to Warwick Police headquarters for processing.

Duncan remained on scene until Lizarraga’s wife arrived to take the vehicle. Nothing further to report.

DUI & REFUSAL

On May 1 at 1:23 a.m., Officer Charles Austin was dispatched to the Comfort Inn Hotel, 1940 Post Road, for the report of a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, Austin observed a blue van with a male operator attempting to back up over a curb. Austin stepped out of his vehicle and tried to signal to the operator to stop the vehicle and turn it off, however the operator was not looking in the officer’s direction and was looking down. Austin then moved to the passenger side door of the vehicle, opened it and yelled to the operator to put the vehicle in park and turn it off. He said the operator’s eyes were closed and looking down. He opened his eyes when Austin yelled at him and then closed his eyes again and put his head down as if he were falling asleep. Austin then reached over, put the vehicle in park and took the keys out of the ignition.

Sergeant Britton Kelly and Officer Andrews arrived on scene at this time. Austin then got the operator out of the vehicle and attempted to speak to him, but he spoke only in Spanish. After requesting a Spanish-speaking officer to assist, Officer Javier Cabreja responded. While awaiting his arrival, Austin observed the male operator to have bloodshot, watery eyes and he had difficulty standing. He was swaying severely at times to the point where he was going to fall over.

Once Cabreja arrived, he was able to speak to the man, who was identified as Pedro Quintoa, 23, of 76 Stockholm Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. Austin said it was learned that Quintoa was staying at the Comfort Inn and had come from The Office, 1795 Post Road, with his cousin. He said he and his cousin were staying in the city doing renovation work.

Austin said Cabreja assisted him with administering a series of standardized field sobriety tests, which were stopped partway through due to Quintoa being severely unsteady on his feet and the possibility of him injuring himself while performing the tests. Quintoa was then taken into custody and transported to Warwick Police headquarters, where he refused to submit to a chemical test.

Austin said Quintoa had no identification, however after fingerprinting him, officers received a hit through AFIS positively identifying Quintoa from a prior arrest. Dispatch contacted U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement to see what his status was. Due to an outstanding warrant, Austin said Quintoa would be held and picked up by ICE later in the day.

Quintoa was summonsed by Warwick Police and violations were issued for DUI/Drugs/Alcohol/1st Offense-B.A.C. Unknown, Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test (1st Offense), and Driving Without/Expired License.

Austin said it was learned the inactive registration plate on the vehicle, a blue 2006 Chrysler minivan, was a Connecticut registration, which did not come back to the Chrysler minivan. The minivan was last registered in R.I. The vehicle was not actively registered, therefore, it was towed from the scene.